Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-31

So'h'5 ott tHC poiN " HlCulOCloB VIC
mean thai of attaching themselves to
those nocturnal caucuses, composed of a
mixture of responsible Snd irresponsi-
bic persons, there laying, dshonorable
plans to undo what had beendone through
the day. Hence we can account for
those frequent reconslderatpns, without
any reasons being assigned,o measures
which were once fairly decided. This
smells too strong of the influence of
the galleries. To this add the dis
gushing spectacle of nightly riotous
mob, composed of law expbunders, law
makers, and law breakers, signing and
groaning through the streets; resem-
bling more the sudden desertion of all
the unhappy victims of some populous
mad house, than the collected wis dom
OF free, enlightened, and sober people
We nannnt drnn the curtain without
noticing The corruptipg practice OF lie
gislature, creating ,liices for its mem
bers to fill, the plainest constitutional
prohibition to the contrary notwlthstand-
ing: This is calcullted TO introduce a
species of bribery, upon which virtu-
Gus community should irown with indig-
nation, or the time viii come when 1t
may well be said |" he constitution
what is i, but heap ofruins :" 1t is as
contrary TO the nature Of things, that any
thing good, should enanate from such
source, as that clear streams should
flow from muddy fouhtaipc
Il is here, fellsw citizens, we arc to
look for the grea es defects in our con-
stitulon--not 10 The instrument itself,
but in the nractic, under IL; for If oot
laws were as good and as well admins.
tered as il would admit of, il is believed
here would be little ground of complaint.
Then let us all vote TO amend 1t IN this
way, and not by convention. II the ad-
vocates for a convention are candid, and
wish it for the purpose OF amending
the consti ution only, but few argu.
ments, in our opinion are sufficient ,o
shew the folly of calling one at this
time. In the first place, suppose
we call convention, what surety have
we that these very defects, of which they
complain, will be rejected And, wha
Is still worse, what surety have we lha
the new constitution will not have other
and more serious defects than those o
the old one ? Is there any surety agains
either of these dangers? Surely none
But on the contrary, is there not strnnp
probability that all would be worse under
new order of things =? There surely is
A variety OF causes combine TO render
the present very inauspicious time iol
making, revising, or amending consiitu.
tons. Such as the ill-natured feelings
between debtor and creditor, which the
pecuniary embarrassment of The people
have occas!oned. A constitution made
by either of these interests would be a
mercenary produttion, mere present
time-servm3 thing: for WHO is SO silly
as 10 suppose that such discordan, mate
rails would m4nize, and produce any
thing upon the principles of a disnterest-
ed philanthropy No, it would be a one
sided thing, or ndlhing at all. In con-
sequence of the liberal manner in which
the members of the last legislature help
ed themselves to the public funds, it is
urged that we should have a convention
to Tx the future pay of the MEMBERS
Suppose, then, we were to attempt this,
and it should be fixed at ten dollars day,
and clause added, that the constitution
should not be amended or altered for
twenty years-how then would we help
ourselves? Why, we should have to bear
it I'LL the time would roll round. This
is net altogether an imaginary case, for
we tind that this sum was thought by some
of the members last winter, to be rea-
sonable compensation for their impor-
tant services.
Another argument, which, in our OPT.
Mon, should weigh With the rejecting oil
all parties, is the pernicious influence
which the question Of slavery zuiU nave
in the selection of members for the con-
vention; that it viii be made hobby by
10th parties, no nan in bis senses can
doubt. The state will therefore not be
enabled to avail itself of the best talents
for this importan! work, but will be IN
danger OF receiving constitution from
the very dregs Of both parties, whose
greatest qualifications will be their IN
temperate zeal to vote for or against
slavery. This, to the thinking man, is
a serious matter. When he reflects how
much happiness or misery depends upon
the fundamental principles of all govern
ments, he will pause before he will con-
sent that they shall be established by un-
skilful hands. That such fears are rea-
sonable, none bu, bigots can doubt. Are
any of our fellow citizens in favor of a