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


are determined to discard from their en-
ploy forever, those who have betrayed
them, that the infamy of their names
may serve as warning to their success
sors.
We believe that such societies may
do good by disseminating political infor-
nation; for in representative govern
ment founded upon the virtues of the
people, they need only to be informed of
its abuses 10 correct them. This, in our
humble opinion, should be done in
cool and dispass;onate manner, though
with a frmness that disdains palIiatives
for guilt. Whilst on this subject we
cannot Iorbear noticing spirit in some
worthy citizens, which we are afraid
savors too much OF the dawning of politi-
! cal or religious fanaticism. To check
the progress of which, we, as sober citi-
zens, believe TO be as much the duty OF
our societies, as to oppose the further
Introduction of slavery among US. Ii is
known that certain description of slave
ry already exists in the state, which we
believe to be sanctioned by the constitu-
ton. To give the reasons upon which this
opinion is founded, would lead US
into an investigation too lengthy for the
limits of this address. Let it suffice,
that we lament the existence ct any such
servitude among US; though we consi-
deri minor consequence 10 the people,
becausethese servants are generally com
paraIively happy; any ofiicious inter
medding between them and their pro-
prietors would thereforeb be unjustand pro-
ductive ofbad consequences,an and altogeth-
er foreign from what should be the object
ofthose societies formed 10 ditl'ersnt parts
OF the state. |, should be our ann to do
good, not harm, which would surely be
the result of an improper interference
with this description OF properly.
We should lament to see these socie-
ties converted into little dark scenes of
political intrigue, for the purpose OF
promoting men, and not measures.
Any man who should attempt to use
them for mercenary purposes should be
considered as dangerous, and unworthy
to be trusted With Difference we sug-
gest these hints, because we are afraid
that the understandable proceedings of
the majority in the last legislature have
provoked in some, a spirit of retaliation,
which, if encouraged will in its effects,
| afford a melancholy proof of the fallaoy
of that enormous doctrine that the ma
jority can do no wrong. In order to
guard against these errors we need only
10 be informed of the evils that resulted
from similar societies, formed in France
about the commencement of the French
revolution, called the lacobin clubs, w hose
views at fl st were nothing more than to
disseminate political Information. But
designing and factious men, finding that
hese institutions were peculiarly calcu-
lated to operate upon the iervid charac-
Ter OF the Frsnch, never rested until they
had perverted their original and lauda-
BILE designs into the most wicked and
bloody conspiracies, and finally threw
I that brave and unfortunate people into
all the horrors of anarchy. TINS, how
ever, is not a conclusive argument
against the fitness of such institutions
for the purposes OF political regenera-
ton. But it should admonish us to be
careful in this important work, not to
encourage those alarming symptoms
which have discovered themselves in a
desire to interfere with private rights.
Then let us abstain from such low views
and turn our attention to matters of great
or concern; let US turn our attention to
the scenes that were acted at Vandalia
| last winter, and see what we shall find
there to applaud or disapprove.
Legislation is at once the most honor
able and important of all other avoca-
tons; because it concerns the temporal
happiness of men more than all other
things under heaven besides; with what
pure patriotism and high honor, then,
should his breast be animated, who is
called by his fellow citizens to labor in
this holy work. IF this be true, how in
compatible with either is that highly
dishonorable and undisnifed practice of
barlering votes in the legislature more
commonly called log-rolling,) SO that the
passage of a good law is not unfrequently
made to depend upon the passage of bad
one. The member who will consent to
traffic his honor in this way, must be pos
sessed of very pliable morality, forit mo-
thing less than perjury. What are we to
think of the still more reprehensible
practice of introducing sham business,
squandering the public treasure by con-
Stunning the time of the house upon mea-
sures that the movers never intended
should carry, and if carried, beyond the