Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-05-04
pROSPECTVS
For Publishing Heekiy Newspaper
IN THE rowN OF BELLEyILLE, ILL.
BY FoRQUER & FORD,
To be entitled, the
Independent Political Censor.

n Will De expected. III the edllOfS lntSid-
ed to trudgc in the track which the generalit,
other brethren Of the {, pc find it convenient
to pursue. a hint of their course would be in-
pertinent, as that would have already been as
certalned. But as the present time requires
Gn the opinion of the editors) material
change in the friendly and docile habits of the
Press, and they anticipate for themselves a
course as widely variant from that which gene
rally prevails, as the necessity which creates
it, is, from common and Tranquil occasions,
they feel justified in formally exposing their
views and intentions TO the public.
The editors, therefore, with sincerity de-
clare that, the grand objects Of their labors
will be to disseminate useful information-to
encourage, prop, and assist industry, talents,
and virtue, generally, whether exerted i'll
private life or in public, in agriculture, manu-
features, commerce, the arts and sciences, Or
! in any sphere where they may be found use
! fully employed, to publish and deprecate the
feats OF vice in every shape, coming under
newspaper cognizance for this purpose the
editors viii extend their inqusitorial and CEN
serial offices into all the relations of public
] life. Governors in the chair of state-Judges
on the Ministers in the sacred stand,
and all the public tnnctionaries of the nation,
! However elevated viii be considered as law
ful subjects Of inst animadverslon.
Its the peculiar felicity Of our country nen,
that in this land Of liberty, no topic OF public
moment is too sacred TO grace the columns Of
4 newspaper. The Press is. or at least ought
to be, the constant and vgilant guardian OF
the peoples rights and in fact it has ever
/ been considered by The Americans, rs the pre-
server Of their institutions, trumpet of alarm
when those institutions are attacked, arousing
the unouspecting victims of politica! Intrigue
it<, ii
rights.
| with much concern the editors contemplate
| the necessity Of personal illusions and fire.
quent structures ON individual nduct.--Ihey
have no pleasure in the writings and dstor-
TORS Of a wounded mind, and lament that the
conduct Of men is so blended with the pruspe-
rity or adversely of the public by the operation
Of government, that an abuse Of the peoples
rights and confidence. cannot happen without
! a dericcion ofdutv on the part other age is,
who make or administer the laws: vet, not
withstan,ling the unpleasant sensations they
must experience from this source, they can
never conceive themselves justified in pur-
poseiy toerating a misplaced bene"olence.
lowcver cOngenal to their feelings, which
would withhold the lash of censure from the
unfaithful and the a5ettors OF corruption. Ina
government OF the people the Importance Of
tllc tlItSiln Oi anu upon
appropriate animadversons On the conduct Of
public servants, create in the editors high
responsibility, paramount to all prudential con-
siderations or particular attachments, if any
exist. and they take a pleasure in disavowing
every attachment, either 60 parties Or to men,
which NAV contravene the accomplishment of
their trust.
The novelty of the present undertaking is
perhaps manifested in this, as consDicuously
as IN any other circumstance, that the editors
build upon their own foundation, or upon
none. They have sought no influential
friend to puff their merits, and blazon
their wa, before them, to whom they might
be under obligations of reciprocal taVor.--On
the contrary, they expect a host Of enemies at
the very CONNIE ncement, and Those too among
the most iniuen!ial characters, being those
most interested in the prescription Of a paper,
the avowcd object Of which is to expose the
multitude of their receptions and intrjgues.
Most papers grow up under the fostering hand
of some powerful patron, whose interest ii is
bound to advocate. The editors OF this paper
solicit the patronage of none but the sove.
reign people, and that without the Interference
Of any such mercenary engines. The neces-
silly OF paper OF this character, is apparent to
every man who is not inveigled in the entan-
gleme hts ofpolitl rhicanery, and who claims
To himself the inheritance Of freeman. The
editors are therefore anxious that il be distinct
ly understood, that they throw themselves
wholly upon the patronage Of the people for
support, whose interest 1t is their peculiar
province to guard and protect. Il any intli-
vidual, therefore, obtains their appreciation,
he will be indebted to his merits alone, and
not TO favor. Abhorring sycophancy, they
fully disciaim the influence of men acIuated
by amy kind OF mercenary motives They
are the tools OF no combination, and are under
no obligation to trudge in the filth OF party
amnesty.
1t is right in times of tranquility that the
press should sleep.-But when patriotism is
absorbed in the passion of efinierest, or en-
gulphed in the vortex Of factnn--when the
brazen voice OF dissention stuns our ears, then
slumber is crimnalthe voice Of the lion
should be heard. The untaithf. should be
dragged from their high places" and the
people excited to es'me their abused prero-
gatives Freachery, intrigue and conspira-
cies should be exposed. The rottenness
should be rooted out of Denmark and sDe-
ciousness and sophistry should be disrobed OF
their fair appearances.
The editors think that the present times
call for such labor, and they will think them
selves happy it they succeed in renovating and
calling forth the energies of the Press against
the multiplied disorders which pervatie the
civil polty Of Illinois.
AS to the great political questions which 81
extensively interest our state and nation, the
editors avow themselves to be governed BY
liberal and republican principles. They will
take a firm and unmovable stand against q NEW
CONVENTION, while possibility remains of the
admission of slavery, for reasons too nume-
rous to be adduced in the limits of this Pros