Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-05-25

collecting and ascertaining il, is by the
ballot box. But then how can this be
done II the people are to be kept in igno-
rance as 10 The measures to be adopted by
their representatives
They are told by their servants that a
convention IS wanted; but they do not
delgn to explain to their employers why
II Is wanted; OF the measures or objects
intended TO be effected by il. Wheth, r
they propose TO enlarge their own powers
by correspondent cartailment OF the
rights OF the people, or yice versa whe-
Their the alterations contemplated will be
salutary or noXIous, Is TO be left not with
the sovereign people, the only legitimate
source OF power, but TO their deputed
agents. The people, ii would seem, are
not deemed competent 10 decide on such
important questions. Ii Is expected they
are To give their APPRECIATION 10 call oil
q convention, Without knowing lis Object,
merely nPan the recommendation OF their
representatives, VINO assume 10 the M
selves 10 know best their interest, and t.
dictate TO them, their duly, and now arro-
gsn,ly deny their right 10 inquire into aud
discuss the objects for whlc h COW emu n
Is 10 be called. Is this conslsten, with
Republican doctrine Is this reating the
people with due respect And lei me
ask, how does this conduct OF the advo-
Gates OF convention comport with the
professions and declarations, SO vaunt-
ingly set forth about the peoples rights !?
Is II possible they can entertain SO dsspi-
cable an opinion OF the understanding of
the people, as 10 suppose they can thus
treat them wnh contempt, and deprive
them oil their just preroBa I've, and then
can lull them INTO acQuiescence, and gam
their object by Singing The syren song Of
the peoples tights; the people are sove-
reign; the people cannot err. Tbs, ii
will have been seen, is the lavorlte theme
in all their public addresses and resolu-
tons. Witness those emanaing from
the famous midnight! caucuses at Van
dalla, held al The time oil the adoption of
the convention resolutions by its advo-
Gates IN the legislature, together with a
few oil what are APPLY called Toby mem
bers. Far ditiernt however is the Ian
guage held IN conversation by many OF
its active parlIsans. They avow the OBJ
which you may imagine the constitution
TO have. Thus it you should be in favor
OF removing the seat Of government 10
A lton or to Carmi, to Edwardsville or
10 Pales Inc, kaskaskia, Covington or
Carlyle, the friends OF each in turn is
assured that his particular wish VIII be
effeeted by having convention. 1t you
have no other objection TO the cons,itu-
ton but the county commissioner court
and the council of revision, then these
are the only alterations that will be made
to it. If one is in favor OF altering the
constitution and appointing the Judges
for Term oil years, he is assured that
that is one of the principal objects TO be
effected; If on the other hand another
should be opposed 10 1t he will be as
sured there is no danger OF such an al
teration being adopted. Ii one Is op-
posed to the extension OF Slavery, he
will be told that it Is not contemplated,
and tina, it ii were TO be attempted, it
could not be effected. II on the other
hand he should be m favor of maxim.
this slave holding state, he Is assured
tha, that is the great aud chief object In
view. In this way, by Withholding the
public avowaI of the specific objects in
tended, and leaving TO each individual to
explain and give such as he may think
will be the most popular, the convention
is dressed up to suit every prejudice, in
lerest and opinion, and made 10 eiiec,
exactly the change which each one wants,
and TO leave undlsturbcd every provision
If the constitution which happens to be
approved. This is what is called poll
cy. But i, is not the kind OF policy re-
commended by the father OF his coun-
try. He differed from the advocates oil
a convention; he declared "honesfy to
be the best hoiicy:"
Whilst the course pursued by the ad
vocates of convention cannot tail to at
tract the attention, and awaken the sus-
picions of the people, it is gratifying to
those OF their opponents who know their
object, to perceive that it is not consider
ed even by themselves popular, or else
they would not be 50 ANXIOUS 10 conceal
it. II is plain to be seen that they deem
it all important to ,he success OF the con-
vention question, that the people should
be kept ignorant of the real object in
tended to be effected by it. This is en-.
couraging to the opponents of the mea-
sure TO set the question fairly before the
people; and the greater the effort made
by the advocates OF the measure to dis.
guise or conceal its real object, the more
IL afer med ah1,aild h. lie cIa1auperio -