Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-05-06
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
10 the People Of Illinois.

To the People Of Illinois.
FELLow.CITIzENs,
The time is not far distant when you
will again be called on to exercise a pri-
vilege, only gusran. d to freemen, and in
tho performance Of which it 10 all-impor.
tant that you should not act without due
delibera'ion. ', is an old adaee, that " we
should look before we leap" and "fhink
before we act" Let US, then, treasure
in our minds these wholesome maxims,
and proceed to the examination OF sub
jecl in which we are all deeply and vital
ly interested. 1t is remarked that kings
are either curse or blessing 10 man.
kind, and the remark may be applied
with equal propriety and truth, to those
who make, execute, and administer the
laws, in our own republican and beloved
country.
How careful ought we then to be, in
elecling those who make the laws; as
all political and civil liberty depends
upon the laws tina, are made; and the
execution and administration OF them are
only necessary consequences, resulting
from those adopted.
In Angus, next, you will have 10 elect
a representative TO Congress, whose pre-.
rogative it is to make laws for the go.
vernment oil the United States generally.
OF this representative whom you may
select it will become The duty 10 watch
over, and advocate with manly ability
the growing and important interests Of
the west. Our present representative,
Mr.. Cook. it is believed, has ably, bold.
~ and fearIessly advocated all those
measures which would have tendency
to ameliorale the condition OF mankind,
and rebound 10 the honor and advantage
OF his country. Il he has acted as o
faithful sentinel Of the people-if he has
discharged his duties ably, honestly, and
lmparlially, we ought not to discard him.
That he has discharged his duties with
ability, no man will hesitate 10 acknowl.
edge. His greatest enemies confess
him TO be man of fine genius and tai.
enls; and admit that he is so considered
in the National Legislature. That he
has discharged his duties honestly, there
cannot doubt res, upon the mind OF any
man, who will duly consider and proper.
ly investigate the circumstances attend.
ing every subject which he has Sc,ed
upon, since he has been in Congress.
And they are, by no means, few. Ma.
ny are the important matters he has act
ed upon, and pleased Us we'll. Often
have his zeal for The public good, and
The ability, ingenuity and firmness with
which he has advocated our rights, ex-
cited our admiration. What then /?
Shall it be said that, because represen-
tative hos differed in opinion with US,
one time only in sir years, we should
lay him aside.-No! never will it be
said that, the people are ungratelul--or
+" their own worst enemies" That he is
impartial, none will deny. No matter
whether any measure may be proposed
by member OF the north, or q member
Of the south, if Mr.. Cook thinks il will
advance human improvement, and ag-
grandize his country, he gives it his uI,-
divided and warmes, support. Can the
same thing be said Of many in Congress !?
and what guaranty have We that the sue.
cessor Of Mr.. Cook would pursue the
same liberal and msgnanimous course !?
We have none. He may, for aught we
can tell, become most violent party
man, should he succeed in defeating Mr..
Cook. He may neglect the interests OF
the public, and judge Of the goodness or
badness Of any measure, by the person
or party that brings it forward. Should
these possible evils be realized, we may
easily discover the injury which would
result. Illinois would no longer be
Representations, if her interests ere
urged by one who had become obnoxious
TO the House Of which he was q member;
they would pass ~ty and the sound die
away, unheeded. On the other hand he
may, with the best intentions, prove in
efficient and therefore useless. 1t is
earnestly hoped that such state Of
things may not occur.
For fear, however, let US ]" look before
We leap" into situation now too dark
to discover the consequences.
"Let US think before we act" on
subject that involves SO much tina, is
dear to us and our pos.erity; the per-
peius,ion Of our prosperity.
These are not altogether imaginary
chimeras :--they are founded in reason
and in truth, as | shall attempt to show
you in some future numbers.
II Friend to Illinois.
PLATTsBURGH, N. Y. FEB. ~, 1926.
TLnhrerp6enfpd CoId FIN Thura dav