Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-02-10
pROSpECTVS
Fer Publishing Weekiy NEWSPAPER
IN THE TOWN OF BELLEyILLE, ILL.
BY FoRQUER x FORD,
To be entitled, the
Independent Political Censor.

6d 10 III lle IfaCk WHICH the gelSfdlltN
of their brethren ofthe ~ pc find it convenient
to pursue. hint OF their course would be I'M
pertinent, as that wouh have already been as
certaned. But as the present time requires
(in the opinion of the editors) a material
change in the friendly and docile habits ofthe
Press, and as they anticipate for themselves a
course widely variant from that which gene
rally prevails as the necessity which creates
it, is, from common and Tranquil occasions,
they feel justified in formally exposing their
views and intentions to the public.
tfhe editors, therefore, with sincerity de-
clare that, the grand objects of their Iabors
will be to disseminate useful informatlon-to
encourage, prop, and assist industry, talents.
and virtue, generally, whether exerted in
private life or in public, in agriculture, manu-
iactures commerce, the arts and sciences, or
in any sphere where they may be found use
fully employed, to publish aud deprecate the
feats OF vice in every shape. coming under
newspaper cognzance; for this purpose the
editors will extend their nquisitora and cen
serial offices into all the relations OF public
life. Governors in the chair of state-Iudges
on the Observation-Disclosures in the sacred stand,
and all the public tunctionaries OF the nation,
however elevated will be considered as law
full subjects of just animadverson.
It's the peculiar felicity of our countrymen.
that in this land Of liberty, no topic Of pubic
moment is too sacred TO grace the columns nj
newspaper. The Press is or at least ought
to be, the constant and vigiant guardian of
the peoples rights; and in fact it has ever
been considered by the Americans, as the pre-
server of their institutions, a trumpet Of alarm
when those institutions are attacked, aropsing
the unslispecting victims Of political intrigue
to vigorous yintlication of their invaded
rights.
With much concern the editors contemplate
the necessity Of personal illusions and fire.
quent structures on individual conduct.-They
nave no pleasure in the writings and distor-
tons of wounded mind, and aneft that the
conduct of men is SO blended with tie prOspe-
ri,y or adversely Of the public by the operation
o. government, that am abuse Of the peoples
rights and confidence, cannot happen without
deriection OF duty on the part oft,,eir age ats,
who make or administer the laws yet, not
outstanding the unpleasant sensations they
must experience from this source, they can
never conceive themselves justified in. pur-
posely tolerating misplaced bencvo!ence,
however congenial TO their feelings, which
would Withhold the lash of censure from the
untaitlitiil and the abettors OF corruption. In
government of the people the importance OF
the diffusion OF correct information, and upon
appropriate aniinadversicns y the conduct OF
public servants, creates in the editors a high
responsibility, paramount to all prudential con
sideraGons or particular attachments, if an,
exist, and they take pleasure in disavowing
every attachment either to parties or to men.
which may contrayene the accomplishment of
their trust
The novelty Of The present undertaking is
ma lad q
as in any other circumstance, that the editors
build upon their own foundation, or upon
none. They have sought no Influential
friend TO pitF their merits, and bi@"'i
their way before them, TO whom they might
be under obi cations Of rec. procai favor.-On
tic contrary, they expect host Of enemies al
the very commencement, and those too among
the most influential characters, being those
most Interested in the prescription Ola paper,
the aVowed object Of which is 10 expose the
inutitude of their receptions and intrigues.
Host papers grow up uGder the fostering hand
Of some powerful patron, whose interest it is
bound to advocate. The editors of this paper
solicit the patronage OF none but the soye-
reign people, and that without tie Interference
OF amy such mercenary engines. The neces-
si,y OF a paper OF this character, is apparent to
every man who is not inveigled in the entan-
clements ofpo,itical chicanery, and who claims
to himself the Inheritance of freeman The
editors are therefore anxious that it be distinct
" understood, that they throw themselves
wholly upon the patronage t the people for
support whose interest it is their peculiar
province to guard and protect. If any ndi-
vidual, therefore, obtains their appreciation,
he will be indebted to his merits alone, and
not 10 favor. Abhorring sycophancy, they
fully disclalm the influence of men actuMed
~ any kind of merceuary motives - they
are the tools of no combination, and are under
no obligation to trudge in the filth of party
anunositp 4-
1t is right in times of tranquility that the
press should, seep.-But when patriotism is
absorbed in tie passion OF self interest, or en-
glilphed in the vortex Of faction-when the
biazen voice of dissenion stuns our ears, then
siumber is crilninal--the voice Of the lion
should be heard. The unfaithful should be
dragged from their " high places" and the
people excited to resume their abused prero-
gatives. Treachery, intrigue and conspira-
cies should be exposed. The rottemcss
should be rooted out Of Denmark; and sne-
ciousness and sophstry should be disrobed of
their fair appearances.
The editors think that the present times
call for such labor, and they will think them
selves happy it they succeed in renovsting and
calling forth the. energies Of the Press against
the multiplied disorders whi.h pervade the
civil poGty of Illinois
As to the great political questions which so
extensively interest our state and nation. the
editors avow themselves to be governed by
liberal and republican principles.-Th will
take a firm and ,inmovable stand against NEW
GoSvsNTIos, while accessibility remains of the
admission Of slavery, for reasons too hume
rous to be adduced in the limits of this Pros
pectus. The Presidential election will next