Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-05-27
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EDwARDsvILLE. MAY q, 1926.


Gen. Joseph Duncan--This gentleman hon.
ored the citizens of Madison county, who were
assembled at Troy, on Monday last, for Battal-
ion muster, with an address-and the day fol-
lowing he delivered another to the Cd Battal-
ion, assembled in the Bottom. We shall at
tempt to give an outline of his speech at the
former place.
He commenced by telling us that he was
candidate for the House of Representatives Of
the United States, and observed, that it was
an advantage to the people to have number
of candidates to select from. Said that if
elected, he should feel himself bound to obey
the instructions of majority Of his constitu-
ents. With respect to the contemplated Ca
nal to unite the waters of the Illinois river with
Lake Michigan, he observed, that he lived on
the Mississippi, and consequently was in favor
of it but should be for the measure if he
lived elsewhere; and should support MIR. Tho
mas bill which appropriatesa quantity of Pub
lie Land to that object. That he should sup
port Mr.. Benton's bill, reducing the price of
Public Lands; and gave two reasons why he
thought it ought to be adopted First, it would
enable those who had settled on these lands,
and who feared to make valuable improve
ments, lest these should tempt spectators to
enter them over their heads'-to enter the
lands theselves, and then they would make
improvements And secondly, It would be an
advantage to the state to have Congress land
entered, that it might become subject to taxa
ton.
II had been objected to him to-day, said
Gen. d. that he was the author of the Free
School system, which taxes the rich for the
benefit of the poor. He acknowledged that
he had introduced the bill, and had supported
it with uncommon zeal but it was with the
belief that it would be found beneficial to the
state. He held himself bound to obey instruc-
TONS and he was sure that it was consonant
He referred us to the good effects il had pro-
duced in other states, especially in New York,
which, he verify believed was indebted to this
system for her Grand Canal and TOR the su-
periority which she maintained over almost as
large states in proximity He was sure he had
not supported the system out of interested
motives, for he had no children, and his rela-
tives had but few.
He then begged leave to speak of himself:
said that il bad been objected that he had
come out before his friends were ready for
him-observed that he knew there were a
ter-but he should always look to thu people
themselves.
1t has been said, (said Gen. d. that am
ambitious If entering the service Of my coun-
try while an orphan boy, Gor was not seven
te.n,) a volunteer; and serving during the
whole war-bearing all the hardships and pri-
vatons incident to soldiers life be ambi.
ton, then am ambitious, for this have done
He said he had no newspaper editors 10
trumpet nlS Iaine- ana lnen alluueu TO a COM
munication published in the Spectator over
the signature Of ga Friend to Illinois," sup
posed it insinuated that he might render him.
self violent partizan-which he repelled-
said he had been in public life 10 years. and
he referred us to his course in the State LIE.
gisature. Though he liked the advice of his
friends. yet he pursued his own course.
He was farmer, and had not enjoyed very
great privileges to obtain an education, did not
profess to be an orator, and, if elected, should
not think proper to detan the representatives
of the people, each of whom received S8 per
diem, . half day, to deliver speech to be
published in the newspapers, or sent home to
his constituents.-He thanked us for our at
tention, &c.
We are not in favor Of the election of Gen.
Duncan to Congress.-This may appear to be
an unnecessary declaration on our part, but we
love to be explict-the more so because we
have too good an opinion Of the General to
think that he can deserve any other mode of
opposition than that which is frank and open.
There is much in him which we have always
esteemed, and. although there have, during the
whole time we have known him, been points