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

legally binding upon them it will ap-
pear extremely impolitic for any who
are opposed to slavery, to vote for con-
vention. When the people have called
convention, the power will no longer
be in them, but in majority of the con-
vention-a majority who may owe their
election to less than one-fourth of the
voters. True, they may submit their
work to the people but no human pow
err can compel them to do SO; and they
certainly would nor do SO, If they formed
constitution which tolerated slavery.
From these premises it appears that
the question about to be decided, is vir-
tually this: 4" Shall slavery be introduced
into this state? %
1t is contended by the friends of slave
ry, that its Introduction into Illinois
would not increase the number of slaves
in the union, because the foreign slave
trade is prohibited by law. But expe-
rence has shewn that nothing can pre-
vent the foreign slave trade, while the
present demand for slaves continues. II
is proved by report of a committee IN
Congress, and by report OF the Secre-
,ary OF the Navy, that the slave. trade
still continues to great extent. The
measures taken by the American and
British governments to exlirpate this
traffic, have but partially checked it,
while they have caused those who are
engaged in it to DO guilty of the most
alrocious barbarities towards the ubior-
tunate slaves, in order to escape delec-
ton. Thus, when slave ship was chased
by a British frisate, on suspicion oil ha-
wing slaves on board, these unfortunate
beings were inhumanly barrelled up
alive, and thrown overheard!
Ii is evident that whatever measure
would increase the demand for slaves,
would inevitably cause an extension of
the foreign slave trade; that it would
cause an additional number to be cap
tured in Africa, ned into loathsome
tloailng dungeons, struggled into the
United States, and, together with their
posteriy, doomed to perpetual bondage.
Perhaps the natives OF Africa might not
reach the state of Illinois, yet slaves
might be brought hither from the old
states, and their places would be sup
piled by others imported directly from
Africa. To admit slavery into this state,
would be to enlarge the market for
slaves. This would raise their value,
and increase the demand for them. Thus
IT would operate as bounty in favor OF
those who should smuggle slaves into
the United States. On the other hand,
the only etfoceual means of suppressing
the foreign slave trade, is 10 contract,
rather ,han to enlarge, the limits Of slave
ry. BY this policy, the demand for slas es
might, in a few years, be so reduced a.
10 afford no inducement for the mporla-
lion OF African slaves.
Blu, independent of the additional i'm
portallon OF slaves which would follow
the toleralion of slavery in this state, it is
evident that slaves will increase in pro-
portion to the extent of the country which
they occupy. That there are more in
habitan,s III the United States than there
would have been if The new states had
never been settled, no rationa man will de-
deny. And that there are now more slaves
than there would have been if slavery
had never been introduced into the new
states, is equally evident. Ii is also a
fact worthy Of serious reflection, that
slaves increase by natural generation,
infinitely faster than white people in slave
states. The numerous causes which re-
lard the increase Of treemen, have no ef.
lect upon slaves. Reared in brutal ig-
norance, they have few or none besides
brutal enjoymeDts. The avarice of the
master grants them these. Thus, in all
he slave states, there o domestic enc
my rapidly increasing in numbers. In
some counties, they already constitute a
majority. And unless some measures are
taken to emancipate and send out of the
country this rapidly increasing race of
enemies, il is to be feared that many of
the southern states will one day suffer
the dreadful fate of the island of St. Do
mingo. What man who has the least
speck Of patriotism in his breast, can de.
sire to leave such legacy to his poste.
rity?
In the present enlightened age, the
progress Of freedom has been rapid and
reslstlcss. Several of the United States
have abolished slavery; and the South
American republic has given splendid
proof of their sincerity and consistency
by general abolition Of slavery through.
out their dominions. While many states
have discarded slavery, and while others
are struggling to i,.e themselves from
its grasp, shall Illinois, still young and
unpoliuted, voluntary seek the monsters