Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-05-17

No. 2.
Slavery is admitted to be national and
state evil, of no ordinary magnitude--an
evil under which many of our sister states
have long groaned, and from which they
are destined to suffer rebellions that will
waste their blood, and endanger thei, ex-
istence. On what principle is il, thatwe
are to justify the planting SO dangerous
foe in our own bosoms? No one, whose
opinions are worth serious examination,
will venture TO affirm, thatit can addto the
strength, wealth, grandeur, or hapsiness
of nation. These are always found 10
increase or diminish, in the same ratio
that productive laborers increase or di.
minish in a state. There is always more
productive laborers in free, than a slave
state, of equal population; and where
these are most prosperous, individual
happiness is most universal. The labor
of the free man is always more produce
tive than the labor of The slave. The
white laborer has an interest in his toll,
ard in his reward. Tie rich have mo-
ney, and want labor-the poor will fur
nish labor for the money. II is thus
that active industry, and an accelerated
circulation of money, always attendant
upon it, is always exciting the mass OF
society in free state, to energy, enter
prize, and improvement. 1t is thus
lhal money takes its round of circu-
Iation through every ramificatidn Of the
community, and gladders the hearts, and
] administers to the wants of each indiyi-
dual member in its circuits. Lands are
pal elled out in small quantities, and
cultivated by industrious farmers, who
rear upon it more laborers TO add to the
nations stock of strength and wealth;
and the produces of The earth are employ
ed in administering 10 the wants offs IN
habltants, and the surplus to the IN
Drovement Of the country.
In he slave states the case is different.
The wealthy monopolize large tracts Of
country, and only cultivate SO much as
will pamper their pride, luxury and vice,
and barely subsist their wretched ne
groes---she remainder lies vase. The
labor OF his miserable horde Of blacks.
does nor contribute to the improvement OF
wealth of the country. Ia rs improve
Dent he feels bur lide interest. Ii Is
the chief Of a petty principally, bur litIie
dependent on his neighbois. The lash
goads from his slaves ali thar he deems
necessary 70 his perverted appetites; aad
he cares for 90 more. To improve the
condition Of his poor neletbors, is a
thought that bb rarely enters his head.
Ills vanity, his ambition are concerned
to keep them in lheir de traded condition.
| The toll Of his negroes is substituted by
im for labor-saving machlnery--lor
roads, bridges, canals, and literary insti.
buttons. Fl considers lha; Toll a sure
resource for all his wants. The conse-
quence is, that tbis spirii keeps he indi-
ent part OF The white population in con-
dilion but little above that of the slaves.
Is ii to purchase desc blessings that ma
ny men in Illinois wish to see slavery
extended among us
Bn again, can slavery advance our
| individual interest Can il increase our
wealth or happiness, evenfor the present?
Are the Inhabitants OF Illinois IN con-
dtlon to purchase hordes of negroes, and
| with them large tracts of county,
make splendid improvements, and roll
in luxury, like petty princes? IF this
were so, there woola be something splen-
| did, in a selfish noint of view, to gam by
hazarrlin, q, desperatp a nteaAnre Riu