Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-07-13

COMMUNICATIONS.
TO THE PEOPLE OF MADISON
COUNTY.
FELLOW CITIZENS,

Several misrepresentation having
been industriousiy circulated against ne
/ deem il an act of justice 10 you, to my
friends, and to myself, to give correct
statement OF the circumstances upon
which they appear to have been found.
ed.
At the last session of the General As.
sembly, / presented, at the earnest re.
quest OF a gentleman OF this county, a
memorial written by him and signed by
certain free persons of color, setting
forth the danger they were constantly in
for want OF more efficient laws against
the crime of kidnapping, and also pray.
ing for the right of suffrage. The latter
part of the memorial | considered un-
reasonable and improper; but so far as
it related to the subject of kidnapping, |
thought it worthy OF the attention OF the
legislature. A careful examination oil
the constitution convi ced me that any
portion of the people had right not only
to petition the leg ature for redress oil
grievances, but also to have their petit
tons laid before he General Assembly.
To present petition, | conceived, did
not imply disposition to grant il. In
all legislative bodies l believe i, is the
practice for members to present petitions
when requested; but they are still con-
sidered at liberty to oppose or support
them as they may think proper. In no
case do they become responsible for the
contents OF the petitions they present,
unless they advocate the granting of
them. 1t never could have been the in
tention of the constitution to vest any one
representative with the power of decid-
ing upon the expediency or constitutions
atty OF any measure pe,itioned for. That
power is exclusively vested in the two
houses of the General Assembly, but it
cannot be exercised by them until the
petition is presented.
Many cases might be adduccd in sup
port OF this opinion; but will mention
only one, which is that of Mr.. West, of
this county, who presented a petition
from sundry citizens, praying that GER
tain justice OF the peace might be re-
moved from office on account of his being
possessed Of deistical principles" |
trust no one will suspect MIR. Yves, Of a
disposition to grant such petition. es-
pecially when it is recollec,cd that he
was sworn to support the constitution,
which expressly declares, (sec. A., art. g.
That no religious test shall ever be
required as a qualification TO any office
or public trust under this state" Per-
mil M hera m c,rrect c,r,,a or,ee - :,
representations on this subject, which
have just appeared in the Illinois Re-
Publican II is true this petition was
sent to me; but 1t is not true, as there
stated, that | refused to present it. A
conviction that the petition could not
meet with favorable reception from the
House, produced some hesitation and
embarrassment in my mind on the sub
ject, bu, on consulting MIR. West, and
showing the petition to him, he volun-
tariiy, and withoDt being requested, Of
fered to present it. This he afterwards
did; but the unreasonableness of the De-
tition was go apparent that the House
refused TO refer it 10 any committee
Do no, inese circumstances clearly prove
that Mr.. West colnciled with me in OPT.
nisn that representative is not answer.
aole Tor the contents Of any petition which
Re may presen, to the legislature at the
request Of the petitioners? And does not
the fact that Mr.. West has never been
censured, by his own party, for present.
ing this petition, prove that they hold the
same doctrine?
1t had refused to present the memo
rial alluded to, wha, would nave been
said by the very men vino now censure
me for presenting il! Would they not
have said that, after taking an oath to
support the constitution, had deprived
the petitioners of the benefit Of right
secured to them by that instrument!
Would they not have accused me OF a
desire to encourage kidnapping Or,
would they not have said that was gov
erned by illiberal feelings towards the
author Of the memorial, who had been
= political opponent
The memorial from the free persons
Of color, was, on my motion, referred to
the committee on the subject of slavery
and kidnapping. This lisa sufficient proof
that the part Of the memorial relating to
the right Of suffrage was not considered
the most material part.
il is % these groundsalone that have