Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-10-11


We are society of lreemen: Our
fundamental laws know no sdch being
as slave. In this state every inhabi
tant is free by right, derived from a pow
er paramount to ali najorilies. Freedom
is the basis of our social compact: a
majority can regulate The ms buttons
founded on this basis, bur the basis Itself
is impregnable. Necessity, "lhe ty-
rants plea" in those states were slavery
is established, supports the distinction
Of freeman and slave, distinction abhor-
rent to reason, 10 religion, and 10 nature !!
Here we have 40 such plea, and our
constitution admits no such distinction
II majority have the power OF afhxing
the brand OF slavery on one portion of
the community, where Is the limit OF
this power? What portion is safe !?
What security remains for you or for
me, il we chance 10 be In the minority
l trust, fellow-cilzeDs, am not mis-
taken in my estimate of your general
good sense and honorable fee ling. Bul
if those persons whose proceedings in
the legislature have caused this alarm,
are, in Fact, represents ion Of the ma
Jority, the friends of free dom have ye,
strong hold in the vast majority OF the
people Of the United States, OF which
we form Comparatively in,ignlican
portlos. 10 tins great and enlightened
community we have our final appeal;
and il to the indeiible disgrace OF this
government, such an appeal should be
necessary it must be eFectuai. In ad-
dressing you ] feel as cllIzeD of this
particular section, combining my view
TO our own proper duty az regards tn 5
ouestion.--We are also citizens Of the
United States, and, in That capscity, have
our share in the compact between Con-
gress and this state, 4, its admission. !
ret ain from discussing the validity o..
that instrument, in regard to both the
contracting parties, not from the small
es' doub on the subject, but because it
Is for US to do our own business, and
render recourse 10 il unnecessary.
The annals Of the republic afford no
precedent Of people degrading them
selves by reverling to slavery ; q system
world, and acknowledged by all, to be
the bane of national prosperity and pr-
yate happiness. l. ether states the
changes which have taken place have
been on the side of freedom. And shall
we, young as we are, cause the only blo,,
the only blurred page in The history o
the Union?
Take view Of the states which have
emanciDated themselves, and comparc
them with the slave states. Look al The
state OF ONO, and compare il WIKI Ken
lucky. Here are experiments on =
large scale for our instruction, 50 uni-
fornly decisive against slavery, thai
were il an affair Of simple calculation, a
question of political arithmetic merely,
'mmon sense would teach US to reject |
ow the man of small property fares |
slave state | cannot describe from |
NAL observation, blu | have learned !
ch of the subject from those who |
Experienced i, that | presume no
sound juds nent and Independent,
can desire the introduction OF
,ry. To labor for his living among
es, or to labor at all where the idea
avery is so blended with labor as u |
municate to il a something OF dis |
zee, would be sad exchange to avs
large proportion of the citizens OF
this state, where labor IS, as j, ought to |
be, in high and honorable estimation, |
in the sure road to independence. | have
heard that ,he condition Of the poorer
DIES ription Of citizens in slave states Is |
truly miserable: thev are compelled 10 |
undergo much painful and degrading |
service 10 keeping down the slaves, toi |
the protectoD ol,beir wealthy neighbors,
who form SORT of upper class--a SCI
oil lordly personages, who assume consl- |
derable state, and look down upon the |
Industrious uen who earns his living by |
the sweat of his own brow And poor
living il IS, that can be SO earned IN q
slave country for, although it is dc
mo,strsblc that slave labor is dearer, a
things considered, than the labor of free
men, yet, where The former prevails, the
latter Is not in request--so that, unless
in the piiiul Office of o.erseer or negro
driver, the free laborer has not much
chancs Of employment Fellow ci''z
you wilretlect seriously on these things,
and vote accordingly
TO be concluded in our nert
- IS % seE--- ,t
ALABAMA.
The following exlract of letter from