Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-03-09


perry, were not lawfully obtained but
being part OF the same common faulty,
they cannot be property at all. Slavery
therefore, is contrary to reason and Ius-
uce. Good pol cy in any government
which may be adopted, is TO pursue that
course which is bes, calculated TO IN
crease the wealth and m litary strength
OF The nation. But wicked slavery,
while it INDUCES thousands In idleness
and extravaganza, (who are only consul
mers) wItaholds from the lsboring parl
Oh the community, every inducemen, 10
industry, and chains them down in state
Of vassalage and stupidity. Thus, in
stead OF strengthening, 1t ~eakens the re-
public in every point of view. |, is
therefore contrary to good policy.
viii now address myself particularly
10 toe advocates Of slavery.
Fellow citizens, let me ask you what
is your design in wishing 10 open this
state for the Introduction OF slavery Do
you expect II will be the means OF IN
crossing our population ? Should
quest you 10 examine the last census.
BY SO dong you WI Gnd Ia, the num-
Ter Of Inhabitants IN those states VIII re
slavery IS yrohio ted is much greater
han those where slavery is tolerated. |
sii also appear, by comparinl the cen
Us, thai. for numbers of years the IN
crease Of population has been much
more rapid in MISUNDERSTANDING than in
s.aYehod.ng states. L. ii reasonable &c
! suppose that ii the state is continued
open to emigration from ,hickly inhabit-
ed states, that our population will In
crease more rapidly than 70 open it 10
states that are more thiniy inhabited ! /!
certainly is; and excap. he same cause
will produce different effect from what
II ever yet has done, the Introduction OF
slavery here will decrease instead OF Ia
crease our population. Should an in
crease OF wealth in the state influence
| you to wish fer the introduction OF slave
ry, a.! that Is necessary in order that you
may discover your deluslon Is, 10 con-
trast The free with the slave holding
tates. Virginia, it seems, possessing
some upwards Of forty millions oi
acres ot land, increased IN wea III in
fifteen years, ninety -four millions oil
dollars; while Pennsylvania only pos
sesslng sl,tle upwards OF twenty-nm
millions OF acres, gained in the sam
'SHEip ~ aine, Two hundred and lorty
p0r millions oil dollars. ~ viii Got
be surpri2ed at this great dls ropDruon
~ the increase oil wealth. bst~e,n thes,
lwo states, when we reesiIeet that IL
! Pennsy svania. labor is DertUFiaed b}
those VINO share all its rewards, by free
men, while in Virginia il is performed
~ those who feel no interest therein
| by slaves.
This disproportion in the increase of
wealth between free and slaye-holding
i,ates, VIII be discovered 10 be general,
E, y %enefal comparison. wherefore,
| bei, can ali increase Of wealth be ex
pec,ed by the introdoclion Of slavery !!
| Or shall humanity to slaves induce you
10 wish their borders extended, that they
may not be penned up III contracted H.
n,s? (bu, | fear YOUR humanity 10 The
iaves is like that Of Joab to 4 bner,
| who, requesting hlm 10 sep aside that,
ne might have quiet conversation,
| thrust his sword under his fifth rib
| Lei your humanity extend 10 your " bite
,rethren OF the free states who form
a very considerable ma sorry OF the free
Inhabitants OF our government, and are
lpw penned Up in less than Two hiths
1i our common country. II IS truly
'umllaIing to think iha, while Britain,
sensible OF the enormous debt due the
5nns OF Africa. is actively employed in
lqnldaing her long arrears and while
many OF the United States, sensible OF
the folly OF their own choice, are de-
visng measures whereby they may ria
themselves of the evil Of slavery, tina,
| Illinois, whose character has never been
furnished with oppression, should coolly
and deliberately wish the introduction OF
slavery among us.
Have not Europe and America united,
and acknowledged, in the presence OF
nations, The slave trade to be an offence
equal to tht OF Piracy, and that it ought
to be punished accordingly! Shocking
to the human mind is the very thought,
OF visiting the coasts Of Africa, and pnn-
dering her Of her inhah;anis: Stripping
them OF every thing that renders human
existence desirable; bringing them TO
America; reducing them TO uncondi-
tinnal servilud-, and their unoHending
posterly after them. But what is the
difference between this and binding the
native blacks of Virginia or Maryland,
and bringing them By force, from all
their relatives and acquaintance, to the
state of Illinois, exac,ing of them and
their offspring, similar services There