Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-11-16

others the guardianship CT the:r tights,
and even their political existence, have
at times, been partially aroused from
their iethargy. For while, they arr
seen to gaze, with tremulous anxiety
Z upon the horrors OF The sarroundiu.
scenery" Mtrantur taciti, e. du6io mr.
5AtAiae fendenf'-but perceiyiug nc
way to escape the direfui calamity ths
Is hastening apace, they revert 10 theil
FORMER state OF unconscious apathy, ant
gradually lose sight of their depiorablt
condition, as the voice OF warning dies
away in the murmurs of the popular
reeze.-Meanwhile the storm is brew.
ING; lis dark and lpyering clouds are
non5regatlng and we occasionally neai
the distant howlings of the tempest
Experience teaches US that our situa
ton IS critical, IN the extreme. Com.
mon sense dictates an inquiry into the
means oil averlins the Impending stroke
Yea, all nature cries aloud, that some.
Tang must be done 10 arpease the kin.
dung wrath ct outraged humanity and
violated justice, ere The fate of ancient
Egypt, or OF modern St. Domingo, shall
be ours.
With this view of tn state Of affairs,
relative to the system of slavery 10 the
United States, have assumed The edl.
torial office. Ny object is to draw the
pnote attention to this ai-lmportanl
subject, that ways and means may be de-
y:sed 70 rid our country of the wide
spread and esolaling evil. 1t will be a
part OF my duty 10 investigate the con-
due, OF public men, and the expectancy
OF public measures. | shall tearlessiy
expose the vile management OF those
who, by open or secret means, endeavor
70 uphold and pcrpeIuale the horrors oil
the system, whenever | have. il IN my
power, IN case 1t may appear. 10 De consis-
tent with sound policy to do 50. Re
gardless OF the consequences, snail, as
the means may be afforded, lay open the
whole system oil corrup ion, and hold The
mirror larly up to ,ae view Of the A ne
rlcan people, that they NAV see what
nanrer OF Christians or Republicans
practice Of enslaving their fellow NOR
tails. AT The same time, every thing
that may have a tendency to throw a
ray OF light on the subjsct-of plan for
the general emancipation OF slaves, shall
be laid before the reader.
10 short, the end and aim OF this pub
LEGATION is the gradual, though total ai,o-
litiun of slavery III the United States o!
America. Nothing less is contemplate
cd than its complete aud final exlingnish-
ment, by such means as the people, in
their wisdom, shall select. Though we
are surrounded with difficulties, hich
are apparently insurmoun,aale and
though we are treading upon an awful
magazine of combusthle materials, the
explosion Of which seemingly is no, far
distant, as its rumbling thundsrs have
been distinctly heard, still there is re-
dea1ning power that will enable US to
overcome those difficulties, and to
quench those smothered fires. That
power which led Israel out OF the house
OF bondage, will open way for US
through The may wilderness of political
embarrassment, provided we evincc a
Willingness TO follow in the path that
true wisdom poio,s our. am decidedly
OF the opinion, that if we set abaut tie
work speedily, aud in good earnest, we
may yet remove this supreme curse OF
the nation, withouta sacrifice ofthe peace
or the happiness of any. 1t may be af-
fected without interfering wilh the lega.
privileges of single individoal.-lt
may be done in manner consistent with
the principles OF universal right, the
practice OF moral virtue, and the mile
nial purity Of nature's holy law.
70 those who have hel stofore gene
rously extended their patronage in aid OF
my weak endeavors 10 promote the Cause
0flasticeaad humanity, return my sin
cere thanks. And while | pledge N.Y.
sell, still to continue with assidious zeal
in pursuit of the same great object tina,
has hitherto engaged my attention, l
hatter myself VITA the hope that shall
witness farther manifestation Of their
liberal and friendly regard, in the con-
tinnance of their favor. Much has been
done, of late, in various parts Of our
country, towards producing reforma-
ton in public sentiment, as respects the
federation of slavery amongst US. Whe-
Their my labors have been Of any avail in
promoting the righteous undertaking,
it is not for me to say but may be
permitted to observe, that each revolv-
ing year brings with it additional evil
dence Of the propriety of persevering
with increased diligence in ehe grand
and benevolent work of u UNIVERSAL Eman-