Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-04-06
A FARMER.
March %, 1924.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
MR.. BIRKBEcK VERSUS HoNEsvUs.

poilcy oil opening the state OF Illinois Tor
the reception of slaves. The reviewer,
however, instead Of taking up the sub-
ject on which Mr.. Bilkbeck treats, has
undertaken to villiiy that gentleman
himself. Aware of the difficulty he
would End in attempting TO refvte ne
arguments OF Mr.. B. he seems to have
paid very little attention to them, but
knowing tha, MIR. b. had enligrated with
large family, and attended by consi-
derabIe number Of other persons, rom
England, Honestus, with that illiberal-
" which distinguishes certain portion
OF our newspaper scribbers, denounces
him as a foreigner-an E}glishman-
and opposed TO the best interests OF our
country. While Mr.. Birk beck has hy
the use of his powerful pen. done more,
perhaps, than any other man 10 destroy
the prejudces OF the iniddling C lass OF
Eagllshmen against Amefica---whie his
F" Notes on Journey in America from
the coast OF Virginia 10 the Territory Of
Illinois" cast dismay Oh the ministerial
writer, Of Great Britain, and raised our
country in the estimation of Europe. he
is charged by writer in the newspapers
Of Illinois, with being "Drilish incen-
diary !" How just this charge is. lei those
Judge who were induced BY Mr.. 3 rk-
back's book, to migrate to Illinois. And
III order that others who have not had
the pleasure OF reading his Notes."
may be able to form an opinion OF the
authors sentiments respecting America,
| extract the following from the Edln.
hurgh Review for June, 1918.
In introducing tie subject the reviewer
says:
ave have no hesitation in pronouncinr this
one Of the most in;erestin, and instructive
books that have appeared for many years"
Again
We have heard much said of Mr.. B;rkback's
work; aud its merits have been very generally
allowed. But we find that this tri3utc is mos,
reldc antly paid in certain CHARTERS where his
statements, ard their effects Oh the rnhlc
mind, have given great umbrage ard even ex
cited considerable alarm They who hate
America, as It were. personally who meanlv
regard villa Jealousy every step she advances
in renown, or toolishly view with apprefen-
sion each accession to hcr power, or rdicu
lousy consider all that she gains Of wealth as
taken from England-ths class of reasoncrs
III the term may be SO applell) can with dill
eolty conceal tDeir tlisnay at the Testimony
borne by Mir. 8rkbeck, TO the prol <itms ri.
pidity with which that marvellous community
IS advancing in every direction"
And again
"ther contemptuous feclinTs"- (srenkinr
OF the feelings INDUCED by the minisfeiia. wri.
ters) "seem to have augmented pretty nearly
in proportion as their object" tina, is America
- was rising in Importance and power; ana
they appeared to be approaching their acme.
It indeed they had not reached it, whcu, un-
happily, MIR. Birkbeck's sp,in tale comes
forth to put them down. $50 untowartl an
event has not often happened il such oontro-
versies; and the rage and disappointment eX.
cited by it have been proportional To its dcc-
siye influence upon the question, and to the ne
cessty which existed for sitting the outward
expression of II. The remains ol stubborn
pride and dignliied contcmptior America for
babe that; a.,d the inoilensive modest charac-
ter of the much hated volume seemed equally
to prescribe, at least the semblance OF mode
ration TO lis ativersaries."
Every one who has any knowledge o.
the British periodical publications, will
know that the Quarterly Review" and
others of inferior grade, which are de-
voted TO the British ministry, are alluded
10 in the above extracts, as those who
are SO bitter in their hatred Of America,
and their wrihings under Mr.. Birk-
beck's book. The " Edinburgh Review"
stands conlessedly at the head of pcrio
dical publications in Europe; and il is
remarkable that more good feeling to-
wards America is exhibited in that work
than in any other Of its class, in Great
Britain.
We now see that Hones,us has placed
himself in the ranks with the most in
veterate enemies of American prospect
ty, in denouncing Mr.. Birkbeck. We
discover too, that all the luminosity of the
British ministerial prints originates in
the faithful and consequently favorable
view which Mr.. Birkbeck has given OF
the prospects of our republic. Let the
people of Illinois now Judge whether
MIR. Birkbeck is an incendiary," or
H0neStuS CaIumnlator.
pass over the serious charge brought
by Honestus, that Mr.. Birkbeck is a
quaker, because it is too ridiculous to
need an answer. William Penn was a
quaker, and he founded a great state.
General Brown, too, who raised the
American arms to so elevated stand,
on the northern frontier, during the late
war, is as much quaker as Mr.. Birk-
beck-for his parents were of that highly
respectable society. wish there were