Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-04-27
PROSPECTUS
For Publishing a Ueekiy y ervsbdper
IN THE TOWN OF BELLEyILLE, ILL.
BY FoRQUER * FORD,
To be entitled, the
independent Political Censor.

ENRON the itle ofthis paper, something new
n will be expected. If the editors intend
| ed to trudgc IN the track which the generality
of their brethren OF the type find it convenient
to pursue. a hint of their course would be i'm
pertinent, as that would have already been
certaned. But as the present time requires
lin the opinion of the editors) material
change in the friendl, and docile habits ofthe
Press, and as they anticipate for themselves
course as widely variant from that which gene
rally prevails, the necessity which creates
it, is, from common and tranquil occasions,
they feel justified in formally posing their
views and intentions to the pubic.
The editors, therefore, with sincerity de-
| clare that, the grand objects of their labors
will be disseminate useful information-to
encourage, prop, and assist industry, talents,
| and virtue, generally, whether eXerted in
private III or in public in agrcnit,l {, manu-
| features, commerce, the arts and sciences, or
in any sphere where they may be found use
fully employed, to publish and depreca,e the
feats of vice in every shape, coming under
| newspaper cognizance; for this purpose the
editors will extend their inquistoral and CEN
sorial offices into all the relations of public
life. Governors in the chair OF state Judges
on the bench Ministers in the sacred stand,
and all the public functionares # the nation.
tlll subjects of just annadverson.
tits The peculiar felicity of our country rs n,
chat in this land OF liberty, no topic of public
moment IS too sacred to grace the columns Of
| newspaper. The Press is, or at least ought
to be the constant and vigiant guardian OF
the peoples rights and in fact ii has ever
been co1-dered by the Americans as the pre-
| server o. their institutions, trumpet of alarm
! when those institutions are attacked, arousinE
the unsuspecing victims of political intrigue
| to a vigorous yindcat0n Of their invaded
rights.
| With much concern the editors contemplate
the necessity OF personal illusions and FIRE
qnent structures on individual conduct.-They
have no pleasure in the writings and dstor-
| tons of a wounded mind, and lament that the
conduct Of men is so blended with the prospe-
rty or adversely OF the pupiie by the operation
If government, that an abuse OF the peoples
| lights and confidence, cannot happen without
a derilecton ofdniy on the part oftheir agents,
who make or administer the laws yet, not
withstanding the unpleasant sensations the,
must experience from this source, they Can
never conceive themselves justified in pur.
poselv tolerating a misplaced benevolence
owever congena to their fe, lings, which
would withhold the lash OF cansIig from the
unfaithiul and the abettors of C 3rru ton. Ina
government of the people the Importance Of
the diffusion of correct information, and upon
appropriate animadyersons en- tine conduct Of
public servants, creates in the editors high
responsibility, paramount to all prudential CON
sderation or particular attachments, if. any
exist, and they take a pleasure in disavowihg
every attachment, either to parties or to men,
which ma contravene the accomplishment OF
their trust.
The novelty of the present undertaking is
perhaps manifested in this, conspicuousiy
as in any other circumstance, that the editors
build upon their own fouh1al on, or upon
none. They have sought no influential
friend to puff their merits, and biz1n
their way before them, to whom they might
be under obligations Of reciprocal favor.-On
the contrary they expect host OF enemies at
the very commencement, and those too among
the most influential characters, being those
most interested in the prescription of paper,
the aVowcd object of which is to expose the
multitude Of their receptions and intrigues.
Most papers grow up under the fostering hand
OF some powerful patron, whose interest it is
bound to advocate. The ed ors of this paper
solicit the patronage of none but the sove-
reign people, and that without the Interference
| OF any such m rcenary engines. The neces-
sity of paper o. this character, is apparent to
every man who is not inveigled in the enian-
clements ofpoltical chcsnery, and who claims
to himselfthe inheritance of freeman. The
editors are therefore anxious that it be distinct
ly understood. that they throw themselves
wholly upon the patronage Of the people for
support, whose interest it is their peculiar
province to guard and protect. If any indi-
vidual, therefore, obtains their approbaton
he will be indebted to ms merits alone, and
not to favor. Abhorring sycophancy, they
tully disclaim the influence of men actuated
by anyskind OF mercenary motives They
are the tools of no combination, and are under
no Obligation to trudge in the filth of party
luminosity.
1t is right in times of tranquility that the
press should sleep.-But when patriotism is
absorbed in the passion of self interest, or en-
gulphed in the vortex of faction-when the
brazen voice Of dissenton stuns our ears, then
slumber is crimnal-the voice of the lion
should be heard. The unfaithful should be
dragged rom their "high Places" and the
people excited to resume their abused prero-
satives. ireaclery, intrigue and conspira-
ces should be exposed. The rottenness
should be rooted out of Denmark; and soe
cousness and sophistry should be disrobed OF
their fair appearances.
The editors think that the present times
call for such labor, and they will think them
selves happy it they succeed in renovatng and
calling forth the energies of the Press against
the multiplied disorders which pervade the
civil polity OF Illinois.
As 70 the great political questions which so
extensively interest our State and nation, the
editors avow themselves to be governed by
liberal and republican prnciples.-They will
take firm and unmovabe stand against NEW
CONVENTION. while possibility remains of the