Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-03-23

maker, as the former. If the people
are convinced, as you say they are, that
it is not right TO send preachers to the
legislature, what would be the use oil
calling a convention to prevent them
Surely, if they wish, thsy can leave the
preachers out OF the Legislature without
being forced to do SO by constitution
and you know there is nothing in The
present constitution that obiges them TO
elect preachers. But, sir, you plainly
show that you do not wish the people TO
have their choice.
You appear highly displeased with
the Conference for Joining slavery and
the convention together, while, at the
same time, you do it yourself, by clearly
lntimaling that the design OF the generali-
~ of the conventionists, is to introduce a
limited slavery into this state. Speak
ing OF the conference YOU say, these
gentlemen act very Inconsistent. Fit be
IN their power to prevent a convention,
they might safely vote for it,as they won Id
be able to elect majority of such men
to II, as would be sure to oppose ehec-
tually every feature OF slavery" N sir.
We are not Inconsistent - our opposition
10 convention, because we know that
under the present inequality OF represent
tatlon the minority Of the state cou Id /,
and no doubt would, elect a majority OF
members to a convention, provided there
should be one called, and we also know
that this minority lies on the sou'h, where
majority Of the people are in favor ol
slavery. For instance, White county is
said to have majority in favor OF slave
ry, and they can send four members to a
convention; while twice their n mber
on the north, where the people are al
most unanimously opposed to it, can only
send two. Yau accuse the conference
'of using hateful and diabohcal language,
because they say /" We viewed every
man who is in the practice and Shirt OF
slavery, Is an open robber." Now, SIT,
suppose party OF men would taxi yoU
and your family, by force, and make you
slaves for life, would you not consider
them as open robbers Do YOU really
think II would be hate full and dlabolicai
language to call them such You say OF
The preachers that " slavery is NOT all
hey dread As 1t respects myself, SIR,
you have told the truth for once. | dread
several evils tnat might grow out Of
convent ion besides slavery, BOT dread
It ten thousand times more than all The
rest. Yon say the people are deterrr'n-
ed to separate the church. and state. Dear
sir, never knew they were loined toee-
ther. Is ii possible that any Of your rca-
iers IS SO ignorant as TO think, because
preachers are eligible for the legislature,
that the church and state are united
The last OF your remarks would proba-
bly, have expressed yonr sentiments bet
Ter, ii you had written them thus, :" We
haye found II announcement to have pre- each
ers 10 sit with Us, in our legislative coun.
ellis. In the first place the most of them
are SO stubborn, that they viii neither
sell their own votes nor buy ours. 4 4
hen, when we want to adjourn the house
occasionally, in order TO attend a tavern
and drink stew, or so 10 tall or any
other little amusement of the kind they
are sure to oppose it. And if we hap
pen to get drunk but once or twice a
week, and only play cards hall night at
time, they are reproving rs for it, and
telling he people on us. And besides
all this, the, have such mack o, talking,
and opposing. and exposing our schemes,
that we lawyers and spectators cannot
do exactly as we please. For these rea-
sons we are determined to have them de
barred by the constitution; and then we
hope to get drunk and gamble without
being reproved, and have slaves to wal,
on US in the meantime.
Il Halter Of Slavery and Han Stealing.