Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-02-01


difficult to detect but your committee
have good reason 10 believe that there
are no such persons amongst the French
in ST. Clair, as thirty thee, whose names
are signed to the petitions, which deduct
ed, would leave four handred and forty
two. How these signatures we're got
ten, your committee are at a loss to
know but they are accompanied with
the certificates ofrespectable men, who
certify, without oath, that they were
honorabiy obtained, and are legal voters,
of 81. Clair county. Your committee
will not state that these gentlemen have
knowingly certified to that which is nor,
as it is matter about which they may
have been easily mistaken. Yet your
committee must state, that on these pc
litions, thus certified, they have discov-
cred the signatures of several persons
who do not reside IN The county, and Of
course, your committee do not include
them in the fore going estimate.
Your committee alter deducting such
OF the improper signatures to the re-
monstrahces as hey have been able TO
detect, and adding The forty who have
|retracted and Joined in demonstrating as
aforesaid, and deducting twenty more,
as they rather choose TO deduct too
much than too little, they find the whole
number remaining six hundred and fifty.
four; making Two hundred and twelve
demonstrators more than petitioners -
These two numbers aided, your COM
mttee are aware, make a number ex-
ceed,ng, by about one hundred, the
whole number Of voters in the county.
OF the petitioners, exclusive OF those
who have retracted, twD hundred and
seventeen purport 10 baYe been obtain
ed in that part of ST Clair called the
bottom and we are satisfied that more
than fifty names have been obtained from
thai section OF the country 10 the remen-
srances, which would make sum total
IN that quarter of about two hundred and
seventy a number, your committee con-
eelve, much greater than can be found
here OF qualified voters. BY what
means these signatures have been pro-
cured, your committee are not prepared
ITO say; but it is apparent from an in
speclion OF the petitions, that many OF
The names are in the same hand write,
and the gentlemen who certify 10 the
fairness OF the manner in which they
were obained, have not specified the
papers that contains he signatures 10
which they certify; and OF course have
furnished no means of testing their truth
The petition from Nj adlsen contains
bat lew names, and the one from Wash
. ingtnn only eleven.
Your committee cannot forbear sta
ling, that the petitioners ought to have
presented their petition at ~ earlier
stage of The session, when there would
have been time for fair and Just scru'
tiny oi the signatures and that coming
a, so late period, the application seems
to shun investigation; and your commit.
tee submit to the House, whether it is
proper, at so late period, 10 enter into
the discussion of matter 50 impor
liant as this must be to their fel!ow-citi
zeDs.
Your committee will state their cpi
MON, that but for the existence of a small
town, called Lebanon, near the north
cast corner OF St. Cisll county, this ap
piicatlun iof a division would not save
been made. Lebanon is situated OF
Silver Greek, about three and hal
miles from the line OF Madison connty
and little less then six from the eastern
J line OF ST. Clair, east Of the town there
are no inhabitants beyond the vIncan,
! Of the timber which frirgts the creek
, from the north to south, pretty much or
line with Lebanon; the rest Of the
country beyond these settlements is 10.
inhabited prairie to The eastern line Of
the county. The whole Of these se'tle.
menls on Silver creek, from the Mat|i
son line to the mouth OF Silver creek
will not average more than abopt ]
miles to Bel'evelle, the present seat oil
Justice, and many of them are much
nearer. Across this creek are two good
bridges, and many good tords and the
number ui inhabitants who are compel.
| led to cross the creek to reach the IRE.
sent sea, OF justice, do not equal by one
half the number which The con,empla.
ted division would comps! TO cross the
creek to go to Lebanon, the wished for
county seat of justice of this projected
county. 1t is believed that more Than
two-thrds of the population of ST. Clair
roc III "A viihin ton ~, ilac If RalIev;jI, ,n,J
that the most dense part OF his poruia-
ton inhabt its vincinity. The west line
! OF this projected county will. if created,