Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-03-15

iy to desire to hold their fellow men in
bondsge-who have too grea, hatred
tor tyranny, to desire the power OF yran.
nzing over any portion of the human
family. There are among these people
many individuals who scorn to possess
that wealth which consists in the bones
and flesh oil man--there are among them
those who
"-Would not have slave to till their ground,
"To carry them, to fan them when they sleep,
/" And tremble when they wake, for all the
wealth
"That sinews bought and sold have ever
earn'd."
Oilers have emigrated from the free
states, where they have been taught
from ,heir4intancy 10 abhor the practice
of enslaviAg their fellow men; and
where, with the sages Of our revolution,
they " hold these truths to be self evil
dent: that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights; tina,
among these are life, liberty, and The
pursuit OF happiness" Il persons whose
habits and principles are opposed 10 our
free Institutions, have settled amongst US,
the blame must rest Gpen themselves.
fhey could not be ignorant of the pro-
addition OF slavery by the ordinance OF
l7S7; and they well knew that there
were States enough in which slavery
was tolerated. They have therefore no
right to demand the intro duction of 5 lave
ny into this State, in violation Of thai ordi-
which it has guaranteed to the people oi
lh,s State.
| am sensible that there are some in
favor OF convention because they blink
that the introduction of slavery will ena-
BILE them to sell their lands and remove
from the State. Without discussing the
proprieiy OF calling a convention and o.
admitting slavery, for the express bene-
iii of those WHO intend 10 leave the State,
| must DC permitted tpqaeston the cor
fectncss OF their opini3n. Ii The admls-
sion OF slavery would cnhance The value
OF land IN Illinois, why has i not had the
same effect N Missouri 2 There the
STAY ehoider is secure ID the p session OF
his slaves; bnt here ne would be situated
IN The MIDST OF a people opposed 10 slave
ny, and would iacur tue risk oi having
hls slaves cmancipagcd by a decree Of the
courts Of the United States Yes with
all the advantages which Missouri pos
sesses, her lands do not bring as high
prices as lands IN Illinois OF equal quail
ty and eqoaIly we'll situated. The rea
son Is obvious. Slavery has be same
destructive innnence uihe ne7v as II inc
old Siaies. Wt,o that compares thc
wealth and improvements OF PennsyIva-
MIA with those Of the adjoining State OF
Maryland; who that rehccts upon the
rapid growth OF NeE York, compared
with that OF Vifyinia5 who thai consi-
ders the present situation of the two
States OF ONO and Kentucky, and re-
fleets With now niuch greater rapidly
the former has populated and improved
than the latter, can donbl for moment
that slavery. instead Of promoting the
Improvement prosperity, and population
of State, has directly contrary ten
dency IS il slaveryur freedom, whic,,
has given the State of New-Yark her
present uneXainpled wealth and in r
provement Is her Grand Cansi---tbc
wonder OF the AGES that slupendous
and magnificent improvement, The WORT
Of slaves or Of freemen Has il been
found necessary to employ slaves L
work her Sliines, at which salt i, afford
ed cheaper and in greater abuDdance,
than in any Other part Of the Unitcd
States? Where slavery is admitted, Ia
Dor is considered by many badge Of
scrviiity and disgrace; and hence The in
Production Of slavery into this state
would rather increase than diminish the
difficulty oil hiring laborers.
The people of,he slave holding States
feel and acknowledge The evils OF slave
ry; but declare them to be without re-
n.edy. /" Slavery (said Mr.. Walker, Of
N. G. on the floor OF Consress) is AN evil
We have long deplored, but cannot cure |:
il zvQs enfoiled on us by our ancestors 4;
i. was not our original sin, aud we can
not, in orr presen, situation release our
selves from the embarrassment" Are
you willing, fellow cilizrns, to incur the
same odium which the people of The
slave holding states thus heap upon the