Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-07-07

ty of my country in much higher estima-
tion than do the elevation OF any indi-
vidual, no matter who he may be.
But, at last, Fellow Citizens, if have
erred in comforting my vote upon him, l
trust have shown that it was an honest
error OF judgm enl, and do not therefore
deserve the harsh ceDsure that HIS, by
some, been heaped upon me- You hon
estly, no doubt, ALTERED amongst your
selves, when you gave your votes Tor
electors--and yet is there a man who
voted for one of the candidates prepai ed
TO denounce, as have been, every man
who voted for the other candidates Are
the friends of Mr.. Crawford, or OF Mr..
Clay, prepared to say that those who
voted either for Mr.. Adams or General
Jackson, are enemies to good govern
ment, and without patriotic principles,
and that therefore they cannot go 10 the
polls to vote for any one who voted Tor
either? Or are they willing to admit that
as honest men voted for them as are to
be found in the community! Ii they are
willing 10 admit this, are they ready 10
deny me the common privilege extend
ed TO others, of also honestly differing
from them look for more justice, aud
more liberality, from sober and think
ing people. Partizans may deny me
this privilege, but sober, rejecting,
and just community will not. They will
look upon me as they do upon each ether
-as having candidly differed with them
in opinion on great question, which
they could not themselves settle; and
they will Judge me by the saine rule by
which they judge others, where they dill
Ter in sentim eni--by the effects that have
been produced by my opinion having
prevailed. They will Judge me by the
fruits which have flowed from the sue.
cess of Mr.. Adams. II those fruits
have been good, they will approve; il
bad, they will doubtless condemn me /;
and upon this issue am wiling to be
put, and to stand or fall by the verdict
you may render.
Having thus fully presented the views which
influenced me ill relation to my Presidential
Vote, will now proceed 10 notice, for the
fourth time, the vote which gave in 1920,
on the bill to reduce the price of public land
Although this vote was given at the first ses-
sion that | served in Congress, and has been
the ground fattack atevery election since still
L perceive 1t is again revived, and have
been informed that no little pains have been
taken to turn it to my disadvantage. IF the
presentpopulationof the state consisted of those
only who were in it at the time that the vote
was given, | should deem it unnecessary a
fourth time to explain the ground on which
gave it. But our population has changed and
increased. and it is Oh the minds of those who
who have not heretofore understood the sub
ject, that an unfayorable impression is now at
te mpted to be made.
| will briefly state the whole case.-Frcm
the year 1900 down to 1920, the lands of the
United States had been sold under what was
called the Credit System, at 81 per acre. One
fourth OF the purchase money was required
to be paid down and five years were allowed,
within which to pay the other three -fourths.
Under the beneficial operation Of this system,
our population, which, in 1873, amounted to
but $4,000, had Increased, in 1918, within the
space of five years only to $4,000. The poor
man, who had bui $50 in his pocket, was able,
under that system, to purchase quarter SEC
ton of land, and by industry, within five years,
1T was then believed he could raise the means,
on the land ITSELF Of paying up the balance of
the purchase money, With this system the
people Of Illinois were familiar and reconciied.
The act of $50 repealed this system, and re.
quired The whole purchase money t. be paid
down. To the passage Of this act many of
the Western members, as well as myself, were
uyaI hal, 81,