Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-20

from the consent OF the governed"
| Fellow Citizens, we have assembled
this day to celebrate the anniversary o
our National independence. Let US
realize with those who made, and signed
that declaration with tears in their eyes
the dreadful curse Of despotism-the
grea. blessing OF republicanism-the evi
and injustice Of the first, and the blessing
OF the second. Never let it be said, be-
cause we are the descendants of those
patriots we may act as despots, without
guilt or injustice. Neither mock a suf.
ering people, nor insult the well in.
formed public by our celebration this
day, in reading the declaration of indie
pendence, and protesting the sef-evident
principles thereof-if we would be
Slave holders.
"Americans! prove yourselves true,
To titles you fondly engross;
Do justice to .4f7cans too,
Or never of Liberty boast.
But second, the evils ef slavery to the
slave
But who can describe the distress,
Those outcasts of man must endure,
When parting with all they possess,
TO see and enjoy them no more
A slave is one despoiled and robbed Of
all that the Declaration OF independence
holds to be self-evident--the undeniable
and unalenable rights of man-and of
course has an abject mipd and broken
heart-whose life is prolonged at the
caprice OF a tyrant, and exposed to dis
grace. That slaves are ignorant, barba-
rous, and unprincipled, and administer
TO the vices and pleasures of others is a
consequence Of their condition. 1t is
alledged that they arc the happiest PEG.
pie upon earth, and yet they are deemed
of an inferior kind, and denied a human
or thinking mind.
"Happy for negroes were this doctrine true,
Were feelings lost to them, or given to you ?"
That it would add to their happiness
TO bring them here-that they do hot care
to part with companions and children
believe this doctrine you that can. But
facts teach me another lesson. These
hands have handled the bones Of a negro
man, who killed himself, rather than be
parted from his wife and children.
have heard the,cry Of the orphans, whose
mother destroyed herself when she found
that she was sold, and must leave her
children. | once asked negro man,
why he did no, psrform as much work
as mis- master had assigned him. He an
swered-" am SO troubled about my
wife and children that was forced from
in Virginia that cannot" Another
fact | will add was awakened at late
hour Of the night by the Rev. J. w. to
hear the cries of distressed slaye--his
words were as near as can recoliect to
the following purport: 80 my poor
wife and children | shall never see you
more" He petitioned Heaven in their
behalf, while the heartfelt groan made
me participate n, his grief, and my heart
seemed ready to weep blood. But l
must forbear to recount those scenes of
human woe.
Thirdly, The evils of slavery to the
master-he lives on the gains of oppres.
sion-brings up his family in naughty
idleness, except some Of his children,
who
Sprung alike from sloth and vice,
Are born his slaves, and loved at market price.
Has he soul with his departing breath,
A form shall hail him at the gates Of DEATH"
"What is he profi,ed by gaining the
whole world 10y the labor of his slaves
and lose his own soul. The Judge Of
all the earth will do right-the soul that
sinnsth must die" Vide Exodus, 81, l6.
Fourth, The evils that would result
to the public from the introduction of
slavery into this state, which cannot be
done without calling convention, about
which we have heard much from the
convention advocates whose entire object
is the introduction of unqualified slave
ry among us. Need tell you that the
resolution for the call Of convention by
the last legislature has thrown the peo-
Pile Of this state into fever Of divided
zeal, and wild ambition. and which is at
tended with symptoms Of CONFUSION /?
Are not these symptoms day by day in
creasing, portending the destruction Of
the harmony, peace and prosperity of
the state The ruin Of many good citi-
gems, by elcctioneering, therefore will
b. hastened. Ifthsre were not addi,ion-