Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-06-08
FOR THE SPECTATOR,
CONVENTION AND SLAVERY.
TO the Citizens Of Illinois,

The proposition for new Eonventior
is now offered to you, under the mask n
many plausible excuses, and with such
urgency and intolerance that those who
attempt to offer any excuse for disallow
ing or opposing it, are commonly ana.
t'hematized with the names of arislocra,
hater OF freedom, sc. However, in the
lace OF all its powerful advocates, and
their favorite epithets, shall venture to
give you my reasons for opposing a new
convention, and why think YOU OUCH,
to oppose it, and also why | think tia,
part OF the legislature that ordered it
ought TO meet with the punishment and
experience the Indignation of the repub-
Leans OF illinois, in such degree as me-
yer again 10 be entrusted with any public
office whatever.
MY first reason is, because think the
present constitution good enough. | will
not susgeet tho idea that il is susceptible
OF no Improvement. On the contrary,
believe /, might, but fear i, would not
be improved. We have lived for those
SIX years past happy (and but for the in
reference OF some intriguing polite al
demagogues) agreeable and peaceable
under its benign and fostering influence.
Our property, lives and liberty have been
prolected--our rights have been secured
and justice administered from under its
parental jurisdiction. 1t invites emiera-
ton IRON every part Of the world. The
Just and the honorable, the christian and
patriot might if it can be permitted to
stand, come blher and settle down in
peace. The votaries of freedom and ex-
lies OF tyranny might find place of re-
iuge under its balmy wings, whilst the
refuse OF mankind Chat is, the tyrant and
oppressor) are cautiously excluded.--
Now while party spirit and faction reign
predominant through the land, can we
reasonably expect TO get better? :. think
mol. The legislature by ordering a con-
vention has already checked the emivra-
ton 10 this state. The slave holder can
not yet come, and the friends Of freedom
90 not consider it safe to come. They
have already run the state to a great ex-
pense, and propose still greater, should
they gain their point. We may reason
ably expect in this age of harangulng thai,
a convention would cost us fifty thousand
dollars if no more. This sum would
have to be raised, and howl Here let
US take into considerat on our presen,
condition. Our state expenses ara con
siderable, our funds are low, ard our re-
sources small. What then but the i'm.
position oil heavy tax on Us, (who are
already struggling under the pressure of
hard times and pecuniary embarrass-
ments) could meet this exorbitant de-
mand. This intolerabe exaction would
be drawn from US for the object of intro
ducing into this happy, delightful cnun-
try, one Of the basest OF practices, and
worst OF evils. Had the money already
expended in debating upon the conven-
ton in the last legislature, and the cost
which one would incur heen spent in
cutting the canal through from the head
of the Illinois to Lake Michigan, the
community at large, instead of few in
dividuals, would have been benefited !;
every one, whether rich or poor, would
have felt the effects of its cheering and
replenishing prospects. Population, Che
want OF which they make one of their
leading features in support Of new con-
vention) would have been pouring in
from every quarter. The wealthy and
industrious farmer, the mechanic and
manufacturers, would have begun to
establish themselves here by this time.
In short time we should have rivalled
some OF our sister slave holding states,
in numbers, and we should soon have
received double interest upon our mo.
Secondly. The unequal representa-
ton of the state, at this time, should in
duce every honest man to vote against a
convention. The constitution of state
is social and collective compact. Eve.
ry man looks to it for redress in wrongs,
every che has to abide by its provisions,
whether rich or poor, high or low-they
all stand in one common relation to it.
And he who would not allow to each and
all an equal share in framing it, would
wrest from the hands OF his neighbors
the freedom they enjoy, and become,
himself, a governing despot. The friends
Of convention, would not allow this
privilege, SO that he who votes for one
cannot have the least share of claim to
an honest man, good citizen, or republi'
can. For my part, intend to support
the principle, and wish to sustain the
character Of all three. Under the pre-
sent constitution, every man is regarded
as member ofthe community. Justice
mercy and hum nifty, pass triumphan
through the land. Freedom has hel