Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-02-15
To TIE EDITOR.
vANpALIA, FER. IL, 1928


Dear SIR, bere has been very
considerable sir here TOR lhe last three
or four weeks, On the SUBJECT OF a new
convention; the constitution Of the state
! requires two- hids Of The General AS
sembly to recommend TO the voters a,
The next general election ~ woe for or
against convention, whenever they may
believe tie constitution requires any
amendment; the Legislature which is
now IN session and has been since the
first OF December, have lad within one
or Two votes Of the constitutional MAORI
iy for several weeks past. This being
known almost Throughout, the state, IN
structions have been coming in tor Tie
last lew daYs from several counles. Only
Two oi TIE members however would
deign to abide by them although The
constitution IN express words says, ,he
people have the right to instruct their
representatives. After hearing those
Two members ofthe House OF Represen-
lauves declare themselves The legitimate
representatives of The people and bound
10 obey majority OF them, when pro-
perly Obtained, aud believing IN this Case
no fraud had been prac,ised, the House
oil Representatives believing they had
constitutional majority Che Senate hav
ing previously passed the resolution)
proceeded yesterday afternoon 10 take
the vote, when, to then utter astonish-
ment, Mr.. Hansen, he representative
from the county of Pike, and who had
always since the commencement oil the
session expressed has sen irneBls ia favor
OF he measure, voted against II, which
Immediately excited suspicion OF corrup
,lon. Both houses adjourned for the day,
and the whole place was in an pproar.
In The course OF the evening it was ru
mored that the Executive had bough,
him OF, with promiselto give him
Lucrative appointment Of Recorder OF
Fultoo county, new county stricken of
The county he, Hansen, REPRESENTS
This was calculated to increase the ex-
element, and little after dark, as by in
stinc, the citizens, legis iainrs, sirang ers,
and almost all denominations, locked to
the state house. Several Of those who
ale here called lobby members, mount
cd the rostrum, in turn, and delivered, 1t
IS said, by far ,he best speeches upon the
liberties Of the people and The rights of
a majority wnen Obtained witbou, fraud
or deception, that have been delivered
here this winter. Alter spending an
hour or two in this way, the company
Il l. l.,
lodgings, and every thing appeared to
be perfectly calm foe an hour. had
gone to bed, and was started by the
strong shriil cry of o Yes, 0 Yes, 0
Yes, and instantly The cry OF Hansen's
eftigy, Hansen's efhgy, Hansen's effigy,
apd fire, fire, ERE, was reiterated through
out the town, and instantly drew to the
| spot nearly all that were able 10 reach
there--the effisy in the mean time baz
ing beautifully. Some retired, others
began marching around it, as there had
/ by this time arrived some musical in
struments, such as the drum, the fife,
the horns, God knows how many) ,ri-
angles, tin-pans, SC. &c. This however
they could not long enjoy, as the builder
of the machine, if may SO call it, had
placed in the lower part of his body
about pound of powder, which expiod-
ed and so scattered his remains that it
ended that part ofthe scene. They then
conc luded to pay visi to Mr. Church
III, who had previously declared hewould
abide the instructions OF his constituents,