Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-07-06
Mr.. Coos to his Constituents.
TO THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.
FEILow CITIZENS,


rious Session, il is reasonable that YOU should
expect from me a brief statement at least of
such measures AS have been adopted by Con-
gress, as are likely to have an important bear
ing on your interests. Early in the Session,
the subject of revising the tariff Of duties inn
posed on imported manufactures, with view
70 encourage and protect the industry and skill
of our own country, was referred to Commit
tee ofthe House of Representatives, who in due
reporteds bill containing such provisions
rs seemed most ikeiyto effect so desirable an
object. Affecting, as it WAS believed this bill
did, every variety of interest embraced within
the limits of our widely extended country, il
could not nor did it fail, TO excite much and
deeply interesting, investigation. In the course
ofthis discussion, il underwent some modiica-
lions, but its substantial and material features
were retained, ndhave obtained that constitu-
tona sanction, which gives to them legal effect
AS coupled with, and essential to, this great
change in our national policy, the foundation
OF system of internal improvement has also
been laid A law has been passed approprIa-
ting sum of money TO be expended under
the authority and direction Of the President
of the United States to ascertain by surveys
and examination, what practicable objects of
internal improvement, first merit the attention
OF the nation.
The adoption of these two measures it is
believed, may be considered as constituting a
new era in the policy OF this country and I
sincerely believe it will be that era, from which
future Legislators will date the permanency OF
the grandeur, ndependence, andumon ofthese
Stairs. With the means OF cheap and ready
iufercourse between the paria 80 PURSUITS
and industry II the people 1T Tie whole nauon
may and will take sch directions as climate,
soil, and geographical situation may indicate
as the most beneficial. internal commerce
and trade will assume new life, and in its var-
Gus operations will create in each section, new
interests in, and attachments to, every other
section of our common country. Under such
state Of things local preiudices will sdbslde,
and we shall become bound together as one
people, by the golden cords of interest and
affection. Situated as Illinois Shaving out
lets now existing, or susceptible OF easy con-
struction hereafter, to every quarter OF the
countryside time cannot be distant when,
under the necessary and infalli5ie operation Of
such system, she will feel and realize many
OF It's advantages Under this view of The sub
ject, gave to these measures my constant and
uniuct,I,ling, though | confess feeble support.
As national measures, these stand preemln-
emily above all others that have been adopted;
while, in point of Immediate Importance to the
interests of Illinois, they stand in secondary
relation only. The most important actthat
has been passed in relation to your interests,
is that giving further relief to the purchasers
of of the public lands, who became indebted
to the government under the (now obsolete)
credit system. This measure having been
first recommended in very strong terms by
the President OF the United States, in his open
ing Message at the second session of the 10th
Congress, and in obedience to which, at an at
ter period Of the same session, was again pre-
sented to its consideration by the Secretary OF
the Treasury was found to have effected so
great reduction OF the debt due by these
purchasers, that revival of the principles of
the previous laws on that subject, was deemed
wise and proper. Influenced by strong de-
sire to destroy the unfriendly relation ofdebt-
or and creditor, which subssts between these
purchasers and the government, as well as to
relieve the dstresses ofthe debtors, Congress
has again interposed its liberal and fostering
authority, TO provide them the means of re-
lief.
The amount of the debt at present due by
the people of Illinois, is eight hundred and forty
one thousand three hsuided and t1Vo dollars. If
no considerable part of this heavy sum should
be paid until the expiration of the term of
credit, the interest which would then have to
be paid would amount to but little less than
t1eo hundred thousand dollars !, which, added to
the principal, would make gross sum of
more than miiion of dollars. That
there is no Just reason for calculating that the
state will be able to pay that sum in the short
space of four years. | think every man ofsound
will admit and l respectfully sub
NH il q your confederation, whether sound
policy on your part does not recommend sur
render of as much Of your land as will in most
cases enable you to close your accounts with
the government. The spirit of speculation,
like most other evils in this life. has correct
ed itself The means of its qualification are
no longer within the reach ofany considerable
portion of the community, and hence its ex-
tinction. The apprehension, therefore, that
the lands adjoining. or convenient to those
you have improved, may be bought up by
others for the purpose of speculation, ought
no longer to influence you to retain them,
where there is not the most clear and satstac-
tory prospect before you of being able to pay
for them without looking for further indul-
gence from the government.
These observations are submitted in that
spirit of candor which ought to influence eve
ny public agent in expressing his views on
public affairs; and am prompted to make
them by the deep interest feel in the well
fare of people, who have given me many
evidences of their confidence and friendship.
With view to lessen the dangers to which
the commerce on the Ohio and Mississippi is
exposed, and as a manifestation of that spirit
Of Cancellation which parental government
should always practise towards every section
IF the country over which ITS jurisdiction ex-
entls an appropriation of seventy five thou |
land dollars has been made, to defray the ex- !,
penscs Of removing the snags, sawyers, and
other Instructions to the safe navigation of
those rivers. That this sum will be sufficient |
to complete the object, may well be doubted; |
but should it notbe, and should the applica-