Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-02-08


, this State--I trust that no party will ever
be permitted 10 exist. But, sir, gentle
men may depend upon it, that the bill
under consideration proposes a favorite
measure with the people of this State.
will venture to say, that at least three
fourths of them are its advocates. And
] have not the smallest doubt, sir, but
that should the bill ultimately fail, the
people will themselves form a party
against its opponents, while they sink
under the baleful consequences, and the
authors Of its defeat crumble into ruins,
like the mouldering walls of an ancient
tower, whose base has been sapped by
the wasting hand Of time. ], said Mr.
S. have no personal interest in this CUES
ton, more than any other gentleman
1t is subject oil equal interest to all.
But, sir, it may perhaps be said, that
even if msny non-residents should aban-
don their titles, rather than pay their
taxes, the State will be no losef---,he
State may obtain the land itself upon
their refusal to pay the tax. but,
would ask, what benefit would the State
derive from the possession OF this land
Is it not we'll known, that scarcely an liz
diyidual of this State would take quar-
ter section ofthe bounty lands TO pay the
taxes? would not, and | have heard
many gentlemen say the same. But
there is another light in which this ques-
ton presents ITSELF Whatever measures
may tend to increase the population Of
the State, must be deemed worthy the
consideration Of the Legislature. TWAS
saying, sir, OF Patrick Henry, one OF
the first and purest patriots of our coun-
try, that America wanted population
And may we not say the same of our
State "W Whatever disperses the shades
Of the wilderness, and plants the monu
ments Of civilization"-wh atevcrt tends to
improve the arts and sciences-what-
ever tends TO the increase of a bold and
hardy population amongst us, is deslra-
bic. Would not the adoption OF the
measure, and the final completion Of the
Plan, contemplated by this bill, afford an
inlet to thousands of emigrants, who
would no, otherwise, perhaps, be Undue
ed to settle among us. 1tmay be urged,
that this is not the description Of popu-
lalion which we require. This, sir, is
delicate subject, and will forbear 10
handle i'll will only say, that honest
men are desirable, come they from where
they may. know OF no law in this State
against any particular character of opu-
la,ion. Are gentlemen disposed to shut
out any particular class OF people? |,
sir, feel no prejudices against any portion
OF the population of the United States
feel myselfto be a western man. And
will hold all men in war, enemies, in
peace, friends. True, sir, there are bad
men in all countvies-but cannot think
that those of any particular portion oil the
United States are so. What are the OBJ
jecis of this bill? Merely Preparatory
measures. l, sir, would be the last man
on this floor to plunge the State Needless
~ into The undertaking. Way then all
this opposition But gentlemen are free
TO act as they see proper on this occa-
sion. /, sir, shall acquit my conscience
by pursuing that course which my udg-
ment tells me is most conducive 10 the
interest of the people.
Mr.. Kinney observed that the gentle
man had taken considerable route, and
appeared to be much in earnest. He
could not for his part understand why SO
much earnestness was exhibited on this
occasion. But the gentleman was mis-
taken; he had represented the thing in
correctly; there was no door to shut;
and refusing to open way for their en-
trance was not shutting them out. The
gentleman had said that something was
due to the owners of the bounty lands, in
consideration Of the tax we had imposed
upon them. These lands were given to
the soldiers whom government was COM
PEELED to employ to defend the sea-coast,
and the cities of those who were now the
owners of these lands. Some Of these
soldiers had doubtless been cheated Of
their land and kicked out of doors. He
could point to men in this House who
had gone out during the war to defend
the frontiers. He doubted whether the
gentlemen now owning those lands would
have come to our assistance, even ii they
had been called upon He believed
some Of them 7vere nor forward to go
into warfare, even on the defensive.-
Sir, said Mr.. K. if the Legislature was
near to rise, We could not go away from
this place without endangering our lives
for the want Of bridges across our
streams.
The Speaker (Mr. Hubbard thought
that too much time had been consumed:
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