Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-27
bic to US, and hateful only 10 true repub-

licans and pure christians.
1t declares that all elections shall be
free and equal, without regard TO wealth
or birth-thus putting the rabble upon
an equal footing with their superiors.
1t declares that the right OF trial by
jury shall remain inviolate; that in all
criminal prosecutions the citizen shall
have right TO be heard by himself or
counsel; to demand the nature and cause
OF the accusation against him to meet
the witnesses face TO face, and to have
compulsory process to compel the at
tendance of Witnesses in his favor.
1t declares that no er hoSt .facto ia7o.
or law impairing the validity OF contracts
shall ever be made; nor the writ of ha-
6eaS CORPUS be suspended, unless where
in cases of invasion or rebellion the pub
lie safety may require it,
1t decl ares there shall be no bank or
moneyed institutions in the state, except
one state bank and its branches--,hus in
Jurlously restricting us from making
paper money, and from erecting null
OF the people, for the benefit of privi-
legged few, who are much in need OF such
Offices.
In all these republican measures, and
and in every stage Of our political exist
ence, we have striven for change, with
every art and means in our power: our
repeated struggles have resulted in re-
pea,ed dsappolntmen,s. A constitution
whose character is thus marke ed by every
feature which should define free and
republican government, is unfit to be the
charter OF the rights and powers Of the
lovers Of oppression.
Nor have we been wanting il attention
10 our republican brethren. We have
warned them from time Is time of the
hardship of our situation, and the morli-
flcation and degradation attendant on our
beng reduced TO The level OF the swinish
multitude. We have reminded them oil
the circumstances Of our emigration to-
and settlement in this new and interior
country. We have appealed to ,heiI
native justice and magnanmiIy: and VIC
have con nred them, by the ties of our
| common kindred, 10 allow us TO become
masters Of slaves, and TO oppress oul
fellow men as much as We please. They
have not only been deaf to our enlrea.
ties, but in spite of all our opposition
are resolved upon opening q canal to ia.
cl!itate the populaling oil our state with
trne 81
therefore acqulesce in the necessity
| which imposes Oh US The obligation to
hold them as we hold other political par
| ties, enemies as long as th.y advocate
freedom, friends as soon as they advocate
| slavery. We therefore, the friends o
| slavery, and enemies o! universal iberl,
| in the state OF Illinois, influenced by thai
love OF power and those selfish motives
wGichare common with the hiSh-minded
and privileged few, do, in the name, and
by the authority of ourselves and our
supporters, the rightful oppressors oil
mankind, soIemnly publish and declare,
that this state is, and OF righ gu ght to be,
3 slaveholding state; and as such it has
'uii tIo"Sf " hiShC SiasSs VI al h'ltCdbo
and their descendants, and for that pur-
pose has a right to kidnsp, or buy, and
to carry on the slave trade, wherever and
in whatever manner il may think proper,
and to do all other acts and things which
slaveholdiDg state can do, to fill the
state with slaves, and to govern them 10
the way best calculated TO promote the
interest of their masters. And for the
support of this declaration, with a FIRM
reliance that our supporters will go the
whole with US, we mutually pledge to
each other our political lives and for
tunes.