Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-06-22
INVESTIGATOR.
FnR THE SPECTATOR.

FOR THE SPECTATOR.
At the last session of the General As
sembly, Mr.. Churchill presented me-
mortal written by venerable and highly
respectable citizen Of this county, now
deceased. and signed by certain free per-
sons of color, setting forth the dangers
10 which they were exposed by reason ct
the meficiency OF the laws against kid
mapping. Thus far, the memorial was
liable to no objection. Du, ii wen, on
to pray for the right OF suffrage, which
it is well known could not be granted
without calling con,sntion and altering
the constitution. This part OF the me-
mortal was therefore unreasonable. But
the people have right to petition the
legislature fer redress Of grievances, as
will be seen by referring to the 10Th sec-
ion Of The 9Th article OF the constitution;
and this right would avail them nothing,
if a member of the legislature were per-
mitted 10 intercept their petition. The
memorial was addressed to, the General
Assembly, and no person into whose
hands it might come, had right 10 with
hold il from that body. He did not with
bold il; but presented ii according, 10
the request ofits venerable author And
although nearly two-thirds of the MEM
bers were convenlioDis,s, yet the memo
rial was received and referred to CONF
mittee, gpithout dissenting voice. The
house were, doubtless, actua'ed by the
same motives as Mn. Chupchill--a dis
position TO treat with respect any appli-
cation for redress of grievances which
might come from any portion d the in
habitants, however humble their sitna-
lion in life. Surely, il any fault could
be found with the act Of presenting PEI
iiion, the act of referring it was inh-
ni'ely more blameable.
TWAS probably from the same mo-
tives Of respect for,he people, that Mr.
West, Zone of the convention candldates)
presented a petition praying that GER
tain justice of The peace might be re-
moved from office on account Of his re-
ligious principles. None who are sc-
quainted with Mr. w. cav suspect him
of desire TO establish religious test
as qualification to office, contrary to the
express provision of the 4th section Of
the 9Th article the constitution. Nei-
ther Mr.. West nor Mr.. Churchill was
accountable for the contents of the petit
tons which they presented, any mere
than the mail-csrrier who conveys, or
the postmaster who delivers letter.
If they had voted in favor of any bill or
resolution formed upon such petitions,
they would have been accountable Tor
their votes; but as they did not, all that
can be said about them, in this respect,
is, that they were entrusted with certain
petitions, addressed to the General As
sembIy-that they did not betray their
trust by Withholding the petitions, but
presented them to the body to whom they
were addressed.
Such, however, is the desperate situa-s
ton of the slave party, that they have
notscrupled to make use OF this circum-
stance to injure Mr.. Churchill; while
they find no fault with similar act on
the part Of Mr.. West. A pettitogger at
Kaskaskia, whose talents and honesty
exactly qualify him for such task, has
written a'leuerJrom free, negro in Ohio,
in which said pettlfogger says that Mr..
Churchill got law passed giving the
right OF suffrage to free people Of color,
and this Notwithstanding two-thirds Of
the General Assembly were thorough
going conventionists
There is something SO inexpressihly
mean and contemplate in these petty
tricks OF the slave party, that we can
scarcely withhold our pity from persons
reduced to such miserable shifts.
H.