Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-06-14

again venture to raise the poisoned cha
lice to their lips, not only without neces-
sity, but in evident opposition to their
real interests, to the principles they once
protested, and to the sentiments of the
wisest and best men of every country.
Nor could we ever imagine that those
who had been nursed in the cradle of
| liberty, and who, from their infancy, had
been accustomed TO consider slavery as
the only curse under which this country
labors, should SO far forget what they
owe to the republic, to themselves and
to their posterity, as to give their con-
sent to measure so injurious to the
prosperity, the character, and future
greatness of the state in which they had
| fixed their residence. We were aware,
that few years ago, when the subject of
calling a convention was agitated in this
quarter, The cry of slavery had been
successfully raised against it; and being
fully convinced that those who deemed
such m easure indispensable to the pros
pcrity of this state, were in fact as much
opposed to the introduction of slavery as
their opponents, we believed this to be
the case in Illinois. Indeed, we felt so
con6dant that it could not be otherwise,
that, although repeatedly advised of the
oo".ra.y, by intelligent citizens of that
state, for whose opininnn VIC entertained
the highest respect, we persisted to be-
lleve that the fears of our correspondents
saw danger where it did not exist, and
that they were ready to eject real
good for fear Of encountering an imagi
nary evil.
The contents of the late western mails
have, however, satisfied us, that we were
mistaken. The sentiments openly avow-
ed by some of the advocates Of the con-
vention, prove beyond the possibility of a
doubt that considerable portion of that
party are DESTROYS of adding Illinois to
the number of the slave holding states.
Such being the case, it is undoubtedly
the duty of every gooc citizen to be &C
tive, vigilant, and jealous, in opposition
to the contemplated measure. Ii is very
probable that the constitution of Illinois
requires amendment. Like cur own it
may be defective in many respects. But
il it canno, be amended without mourning
the risk of being stained with blood, it is
better that it should remain forever as it
now stands, than that it should encounter
this danger.-We are not one of those
who, for fear of a visionary evil, are I'M
willing to attempt the correction of
abuses; nor have we ever thought it
dangerous experiment to permit free
and enlightened community to inquire
whether the constitution under which
they live may not be susceptible of i'm
provement. We believe that, on every
occasion, the people may safely be trust
ed; and that they will err but seldom,
when permitted 10 manage their aff1irs
in their own way. We have heretofore
advocated the calling of convention in
this state, under firm conviction that
such measure was loudly called for by
the great changes which had taken place
IN our CONDITION since our present con-
stitution was adopted. We are persuad.
ed that our fellow-citizens of Illinois, i'll
left to the sober exercise of their reason,
will never consent to the introdu ction nfl
slavery in their rising state. We hopel
that should they eventually decide in ia
vor OF convention, and the odious pro-
posal above alluded to should be made,
1t will meet with a prompt, decisive, and
indignant rejection and that they will
prove themselves not unworthy of the
privileges they now cnjoy.-As the bare
SUSPICION, however, of their being capa-
BILE OF an act which, in point of moral
turpitude, would equal tina. of the first
dealers in human flesh, would be a foul
stain on their national character, we think
they had better postpone the calling of
their convention to more propitious pc
rod, than to run the risk, by decision
obtained at time of unusual excitement,
OF opening to themselves sources OF last
ing and bitter regret.
FORNV