Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-03-08

and II possible prevent others, we had to reduce
cunning and intrigue to system, and establish a
course OF procedure in conformity with this sys.
tenn. 1t was necessary TO ingraft in the minds of
many that conscience had no part in legslating,
and consequently course of virtue and moral
rectitude must be unpopular and its advocates
sunk into contempt. All this took some time.
and, what rendered 1t more difficult, there
were some few that contended very strenuous
y that the dictates OF conscience should be
obeyed, and that moral rectitude was as pro-
per III legislative capacity as IN private life,
inasnuch (they sald) as We were accountable
10 the author OF nature tor our conduct, and
the labouous and lie poor Of our community
had to feel the effects 0. it. But at length we
succeeded by small majority, and then we
went to work But there was still a great diff
fouty. The convennon question required
two,thirds of the Legislature to refer il to the
people, and it was we'll understood at Wanda
ia that there were Two grand objects to be ac-
comphshed by new contention, which are
these - / he removaloI Nandalia and the intro
ductlon OF slavery into the state of Illinois.
The latter object had difficulties not easily
surrounded. We mad to contend that it would
be great relief to tie slaves to bring them
here as they would be better provided for.
But our opponents were hard 10 convert to
this faith. For they. commended that slave
holders are much the same every where, that
stealing would not be. lustifable in one more
than another And that the receiver eff sto-
! len goods was as bad as the thief, and that
| though the stolen property might be ned ever
| 50 io3g IN possession, II never gives any right
! 70 the holder especially If he knew it TO be
stolen. They sad that justice would clam
his rights of the human family, and set them
On a level, and that inasmueh as God had made
| s. q one fcsn all nations that dwelt on the
lace OF the arth, that justice was moi wiling
Chat the pleasant plans OF Illinois should ever
| hear the groans OF lie children Of oppression,
husbands srieNing because their Wives have
| Seen torn IRON their bosOms blythe hand of IA
| Crant, women wetting their cheeks with
tears for Tie loss Of their acknowledgements
aud children mourning because tney arc torn
asuhder by tlief feeling masters-anI all
under the aeps4e ofaiepubhcan goyernmen =
| these, and many more such ,v3lk reasons they
woutd give In spite Of ali our arguments.
| A. 10 me senatorial election al thai time
we had not become fully organized in the
rule Oh Intrigue. Still Ne had worked 50 as to
| preserve Mr.. Hansen from Pike county, from
losing his seat. 1t was contested b Mr. shaw,
and We fiu!nd thar MIR. Hansen would vote for
Jesse Il, lhomas,. and We're anxious to
secure his election we thought this the best
course.
As to the Canal this was hard trial; be-
cause if we submitted 10 the Justice OF thai
course, it would not only be a deviation from
our rule OF Intrigue, but would open the way
for the eastern emigration to the state. Tbs
awfully alarmed US, for il We admitted this
ding, it would we a@tully feared Gas tney
twere generally opposed TO slaser.) pfeyene
the grand object OF introducing slavery in TINS
Dat IL, II II.
convention unless we favored tie canal.
Being so anAions for the convention We
agreed to give them the canal Il they would
give MS the convention, bur II not we Would
Kill the canal. bill. All this took considers
bic tine to accomplish and Our zeal was So
great, We paid but little a1tenuon 10 the eA-
pensc the state was at, and in fact had Ike 10
have forgot entirely that the poor and iabor.
ing part OF the community was in any case
concerned IN what We We're doing. For Ne
had to take the benefit Of the .obby gentle.
men, which was comp, sed OF gentlemen from
Kentucky, Msscuri, and Tennessee, as well as
such az we CO Id select i'll our state taat wish
ed TO live upon the Labor Of their fellow men.
These LOBBY .scntienen were Very industrious
in helping 10 force Ga the public mind the
great beneh, Residing to the slaves in bring.
ing them here. The fact is, these lobby gen
Utflcn were very dcSlF1puS TO accomplish The
contemplated object, hoping that the time
would shortly CONG, that they would be inIGls
ed in their pride and prodiSality (ani YOU
know how beneficial this woull be) by having
an opportunity Of living on the benefits Of o,5-
preston. So they would 20 ali lengths, even
to go after instructions FOR any oftAe obstinate
members, and the different objects To be. ac.
complshed by convention efia1led them to
meet the views of almost every body, So not
being over NICE in their representations, they
werevery successful in Their ate npts. For
they took care to use the different objects to
be gained, and the probable defects OF the con-
sttution when and where they would answer
the best purposes.
Yet some oftbe members thinking the OBJ
jccts intended to be accomplished BY calling a
convention were corript and contrary TO the
interest, policy and principles ofthe state, and
believing She Instructions ffalducntly OBJ
tanned, they did not think proper to obey
them.
All this took so much t. Re, that in waiting
Tor it, we Kept business progressing slowly,
for still there was some Of the LOBBY gentle
men AS well as members that opposed this
course, but they were the minority.
Notwithstanding all our struggles, when we
came to try the question in the nate, we
had only sufficient number to carry and none
to spare, and when it was tried in the House