Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-24
BENEVOLUS.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
Mn. WARREN,

FOR THE SPECTATOR.
Mn. WAnREN,
Not being in the habit oftaking new
papers, | ana deprived Of regular lnior-
nation about what is transporting through
the state. Happening the other day to
get hold Of the Spectator of the 18th OF
April, in the perusal of which | found a
piece over the signature of 6" A friend
to liberty" The writer says To the
minority of our legis lature, and to some
few of their itinerant and busy followers,
l address myself" AS cordially ap-
prove of the part which the minority took
on the convention question, must con-
slider the address in part to me. There
fore, shall take the liberty of express
ing my sentiments upon it, for greater
piece of calnmny have never read
Neither politicians nor privates, religious
nor irreligious have escaped his re-
proaches. Ihave generally thought that
l knew the meaning of the word liberty.
Bu' since it has been adopted by man
who writes in the manner he does, must
acknowledt, e it has puzzled me to define
it. But however find he wishes to have
the liberty of forcing the oppressed and
detected sons and daughters of Africa TO
labor and toll for him. To this kind of
liberty the meanest man on earth might
be friend. 1t will find many advocates
among despots and tyrants. But chris
tian and republican, patriotic and honest
DeOnle will all abhor If
This hero for liberty does not want the
preachers ofthe gospel to take the Iiber-
~ OF speaking upon the impropriety and
Illegally Of fetching slaves here; but
guess if they had spoken in favor of
convention and slavery, they would have
missed his calumnv. Now as wicked
men and devils have rallied their forces
TO take awav from us our liberty, and to
introduce slavery amongst us, and as the
book expressly declares slavery to be the
acme of unrighteousness, is il not the
indispensable duty Of preachers to " cry
aloud and spare not" against slavery,
and to warn the people to "touch not,
taste not, handle not, the upclean thing"
The unhallowed zeal which induces the
advocates of convention to ridcule and
abuse the minority ofthe legislature, and
the preachers Of the gospel, cannot flow
from source friendly to our republican
government and free Institutions. The
voice ofthe republicans in '76 was " We
ho'd these truths To be self-evidcnt, Tint
all men are created equal; that they are
endowed bv their Creator with certain
unalienable rights that among these are
life. liberty, and the pursui. of hsrpiness."
The voice Of the people in '87, when
VIRGINIA coded the North West Terrific
nv 70 the U. States, was, There shall
be neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
.ude in the said territory, otherwise than
in the punishment of crimes, whereofthe
party shah have been duly convicted"
The voice Of the people of Illinois il.
1918, was still against the introduction
Of slavery into this state. RELYING upon
the fnlhlpen. of the COMPACT between
the United States and Virginia, many
have migrated hither as place Of re-
fuge from the depredations of slaves, and
the impositions of shareholders, and vet
there are some vile enough 10 require
Congress to usurp from the settlers of
The states and territories northwest of
the river Ohio, the dearest right which
Is guaranteed unto them.
am opposed to a convention, for the
following reasons.
l. Because our finances are low, and
state expenses considerable; therefore
we are in very unfi, condition to defrav
the expense which convention would
necessarily incur upon us.
2. Because its real intention is to ex-
punge from our constitution its noblest
and best part, and>to bring slavery, with
all its horrid and incalculable train of
evils, among US. That slavery is an evil,
will appear from the following facts in
the state of North Carolina, where l was
born and raised. have known coun-
trv store broken open twice in year,
upwards of hundred dollars worth of
goods taken out each time, and this was
done by the blacks. There was hardly
a day passed but what could hear OF
barn or smoke or hen house having