Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-05-18
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
CONVENTION LETTER FACTORIES.


CONVENTION LETTER FACTORIES.
MIR. WARREN,
A few weeks ago I noticed the tricks
of some OF the Conventionists in manu-
featuring letters, and palming them upon
the public as the genuine productions
of the Anti-conVenionists But | did
not then suppose them capable OF manu-
featuring moi only anti-convention letters
at their factories, but likewise letters
from free Negroes But late number
of the Kaskaska Republican has con-
WINGED me of the lacl-ior it contains a
letter purporling to have been written
from "a free negro Of Ohio, TO his cou-
sin in Illinois "-and were it genuine 1t
would be unaccountabc what BREEZE
could have blown il into the Office OF the
Kask askia Republican. But it is evil
IDENTITY fabric alton, got up TO answer
certain purposes; the most prominent
oil which is, to induce belief that II our
state remains free, il will be filled up
with free negroes, from Ohio and else
where. But | can assure the public,
from my personal knowledge OF Ohio,
that there are no, more Of that descrip-
non of persons in that state than find
employment, principally in the cities and
towns, as woodcutters, BARRIERS, cooks,
shoe-blacks, &c. and that very few of
them could be induced to leave that state
for this.
If the writer of this letter thinks to
impose ii On the public as the genuine
letter of free negro of Ohio, and not
the produftion OF " Kaskaskian," he
must think the public as short-Sighted as
he seems 10 be himself.
| 10 fsbticate and publish letter from
negro, be thought piece of low chr
canery, what wi be thought Of an at
tempt made by a writer in the last | lii
nois Republican-who gives Letter oil
his own composition the following for
NAL introduction, intending thereby to
impose it on the public as the genuine
letter of Methodist preacher in Mis-
souri,:
".Nr P,inter-ts was riding along the
other day to Il neighbours house, saw letter
lying in the road, and when had picked IT
up, the seal having been broken, opened
and read it, and found il To be letter purport-
ing to have been written by a preacher in
Missouri, to a brother preacher IN Illinois.
The letter no doubt was dropped by the per-
son to whom it was written, and rs he proba-
bly, would wish to know into whose hands it
had fallen, that he might get it again, have,
therefore, enclosed you copy, which you will
please TO publish in Your useful paper Should
the person to whom the original deter was
written call upon yon, you are authorized to
give INN my name, and TO whom pledge my
self, should he Cali upon me, to give him the
original letter, of which the enclosed is Il
copy"
Sugar Creeh Nag s. 1884,"
THIS letter Is dated 1" ST. Louis, April
49," and is addressed to the writer of the
F" Sugar Greek PATRIOT" who is styled
3" brother" and is addressed as Me,ho-
dist preacher throughout the letter, par
ticularly in the following passage:
would recommend to you and all The
rest of our brother preachers, &c.
II the writer Of the s. Sugar Creek Pa
triot" is mol Methodist preacher, it will
be apparent that M Methodist preacher
ever wrote bin letter giving him that
sppeialion--and, of course, this letter
published In the Republican, noiwith-
standing the "hiedge" of the writer, is
base fabrication, or forgery.
Now | happen to know (and many
others know the same) that the Sugar
Greek Patriot" was nat written by Me-
thodist preacher, nor by a preacher OF
any denomination; but was, as it purports
to be. written by patrio, of the Revolu
ton, hero of '76, venerable septua-
genarlan, who was lighting the battles OF
his country and helping to achieve its
independence, before his base calumnia-
tor had all eXistence--or perhaps while
ne was mewling and puking in his
nurses arms"
/ This letter contains many insinuatlons
and indirect charges against the Metho-
dist preachers, and the Methodists ge-
morally, as well as illusions 10 some
others; but though friendly to the Me-
thod5ts | am not one OF that donomina-
ton OF Christians, and should not have
noticed these charges, if they had been
made in any other way than as the con-
iessions of the ministers themselves.
What have written am prepared
10 prove. And now let the candid pub
lie Judge whether the intentions of men
who can make use of such means to OBJ
tain an object, can be pure and laudabo
and whether they feel willing to place
the charter their liberties in such hands
for amendment NJ,