Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-01-14
Syp!R!gs'.pg A. A TOR
EpwARDsvLLE. JANUARY a. 1926.
POPULATION OF ILLINOIS.

We are at length enabled to present
our readers with comparative view OF
the population of our state according TO
the enumeration made, under the provi-
sions Of the constitution, during the pre-
sent wear. and the census taken under the
authority of our GENERAL GOVERNMENT,
inl82o, The increase shown rom these
data, during five years, mounts to II ,o9o
souls; or about thirty two ter cent. But
we would remark that the enumeration
made under the STATE authority in 1920,
gives an aggregate OF 5o,574; nearly hive
thousand less than the number return
ed TO the General Government. Which OF
the statements made inthaty year is the cor
rect one, we do not pretend to say; but
if we take that made by our state autho-
rites, the increase will be found to be
22,243, or, a small fraction less than
forty-four per cent.
Whether our advance has been as ra-
pid as was generally supposed, /, is not
necessary to inquire. Our own expec-
tations have not been materially disap-
pointed, because we have borne in mind
the circumstance which have occurred
TO deter emigrants from a settlement
among US. During the pendency oil the
convention question there was an almost
entire pause ct the emigration TO this
state, Those who held slaves and wish.
ed 10 retain them, would not hazard their
loss by removing hither; and those who
were unwilling to reside in slave ate,
turned aside to places in which the ques-
ton was already settled. Nearly ayear
elapsed after j, was finally decided that
qve should not open our doors for The adj
mission OF slavery, before the decision
was sufficiently promulgated at the east
ward TO remove the fears of the citizens !;
So that we nave had but about two years
of free emigration of the five since 1907
ItcaDno, be amiss to state, also, OF our
own knowledge, that there are persons,
who, having been disappointed in their
hopes Of enjoying the privilege of holding
slaves, removed soon after he decision,
TO places where they might possess them.
II is impossible to say hozv many We
have lost in this way, but, although the
prophecies which we're uttered during
the contest-that the state would be de
populated by negative decision-have
not been fulfilled; yet we know that
some have departed.
Such OF our readers as felt an interest
in the sketch we lately gave of the conn-
ties formed since 1920, from Madison,
may now have an opportunity OF adding
to that account the number oil inhabitants
in each-at the time the enumeration
was commenced-for, from what we
learn, the number would be considera-
bly, enlarged, il ascertained at this date.
And while on the subject, we will state
that a gentleman lately from Pickaway
county, Ohio, informed US, that sixty ia
miles would leave tina, county for the
Sangamo country during the present sea-
son.
We have seen letter written by an intel
Ngent manin Pennsylvania. no longer ago than
November 1926, in which he speaks of Illinois
as slave-holding state; and hesitates Ia his
determination to remove to it, on that account.
We wish editors in all the Atlantic states would
inform the people there, that the question is
decided by a large majority; and Illinois is,