Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-01
BY sc. SHERMAN.

! 'he time when made, selected as Il NO. ~
iiine when the state was in its ;pfsns,
/ ana her most fertile territory unoeonloJ
: . put ,nc raPid march af Improvement since
ia' .l'ne' me increase of population and
"eas"' IA region where thea the white
na'' 20 ? Roy nao seldom Irod, renders it an
80 ~. y. justice, aud OF policy also, that the
location should now be changed.
Du' 'hlS question:, as we conceive. ha.
oeeh seltled by the act of the last lepisla-
,ure. mas been enacted and determined
I ny me competent authority, that it shall be
lchanged And whatever our individual
opinions may be in relation to the iustice
or policy of that act, still, until it bo re-
IPealed, 1t IS imperative upon us. And we
deem IT duty which we owe to ourselves
our children and country, so to act and
vote, under This law, as in our opinien will!
DC most conducive to the interest, conyon,
FENCES and well-being of the present and
future generations. -
we repeat, 'ee deem this our dutv: and
under this solemn conviction. we would
respectfully request and urge upon our fell
low cilIzens, IN. every region of tho state.
10 take inc question under their serious
lcohsideIation, and feel and act as their
sense OF justice and their country's good
may prompt them. That poll books be
| opened IN every county, and that they ex-
ercise their high prcrogative of recording
tneIr votes upon this important question.
we cannot, however, feIow-citizens, refrain
| from The expression of the opinion, that
The law, as passed upon this subject, is un-
equal and unjust in its provisions, and we
regret TO say, that, as there is too much
reason to Believe, intended to delraud the
central and northern counties of the state
| OF their Just rights, and defeat their equita-
pie Grains to It's location at or near the CEN
ire OF the state. We think the law upon
ITS lace bears US out in this opinion For
What other reason are so many points de-
slgnated i'll the central and northern parts
OF the state? Why are there but two points
| a" tho ern'.a while there are four designa-
ted IN the north? The answer is but too OH
'Ious. The design could have been none
Io'her than to divide and defeat the central
region OF the state. The law was framed
upon the principle, diride and conquer.
belleVing this to be the intention and de-
sign OF majority of the legislature, what
can the people do, what should they, in or
der to defeat this Iniquitous design, and Sc,
cure their own just rights? What more
can they do. than to appeal from the inius.
tIce OF the Legislature to the Justice of the
great body OF the people, knowing and be-
lieylnS that they will do justice, when the
opportunity is offered? 70 appeal to the
generosity, the liberality, the Justice of the
south and east. What more can ,oc do than
by union formed among ourselves, defeat
the effort nude to disunite US, and act upon
the safe maxim, "anited ,re stand e'irided we
faUn
In order to effect this desirable result,
ms convention has been called. We have
met and conferred together We have COL
lected together the wishes and feelings, as
they come warm from the people, whom we
represent; and after comforting together.
celebrating and comparing opinions, We
have arrived at conclusion which we now
respectfully submit to our fellow citizens.
We have arrived at the conclusion that we
should act under the law, and that our &C.
ton should be a united one.
In order to this, it was necessary to Sc.
Iect from the various points named in tho
north, the one which, from its natural posi-
ton and advantages, as well as from the
expressed wishes Of the people, had the
greatest claims to be the permanent seat OF
government and capital Of our young and
rapidly growing state. We had but little
difficulty in arriving at a conclusion upon
this point. Springfield, in the county of
IN our opinion, had pre-eminent
claims, and that place was selected by US
with but little difference of opinion And
In this opinion and conclusion we would
strongly and earnestly, though respectfully,
request our telowcitizens in every quarter
of the state, and more particularly IN the
counties which we,have the honor TO repre-
sent to concur and cooperate with us.
Time will not permit us to go at large
into all the reasons why Springfield was
thought by us to be the point, having pa ra-
mount claims upon our support and suffra-
ges; we would, however, suggest to your
few of them:
The first reason we would assign, is the
fact that, from free and frank intercourse
and interchange OF opinions with our fell
low citizens before we assembled here, it
seemed to be the general wish of the poo
pie we represent, that Springfield should
be the point selected
In The second place, we felt deeply con-
WINGED that the seat of government should
be located near the centre of the state, or
at the most convenient and practicable
'point nearest the centre. that by this rule