Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-01-20

4 =
/ In the second place, the preamble to
those articles, " for extending the funda.
mental principles of civil and religious
liberty, which form the basis wherein
these republics, their laws and cOnsitu-
tons are erected; 10 fix and establish
those principles as the basis Of all laws,
constitutions and governments, which
(oreOer hereafter shall be form ed IN said
territory )" to provide also, for the esta
bhShmeut Of states and Permanent go
Uernment therein, and for their admisso ion
to share in the federal councils on an
equal footing with the original states, al
as early periods as may be consistent
with the general interests but a So
lemn mockery, an idle parade of language
containing the most ma unanimous, Just,
aud enlightened principles, only to sound
upon the ear, and drown the sense.
There is one argument adduced by
the writer in question, to which | cannot
but solicit particular attention. 1t is this {:
that the same tenure by which the Unit
ed States claim the public lands, lying
within our limits, secures to all men the
ENJOYMENT Of equal freedom, and the
exemption Of every one from slavery
This argument is entitled TO great con-
sideraion; and if sound, must be con-
elusive on the subject. 1t is shewn that
he claim or title OF the U. States to the
public lands rests upon the ordinance Of
81; and if our admission into the
, Union as free and Independent state, and
upon an equal footing with the original
states in all respects whatever, did n
ex,inguish that claim or title, by wh4t
process of argument can 1t h. shewn tla'
the same admission annulled the prohi-
bilon against slavery Both stand unon
the same ground, and must fall BY the
same means.
1t is indeed true that our constitution
recognizes the title of the United Staes
to the public lands. SO indeed it recop-
nizes The right to equal freedoms and !
we NAV alter it with regard to one, WHY
not with regard to the other9 If we can
nulllly the ordinance touching the sub
lect OF slavery, Or if it be SO done, bv the
mere fact of our becoming member or
the Union; why may we no. do it as to
the public lands
No man will contend that it encroach
es less upon our sovereignty a. fre,
and independent state, that another sove.
reign should own our soil, than that We
ourselves should be restrained from
makins.saves of others. II, is for ~
rants to complain, that principles are re-
slrants, and that they have no liberty, So
long as heirdespotism has limits" Il an.
pears TO me that the ordnance, in all is
essential particulars, continues to be
part ofthe supreme lawofthi land. and no,
to be annn'led without the conse t of the
national government: or else, upon our
admission into the Union it fell to the
ground Of course, as a useless and dis
lointed fabric, having answered a Il the
purposes of its erection, and beng
completely functus ofIicio. The lar-
ter suppos'ion would prove too mech,
and destroy the title Of the United States
to the public lands; or place it in our
power to do it.
No article of the ordinance is more
explicit than that which contains an ever
lasting Introduction against slavery; AMI
TO contend that that article is abropated
or that II is in our power to destroy il,
because we are admitted into the Union
as free and Independent state upon an
equal footing with the original states, and
at The same time to admit that the ord-
nance is in force and beyond the power
OF orr control, for the purpose of secur.
ing to the United States their title to the
public lands, involves inconsistency and
absnr'li'y. Il was surely within the pow
er of the trainers Of that instrument to