Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-03-01


were not of uncommon magnitude, anf
alarmingly portentous-we should 81
silent. But when we see Formidable
effort making to tear down the most pros
mneni pillar in the fabric of our con-
stitution, and erect in its place perpe-
tual barrier 10 universal freedom, we can
mol stand by, Indifferent spectators of its
destruction. Selected by our fellow ei-
items to stand for while upon the po-
litical watch-tower, as senlnels for the
public safety, we feel it our incumbent
daiy TO sound the note of alarm, and to
apprize you, that aportion OF your rulers
have formed the systematic design, to
expunge from your constitution its fairest
feature, and entail upon yourselves and
your posterity the evils of slavery
Others have been brought to labor in
this nnholy-vocation with zeal and an
industry worthy of better cause.
Think not, fellow citizens, that our
danger is imaginary. Be not, we eatreat
you, on this subject, deceived. The song
Of the syren may be sung, but listen no.
10 the notes Of her melody. You will
be told, and the tale viii probably be re-
peated until the ear shall be wearied by
The repetition, that It ssnot intended 10
aiids our constitution with regard to
slavery Bat zVe knozo better. We have
been eye Witnesses 10 the development OF
this project, and marked, not wilhoutspr-
prize, The extraordinary and unusual eff
forts for It's success; efforts which can
hardly be accounted for, except upon the
supposltion OF some object OF deep hid
sdea interest, which cannot bear the light
of day, or the sight OF the public eye.
Whstever DISCUSSES may be thrown
around the suggestion, that il is merely
designed by the proposed convention to
alter the constitution relative 10 the coun-
Gil OF revision, make some new arrange
mcnts in the Judiciary, and perhaps re-
move the seatof government; we do not
hesitate to declare to you IN me language
of undoubted truth, that it is The ultimate
aim Of many of its projectors, to work
an entire changean our political destiuies,
and to pass from the character OF free
dom to that of slavery. Against. any at
tempts at such project we raise our
voices, and trust that majority OF our
fellow citizens will echo them.
We pretend not 10 make. this charge
against all those who have advocated
convention; but we know il to be true
with regard 10 many of them, and some
OF rs warmesl supporters have openly
ayowed it. Had you been spectators of
the scenes which have been acted i'll the
halls Of your legislature and in this town
for some OF the last days of the session,
you would have been astonished at the
conduct of some Of your lawsiyers, as
well as others, and been ready TO exclaim
o Judgment! thou art fed to british beasts,
And men have lost their reason.
But We will give you, fellow citizens, a
brief narrative of some Of the leading
measures adopted to ensure the success
OF the convention question and leave it
TO you to pronounce your sentence ofap-
probation or censure. 1t was openly and
boldly avowed by some members that the
session should never close till the qles-
ton had succeeded; that they would sit
here the whole summer rather than be
defeated. To accomplish the object j,
became necessary 10 remove some OBJ
noxious member and introduce new
one, who would accommodate his vote
to the eXigency of the occasion A pre-
text is sought for, and soon found. the
seat OF Mr.. Hansen, member of the