Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-03-09

! tants of Goshen township. for the purpose OF
8, choosing nominating committee OF live per-
| sons, to meet similar number from each OF the
=, other precincts in the county of Madison, to
nominate three suitable persons TO represent
| the county in the next Gen raj Assembly, will
| be held AZ the courthouse in EdWardsvile at
| 10 o'clock, on Saturday the Goth instant
prompt attendance is earnestly requested.
| March 8, 1924.
The unwingness of our opponents to meet
theIquestion of the propriety of convention,
is 90 great, that it would seem unnecessary for
the friends of freedom to continue their argu-
| mens against IT, But thorough knowledge
Of the means resorted to by the former, for
efiecting their purpose, will lead to a diiler-
ent conclusion. Instead Of stating explicitly
the object fthe measure, they merely insist On
the right Of the people to vote for it, and ad-
duce the inequality of the representation in
the former convention, for its expediency -
With respect to the right, we have no dispo-
sition TO denyit. More than year has elapsed
since the passage of the resolution recon
mending to the people to vote for or against
convention; and we defy the advocates of the
measure to produce a single article wherein
its opponents, directly or indirectly, deny this
right. On the contrary, they have uniformly
en;leavored to shew in what manner it could
best be exercised. But the advocates Of a
convention still cry QUITE Have not the peo-
,@la ,.--i,t ~ ~, a.
think proper Why then say so much about
IT 7" Let us retort the question. Have not
the people right TO retain their constitution,
7yaiopf alteration, if they think proper The
legislature, ample it conceived its power, did
not prohibit the people from voting araipst a
convention. Now we wis, to exercise the
reasons for votes If our opponents have /
no reasons TO give for their conduct, let them |
act without reason. But the friends of our |
present free constitution would like to be able, !
when called upon bv posteritv for their mo-
lives, to slew the why and the wherefore. We
are sure that future generations, when they |
motives Of the contending parties; and as we
have none of which we are ashamed, we are /
wiling to let them appear.
We would care less about the silence Of our
upon the main point, if they would |
permit us TO pursue our own course without |
They might !" hl;''it nc question"
an.' 7-vtcone, it they would not find fault with
us for calling it up. But no sooner do we at
tempt to elicit truth by fair argument, than
they raise the cry, as though we were endea-
vorng to prevent others from speaking. or
strove to keep the people from the polls. We
have repeatedly said, and we now repeat it,
we ae DESTROYS of hearing our opponents in
the debate. We want them to tell us of all
the mighty benefits which are to result from
a convention. Certainly we are not to be
blamel for our want of discernment, if we are
so bhnl as not to be able to discover these be.
nehts, especially when the advocates of the
measlirs do not condescend to tell us what thew
are. l is true that several things have been
named, as things which required amendment
But we have not been told .,ly. or Ao-r .'.~. .
should be amended. If slavery be not intend
ed-then we wish to be toll wherein lie the
evils of our present constitution, and how they
are to be remedied. But IL, awe have uni
formly believed, the real-the paramount OBJ
iect be to establish slavery, then We only ask
our opponents to answer what hasNbeen adj
vanced against the project. And they Sad bet
ter begin soon, for they have a task equal to all
their powers.
The inequality of the representation in the |
convention of 1918, has been lately brought |
into view, without the slightest attempt TOD
shew any particular defect in the constitution,
arising from it. 1t is unfortunate, however,
for those who raise this objection, that the evil
cannot be remedied under the present appor-
tionment of the representation of the several
counties. minority of the people would still
send majority ofdelegates TO the convention.
The proposition to submit the new const-
tuition, when formed to the acceptance or re-
lection Of the people, is very plausible. Ba
4ve have only their ,vord for it. The people
now have the constitution in their own hands.
They win have no control over the convention.
And if the members of that body shall be com.
posed of such materials as form the majority OF