Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-02-03

kind OF sklrm shing, in piece which ap-
pears to have been intended as sidelong
thrust at the" Citizen of Illinois," Such
kind of parrying will not be sufficient.
Our correspondent has fortified himself
too strongly in sound and powerful reae
sonlng, TO be assailable by such missiles
Let the advocates of slavery--or if they
like II beter-of convention, answer
those arguments which have appeared
from their opponents, and we can assure
them that others will be forthcoming in
due season. We have no cause for wish.
ing 10 postpone the discussion until the
eve Of the election, when il will be toe
late for reply; for the advocates of free
dom feel strong in their resources. Our
opponents, however, appear to be dis
posed To maintain a sul.en silence on tho
merits of the case. They rely on de-
murrer8 for they, or at least eoodly
number OF them, are lawyers, and arc
aware of the necessity, in bad cause, Of
taking every advantage.
So far is this from being the case with
us, we are willing to. take up their new!y
hatched, and apparently favorite plan, Of
limited Siapery; although in doing 500
+ faal I
We cannot conceive them in earnest.
The reasons which they urge are so fall
lacious, and the objections SO strong and
palpa5le, that we are constantly led 10
the conclusion that the writer's who adj
yocae it are speaking ironically.
IN The first place, will the humanity of
these gentlemen be so great as To induce
them to'pay as high price lor few years
service, as can be obtained by the own
ers Of the negroes from these who nur-
| chase for lie +? Or do they expeci the
slave holders to cooperate with TIN IN SO
far as to sell to them lower than tGey
would to a New Orleans slave tra-
der? Again, would these gentlemen de-
sire 10 Fill the state nth free blacks Wa
ask this, not only FROM our own repue.
nance to such state ofthings, hui from
our knowledge Of the hatred which exists
in many OF the par'isans of sarery to-
wards the free negroes. If the last oues-
ton be answered in the negative, (as we
know it willy how are the enrancipatea
negroes to be disposed of? II the plan
be to send them to the colony at Mesu.
RADIO, how are the funds to be raised for
the purpose F? They would be immepsc.
and the difficulties would be incslculabls,
We fancy these same humane and pa
trioIic gentlemen would not be willing
TO subject themselves to such burthen
without Greater prospect Of advantage
| than they have yet shewn. We have nos
insisted on the obstacles which NAV be-
presented by the blacks themselves, al
| though we are inclined to believe they
would not be few nor small. Suppose
them to object-bow would we rid our
selves of the difficulty ; Would we have
inserted in the new constitution a. clause
| giving them the alternative of freedom
in Africa, or slavery in Illinois But if
we have not the power to establish abso-
solute, we certainly cannot make conai-
fionat slavery, except it be for crime.
and we presume the gentlemen are not
vet OF so acute vision as to discover cri-
ninality in the choice of residence.
Perhaps they would suggest that the ne.
! groes should consent to the removal be-
fore they are brought into the state. But
freeman cannot be bound by consent
given by him while a slave. A slave
has no will, and can make no contract,
| Possibly the humanity of the gentlemen
may lead them to force the negroes away,
whether willing or not. In that case,
;hey would often necessarily drive pa.
rents from their children-husbands
from their wives-in short, with rude
and violent hands, even as is now done