Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-07-28
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
TO MR.. DAVID BLACKWELL.

~ IVA II. LA III lila In w ELI.
You have pretaced your philippe
against Messrs. Edwards and Cook, with
many solemn professions OF candor,
right, and public duty, and your rea-
ders would be prepared to expect from
your introduction most dlspassionate
vindication oil yourself, as well as like
arrangement OF those whom you have
made your adrersaries. Ear from this
you have taken The field true knight
errant in defence Of the Legislature OF
which you was member: Why is al!
this sudden sympathy Tor the l.egisla-
lure Is II because you arc conscious OF
being lett by the people OF your county
IN dIgnliied retirement, that you now
throw off the mask and appear In yout
true character ! 1t is true that you now
allege as reason Tor coming out against
Edwards, that in April las, you read the
evidence in the case OF Crawford one
would suppose from your account Of the
mater that Edwards was on trial, aud
not Crawford. Do the committee in
their report criminatc Edwards They
simply find the charges against Craw-
lord were sustained, but excuse the acts
Tor certain existing causes. bu, you
may be referred to the decision OF the
people, as an appeal from the Judgment
! OF Tie committee. Crawford was can
ddate for the Presidency, and the lean,
scanty support he obtained, shows, III
Tue minds OF a great people their award
IN the matter. But you say, Edwards is
proslra.ed by this matter, and that III
every state in the union. Pray how did
you in Illinois get this information the
pubIlc prints speak no such language.
Ii he did fall it was like the strong man
armed, bearing his adversary with him
10 a greater fall, and an irretrievable des-
tiny. You, in speaking OF Edwards and
Cook, talk of family aris,ocracy: II Is
fiji the public should know your rela-
tionshlp to your iayorite candidate Gen.
Joseph Duncan, with whose brother, the
cashier of the principal bank and your
self, there is relation by ahinily: per-
haps the public can estimate duly your
and the Generals vote last winter when
the question was before you in the Le-
gisla,ure for reducing or taking away
he cashiers salary: How much of pa
lrio,ism there was in all this, let the pub
lie Judge. But you say your mind was
changed las, April. Why did you mo-,
openly avow tina, change in your own
county, and not skulk under pretended
neutrality 10 MIR, Edwards since that
time? Have you not repeatedly since
the memorable day of your conviction
and conversion, given divers people OF
your county to understand that you
should support Edwards, or at least that
you should remain neutral. 1t now ap-
pears you have shown yourself, and it
was not done until your own citizens
pulled off your mask and showed you in
your true condition; and you now, sp-
pealing from the citizens Of your county,
address yourself to the people OF Hill
nois. Consistency OF character is a
jewel that should have an eminent place
in the casket Of public man and pa
triol.; and it you clanor for political ho-
nesty, the public will expect you TO ex-
hlbIt it. Did you not represent to some
citizens OF Bond county, when inyeigh-
ing az aims, Mess Cook and Edwards,,h
the mail route was taken from Vsndalis
for the purpose OF its running through
Believille And now IN your address
you endeaRor to inAsme the public MIND