Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-02-10

honorable place in their weekly register.
| do not pretend to know but that the
editors OF the former OF these papers, and
possibly those of the latter too, did honest
ly suppose this piece really penned by
The said Reverend Senator Whether
they and the people considered he slg-
nature OF two favored letters, which oc-
billy that he would write (were he TO
write at alp just such piece, or the
combination OF both these circumstances,
as very good circumstance evidence OF
his being the author, take not upon
myself to say; but thus much is nndeni-
abe, Iha, The lormet, by publishing II, SO
willingly, without "note or comment"
as they did, gave very Conclusive proof
of their considering the doctrine contain
ed in it as defensible and genuiae-;he
reel stuff for converting the conscien-
th.usly scrupulous. By this act OF theirs,
they must be considered as truly adopt
ing those sentiments and arguments, and
giving them To the world as their o7uR,
be the author of them who he may, AMI
his real sentiments what they may.
Hence we are irresislaby led to the con-
cluson, that, although the author of that
piece is wholly opposed to all slavery,
the editors of those papers, at the time
they re-pubiished it, were truly I" in Ia
vor Of unlimited negro slavery
Probably, owe i, TO The people, since
| am thus publicly presented 10 them as
the writer of inconsis.en aud contra
dictory newspaper essays, to state that,
percciyinr the advocates OF a convention
to have in their employ many dissimi'ar
and cont adictory SETS OF arsun ents,
which they used alternately and very skill
fully, as the characters and subjects on
which they were to operate varied; aBd
among these, one set, drawn from the
Holy Scripture, consisting certain
passages, some OF which are quoted in
that piece, anf that the crafty convention
ISIS, though they were very wiling 10
make every possible use Of The Latter, on
every proper occasion, dared no, as yet
to publish them in their faihfHl printed
journals; | light it not Inconsistent OF
improper, lit beng very common way
to set forth, distinctly, the arguments an
fauor OF disputed question, and then,
afterwards, disprove them y 10 state those
texts, and the substance of the reasoning
bottomed upon them; being careful! to
do it with such obllquity of expression,
understandings and inucndoes, as that q
careful reader would have no doubt but
that the author h !. aself was reaiiy oppos-
cd 10 the principles, which he thus seem
ingty advocated, while in this manner
stating, as ii were, the positions WHICH
he intended TO combat.
Indeed, did not then think that any
conventionis', much less quickly DIS
eliminating, sharp-slshted convention
editor, would bite at such bait; but IN
this was mistak en-. Ii was too tempt
ing lure, ana they were too hungry
and too sparing'y supplied with conven-
tion-malerials, to pass it by. | suspect
they have lately discovered, or Mr.. Kin
ney, their patron, has, that such kinl Of
bait will not catch the people, otherwise,
the truth of this mighty matter never
would have been SO Industrious ~ search
ed ou., and | thus arraigned before the
public. However, be this as il may, the
writer Of w. X" supposed it was un-
dcrstood between him and the editor Of
the " Advocate" tia, an answer atteup,-
ing to disproye the argumen contained
in it, might be published in his paper.
An answer signed "Anrhropos," was
soon prepared and handed in Tor pnhii-
Gallon; nor did know but il was 10 be
Published, or why 1t was moi, for several
weeks; when, inquirlng the reason why
it did not appear, was told in substance,
that it had been answered by others, and
that my answer would not be published
without editorial remarks Oh il. No,
long afterwards, it was returned to me,
and | embraced the earliest opportunity
to hand it to the editors Of the intcl!i-
gence," who gave It publicity.
The sum total Of this matter is, l was
DESTROYS to see the arguments drawn
from the Scriptures, and thus irreverent-
ly pressed into such service, answer
ed; and knew no, OF a better method
of getting il done. was also willing to
have chance to answer them publicly
myself.
Bur inconsistency and imposition are
not all am charged with by those edi.
tors. Ii is alleged that | christened the
piece by the name OF 6 w. k" for the
purpose Of inluring the Reverend Sena-
tor from ST. Clair county. This charge
might be deemed too hueriie and triiling
TO deserve serious notice, but that ii is
emphaticaIly mentioned by those praise