Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-07-13

IS or so persons, who instructed him to
vote for convention only on the express
condition that such vote should be
found 10 be necessary in order TO pro-
!. cure the removal OF the seat of justice OF
Johnson county.
The writer talks, with equal tenn Gritty,
about " the uDlusIlfable conduct of those
who stood out against the known wishes
and feelings OF their constiiuents"-ol
their disregard OF the sacred right of
the people to Instruct" their representa-
tives--and asserts this to have been the
conduct OF the anu-conventionils. Who,
ask, were The representatives who
stood out against the known Wishes"
and disobeyed the instructions of their
constituents | deny that any member
who voted against the resolution, acted
contrary TO the instructions of majority
oil nis constituents; and il is not the du-
iy OF members to be governed by mi
norNy of their constituents. But lei me
ask, did John Shaw vote agreeably to
the q known wishes and feelings of his
constituents" nearly all of whom, it is
admitted, are opposed to convention !;
tor he himself has repeatedly said that
there Was but one man in his county in
favor OF convention. Did Messrs.
Rattan, M'Fa,ridge, Ford, Smith, West,
Kinney, irotier, Beard, Alexander, of
Monroe, sc. &c. &c. vote apreeably to
F" the known wishes and feelings of their
constituents" or pay any regard 10 The
Iast principles OF instruction They GER
lalnly did not, unless you admit the doc
trine that representative is bound to
obey instructions whether they come
from minority or majority of bis
constituents. Ii has been shewn that
very small minorities instructed Messrs
Rattan and M'Falridge. Messrs. Smith
and West were not instructed by one
third OF Madison couJty and 1t is be.
lieyed that Messrs. Kinney and Trotler
were not instructed by onc-thlrd CT the
voters OF ST. Clair Yet all these, and
some others who might be named voted
Tor the convention, against The known
wishes and feelings oil their constituents"
and in disregard of the sacred ri ,ht OF
the people to INSTRUCT" ana OF The malo-
rily to rule.
The same writer tells US about " Sc.
cret and midnight meetings OF the lutte
minority" but cautiously refrains from
saying any thing about the grand mid
night caHcnSses of the all-poweriul ma
Jority. at Is we'll known" that the con
senIion party had been holding these
midnight meetings for week or tea
days; aud II was not until it was known
that they had appointed co'amIuee to
prepare an address Recommending The
convention TO the favorable consideration
Of the people, that The " ittie minority,
as II is called, had meeting for the
Porpose OF preparing and adopting an
address, on their part, explaining their
views and objections to the measure.
The writer tells us that This +" htfis
minority" determined ina, fourteen nun,
dred dolfars should be paid 10 the edi-
tor OF the Spectator &c. and that " II
did not arise from their own hberaliiy,
nor did II come out OF their own poe
kets lit came OUT OF the treasury OF the
slate---lt was purchased by the tune Of
seven dollars a day" What wonder
fui Story! THIS " Httke minority" OF on
ly one-tnird OF the legislature, IL seeEls,
were able TO take money out OF the STATE
treasury, to'iavish on printer who up-
posed the call of a convention; and The
great and ai.-poweriul majorily, consist
Ing Of two-,nlrds OF both houses, was un-
able to proven, il. What ID hoscerfut
minority Tor such T" III .e" one . What
d fee5te majority Tor SUCH large one!
! But the truth happens to be this: the
myotNy passed OIL allowing each
.nemDor seven dollars day, In STATE pa
per. The minority voted against hie
Dill, out being Aale minority" they
could moi deiea, it, Some of the mem.
bcrs OF this Iil,le minority did then SUP
scribe for the Elwardsyliie Spectator.
aud paid IN advance Tor it out OF the We
~ money which had been "purchased
by TIE ,une OF seven dollars day''-.a
sune which had been happily, pleasantly,
and S0ccessJully played ~ the ai!-pow
eriui and immaculate mgority. l. Is
admitted, therefore, that so,nc OF this
money came out Of the treasury oftle
state"-thoush | mus, contend Ina; The
writer Is ms aiken when he says :. 1t did
not come out OF their owmpockets," for
Il Is almost Certain 'lha. the money, al,el
leaving the treasury, did get !nlo the
pockets OF Its owners, before 1t was paid
away Tor new spapers. Nor do | claim