Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-11-02
by an alteration of.heir constitution, ma,

by an alteration flheir constitution, NAV
make any disposition oil the negro slaves
they choose !" Now it would be really
desirable to know upon What ground we
might SO alter our constitution as to get
rid OF our pledges OF faith, and engage
ments OF compact, without any violation
of them for by this short way of dong
business, Illinois might afford much
land for taxation to tho state, which The
people are now restrained from assess
ing, by compact But if the people
choose TO emaneiPsts the slaves within
this state; wherein docs the Constitution
prohibit them II positively prohibits
slavery OF every description: and this
prohibition, if it be of any force al all, it
must have an absolute force in every
caseS as there is no limitation or excep-
ton to it whatever.
Although our constitution presents no
impeachment TO the abolition of slavery
within this stats, yet il nigh, afford some
serious obstacles 10 the views of tbs
committee. There is good reason to be-
lieve, that while they were professedly
legislating on the subject of IS The final
extinction OF slavery within the state"
they were busiy employed in providing
for its extension, The intimation so art
fully expressed, that by altering our con-
slhutlon, tic people might make 81 any
disposition oinegro slavery they choose, =
tayors this conclusion as much as il does
the olher; aud subsequent measures
prove that the Accomplished OF - the
object OF this portion OF The governors
message was not the real ground OF
their recommending the call of a con-
ventioD 10 alter the constitution. Bn,
how was the extension of slavery To be
effected by altering The constitution :
he committee tell US that Obligations
and colnpacts are solemnIy binding oil
the pal - entering into them. The ex
clusion OF slavery from this state does
no, rest particularly on The eroand of
having prohibltory clause opt.enaily
Inserted IN The constitution, but in So
Tenn pledge 10 congress that should
be so inscrted. The demand OF congress-
in the ac1 OF 1918, is, "lf you arc admit
ted as astate, your constitution shall be
In conformity with tie ordinance of 1887.
Which prohibits slavery." The reply Of
tho the people OF Illinois, is, /" In order to
| become estate, We will comply with tins
demand" Now the compact thus form
ed, is solemnly binding on US in oil our
new modelling of our constitution, as
wen as IN lis formation IN the first place
SO long as we have constitution to
| wlsfch this agre ement can refer, SO long
t'ust we scru pulously regard its appli-
cation, or be guilty OF a breach OF Gath (;
taey e opinion" of tic comnillee to the
esnuefy notwithstanding Bur tue
gracrj objection is, thai as we were 70
be admitted Into the Union upon an
eGua! footing with the original states III
all respects whatever, Congress had no
night 10 Impose this restriction npen Us.
AS there Is Some plausibihty IN this OBJ
jection-it demands clear aud sa,,stacto-
ry answer Congress had no right Ia
IMPOSE upon this stule any restrictions
that Initiated against The establishment.
and exercise oil state gopernn n, uDou
republican principles All thiaes Tia.
were necessary 10 this, she was baund Ia
guarantee to all The states. But Inc
question is whether slavery is nece.sa-
ry -appendage to free state governments,
OF forms any Indispensable part of !,
That this Is not tho case is evident tro.4,
the Tact, that while some OF the oripina.
states admit slavery, others reject ii, md
all might do without it without any detri-
men, 10 their government. Slavery Thea
| is distinct subject, nnconnec,ed wife
the necessary principles of government
aud oi course is proper subject TO b.
reenis,cd in any particular case, as ,he
government might think fl, or the par,
ties agree. Congress decided that Their
territory (of which Illinois IS now part
should be free from slavery, and ,noy
had right SO to do: and this prerosa-
| tive which they exercised in the terrific
ry, they had right 10 make sublec, oi
compact with the people who were to be
comprised in the new formed states
This stipulation was made with, and
assented to by the people of Illinois !,
and we have no more ground to com
plain OF it as an abridgemcnt of poltl-
cal liberty, than we have 10 complain
that because Congress holds and dispo-
SEES Of all the public lands within the
state exempt from our control or taxa
lion, we are not therefore on on equal
footing with the original s,ares. Shall
we adopt the prepostcrous "opinion" OF
the committee OF our Senate, and con-
clude that by altering our consultation,
we can not only give free scope 10 slave
1 ~ I'M hi Ill