Edwardsville Spectator

The very unhappy situation of the citizens of Pike county, compels me to delay the progress of my agricultural labors, at a season when time is so precious to us farmers, to make a statement of facts, well known in this county, but have not been yet made public; my want of education or capacity, I hope will require no apology, as I claim no rank but that of a peaceable citizen and a laboring farmer; and nothing but the peculiar misfortunes of these people, could have induced me to make an exposition of the causes of our calamities. To have public prejudice settled against us (from the address of an individual who is so odious, as the author of the communication published in the Spectator of the 29th March, signed N. Hansen,) is stronger inducement to state the whole case, or all the circumstances attending the late election in this county, than any other.

In order to open this subject properly for investigation, it will be necessary to give a brief account of the manner in which the public business has been transacted, and by whom, since we became a separate county from Madison; our greatest misfortunes may as well be mentioned first. That was the appointment of James W. Whitney as Clerk, and Daniel D. Smith Recorder of this county. To say anything about the general character of these two men, to any person well acquainted with them, would only go to confirm what is well known. As respects them, their aversion to every thing that is right, (except when their interest is to be highly favored) is a fact well known. Until these men and a company of Yankee Pedlars arrived in this county, the inhabitants enjoyed all the satisfaction that could arise from peace, harmony, and a good understanding among mankind, both within and without the county. But soon after the arrival of the persons did the company I have just mentioned, as a change in the tranquility of the people could be effected by them, we had innumerable vexatious law-suits, brawls, quarrels and riots spread abroad among us.

The great objects to be accomplished by said Smith, Whitney, and a certain Leonard Ross, (who firmly unite in a bond,) is to get the seven hundred and fifty dollars, (appropriated by the legislature as an annual revenue for the county, in lieu of its quota of non-resident tax,) entirely under their control and most of it themselves; and not one cent of said money was to be paid, with the approbation, in discharging any just claim whatever, against the county, unless it would be likely to procure votes at the then approaching election; and in all cases when there was a probability of that object's being accomplished, great prices were allowed (by a majority of the commissioners, of which Ross was one) and paid out of the county treasury for trifling services. Notwithstanding every exertion was made by these men in many ways too tedious to mention, to gain the consent of the people to vote for those persons diametrically opposed and against the present and future interests of the county, they could not succeed but with a few transient persons, and they principally hirelings, careless which way the great interests of the county might be conducted, so they met the approbation of their overbearing masters, and a large majority of the well settled citizens could not be prevailed upon neither by threats nor promises, for both were offered in abundance, to support Hansen as the organ of their views.

Here I must stop to give information in what manner this N. Hansen got into this county, and to let the good people of Madison county know to what cause they should ascribe all praise for having so happily got rid of him a few general rules without exceptions. Notwithstanding the well known character, established principles and daily practice of D. D. Smith are as opposite and opposed to virtue, gratitude, or generosity as the east is to the west, yet he was not unmindful of his old coadjutor, N. Hansen, whom he had left behind, when he was so fortunate himself as to get transferred from a state of starvation in Madison county to a good fat office in Pike; and he Smith, has frequently observed to me that without Hansen's assistance and influence with the Senate he could not have got his appointment to the recorder's office confirmed, and he was under the greatest obligations to get Hansen into some lucrative office. On the resignation of Mr. Beck, of St. Louis, (who was appointed to preside as a Judge of Probate for this county, to whose administrators two of the county commissioners ordered to be paid upwards of sixteen dollars out of the county treasury, for his carrying the commission about with him, before the law took effect, establishing the said office)—Mr. Hansen obtains the appointment, and enters the county as a judge. The time business to be done in that office here, occupies but very little time, compared with the salary and charges—though these trifling compared with the heavy debts they were to help discharge; the balance of his time is occupied in recording deeds at the fee of his old friend the recorder. Time passed in this way until the election began to approach, and a representative was to be elected from Pike, and the business that representative was to perform so as to accomplish the ends and objects of a few individuals was all agreed on and matured, months before the election. The effect that these plans and views Smith, Whitney, Ross and Hansen were to have on the people of this county, was, that in a very short period of time, they might aggrandize and enrich themselves, and impoverish, ruin, beggar and exterminate (politically) every one opposed to the election of the tool that was to accomplish their purposes. A great object, to enjoy cash of these individuals must at all events be accomplished; and amongst the many, I will name but a few of the leading objects they had in view, and which, I am sorry to say, they accomplished at Vandalia last winter.

1st. Among the main objects, the whole Bond Tract was to be kept together, or attached to the permanent bounds of Pike county so that Daniel D. Smith, Recorder, may spread almost a sumptuous table, and make a good living (whether he pays his just old debt, or not.)

2. Permanent bounds to Pike county must be established, and then more than 100 miles long on a straight line north and south; in order that the place where Ross lives may be from 15 to 20 miles of the center of said territory, and persons named by himself are to be chosen and appointed to fix the seat of justice on his land. Said Commissioners have discretionary power as to the quantity of land to be given to the county, to assist in the erection of the public buildings, they ask and receive but one hundred acres, and the county seat is located on a barren tract to contract before the election. These were the conditions on which Ross enters the election field with all its forces, viz promises, supplies and flattery, in all its various branches; or when necessary, from threats and quarrelling, in support of Hansen's election. By a reference to the map it will be seen that the county south of the Illinois river is more than seventy-six and a half miles long, and more than fifty wide. By the lines of the survey and from the top of the bluffs on the Illinois to the south end of the county it is nearly one hundred miles in length.

3. Whitney, the Clerk, who gives certificates to the persons having the most number of votes, can say nothing in extenuation of his conduct, but that if he had not given Hansen a certificate of election, he could not have got a county of the size above described permanently established, and as he hopes to hold the office of clerk, this was sufficient reason for him to act the part he did.

5. It was expected that by Mr. Hansen's being elected representative from Pike, it would serve him as an introduction to public business; where his brilliant talents might attract universal attention and applause; and from being a representative from a county, he might become secretary of state, and from this he might get on the floor of Congress, and cast the balance of his precious days might be passed in the capacity of a public character.

The objects as above stated with these men, in the absence of honor, principle and virtue, were thought sufficient to authorize them to do anything to accomplish their plans. Accordingly, they made every exertion to secure all the justices of the peace so far in their interest, as to induce them to conduct the election just as they would direct. And the county was laid off into two election precincts, independent of the county seat, which made a third and the minds of the people well known long before the election, Ross, and some others of their party should frequently say, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to carry their election against the choice of a majority of the people, but in Whitney all was safe, as it had to go through his hands.

It was clearly ascertained that I should have a large majority of the votes at Colesgrove and at Spoon River, and at the other precinct in Ross' settlement Hansen would receive an almost unanimous vote, as every man in that settlement who did not think and consent to act in accordance with Ross' views upon that subject, was immediately coerced into a proper way of thinking: and every man in the county that had no fixed residence nor interest in the county, was gathered at said Ross' settlement, as the Judges made no difficulty in admitting anyone that would vote agreeable to their wishes,— Great offers are made by Hansen and his party to get judges of election appointed in the two precincts where they were certain I should get a large majority of votes, but were deniedly opposed to my election; and to this purpose, at the June term of the county commissioners court, some servile minded judges as would not act so as then being candidates for different offices that were to be filled, which circumstance would make vacancies that could be filled by the clerk. A few days previous to the day of election the clerk goes to the Spoon river precinct to make the appointment of judges, and no wise man that would risk soul and body both, to injure me in both places at once? — Why, he appoints all three of the judges, and by proxy he appoints the judges at the county seat.

Let me now ask any disinterested person what must have been the surprise of one half of the citizens of Pike county, when they went as enabled at the house where the county commissioners had ordered the election to be held there told that the election could no. be held at that place (an account of its not suiting the vaul ne electron judg) although this judg wo ad been aipo ai b t coanmssioneis, claned te mugn os leeing the other (wo, al q aitvingthem o she 1 hope every e' zay weil recolletis ne pwo- viswon ofh saagnkesf rfibg tcuces that ma naopunbythejudge,who has b app ined not at ddng. The cl. k is t fi s tch vacane es; bt if he should)e asanr otn Pwise til to dtend to that dr. the be comes th proynce of the qa: fied vos to select jni es fibm among hensl s. o, this oera oa the deople hvl th ie mos sered rigats tran led jader the fee of n'n wm were not eattled to citizenship im sig then The oue jrtre wh eained the righ of choostng the o het tao. was a d erk m ipa w.. conder's adie, ond entirely subj c tothe con- trol of sad re cord r; and hesollelts'snoln vouog men, translent p,rsons, n a hn ting tosud recodr,tdtheotherwasintheen. ploymen of D vid I mon, who was a candi- dati foroneo dhecat comnissoners,

Fellow citizens, let ne ask sou whe wmil you aave done in ths cas, waen yona or enghty of t e most respectable peoplein thus cuanvsavasiripphgmaiwithoyesl ofauaority nke he of tyoyotrn wh ave neiher peogerty nor cha aeer, to jadge fthe ms ier d oigh sof nan? an! thsseptakenon purp ssnrnleethepol illegal. Woali yoinot hae ehn I suele gu rivileges, vch telaysfogcntry intend to se cure yon in empya with voe Kllw citizens toroighut tne stat? You ansvno naican to1o.

Where Haases st es that Joho shay re. ceded f sn tie poli lega t esp alehel. Ia) porl to the pespl of the state oftuinoi whed was the I gal pol-the one estalished ba ind vidtal witiot shoiogaa sa h eity wha eer, andaaplaewhere moptbiebrdes had ever benirar ted, ern: pv tae v. op aed at the plad and hos. fise! wm fot that paewe b th ciit coaners a:l tac i Is, c'r;') b e y-: " 19 m s at ofhe voerposam (theotei oemgas temPeohnea/aepeoplewaaop bs a aers mioepome, dhldl mn ofgo reputatoya hnneladiroad. T ao untr the c ssvot here mikins anmotooase'sremk an other of ls ds r lates to the e cton evea colored itn duth, which ars hae) en n de waton cy posib liy of ms de ai! wanen is a wilfl, jomapt and pa jditaed Ealsgndol wherinhi esrateyth. I wihdes n ny folloae rl opemed a pi of m 'L'l. presont at the ton that I did wot niie the jaidges nor aopnat he pace of i idog one ecction. It was thedc ied vot ia, at ies nali ofthe cit zms Pk smi,tt wot a s nt to vuen an mdositisi as was at cenoted to he practsed inon thea by not otug at a poll wnich ws not esiabhshed ac corhig totmy lae kooantothem; bit on the coatrary, the statte was o p'arin poiuting nnt novthe indges were tobe sdlectel, sin. tedath vn weritneaenceor on derk. Thepopofp gecau ether Peadsorenen)rgareexliationas to the mauner in wieh thedlactiqn vas con- bucted. They all kwov tat af ip Hars n. hitney. Smnih snd Ross had rully ascertaned that a majority of tre people were opposed to their favorite Hansen. Kaowing hi to be nostile to their interests. a d only the tool of the above naned persogds, they were deter mined to make a duhicultv aoout the polls, (rander them illegal) as I before observed, in the two precincts where nearly all the votes sauld be given for me. Bat at Ross' settle- ment the q talfied ~oters wepe perfectly com- petent to seiect judges from aunoog them- selves. The election is held by them and tie poll book received by the clerk, as all the votes tha c uld be proe ired at that precinct (hodh f regn anl dom s ic) were given for IIunsen, and his frien is for county officers. It will be seen by a reference to all the polls in the county, that Hansenand his c olleagues had but seveniy-five votes each. If he and they were the choic - of a m jori y of the people, why did they not vote for them ? And vet he has the harditood to frequently speak of ms constituents in the warm st and most affec tionate terms. This with people dnacquaunt- ed with our local concerns souads as though he had been elected by the peoplt of Pike couts ; but with us, we know he hal no can- stituents. unless we should concludethat W h ney, Smith and Ross, together watha few per. sons in their service, ought to be respected as the constituent power ofP'ike. H a'so in his explanation of the causes for hs first voting for the passage of the conveutio resolution, states that I was waiting to get his seat, to de- strov all that he had done for his countics. (as he calls them.) This may properly be cald a continuation of the same unparalleled assu. rance in this man, in speaking of his counties as of his constituents, when. not more, than three or four individuals had the least possible interest in his representing the county for thein, and all the balance most violently op- posed to his measures.

I must call the particular attention of the public once more to the stupendous work of Mr. Hansen, which he asserts will be of so much importance and to the lasting prosperity of Pike county, in getting boundaries permanently fixed to that tract of beautiful rich country, of the length and breadth before described—.

more than fifty wide)—and Fulton county he ties, as any honest man would, was amply provided with extent, as he boundaries which he established to that county a nuld avera ge soon 22 miles square. B: this was to ooodc n ter pirtcular frien s,O M Rwh resited nearly i theccateo esebun larlesand w re the coun y ea' ns siee henesabhish o. He ier a ropsea te nad ople o Fdon co (14 or 15 . ::)v,ri.. :'i.'r ine 4co4y es2 1 counties taromghnutnssth o dhis, m oin to mr the tcan t's thie p f abi. B what are as n. iv slr amg thms oru wimie. ,)y,C , be recordct. i ro: dueely m hrs cxt s vili beapponed; ad y th "as iex..s!h b- s, dn reeie oe pn lordh a isdies Hprtatons thd DtundrxdIfuemeVa I. I shI ieat. is cose who al wl acquamied aiinto maan and nscndue o dcre.Hnm ims 1 one po 1 udes dat e unior chr o mis sle hd oeen itrecontcdhie win stp ar uhle os andphuene" In I wascprte o jidemg of bee n. siet o moo, aud to sy whathar ,uil of cor.ug ion on m, I cernoh cnl uq t naniewaid ier bn recoutse to evenv saig o i ado0y to pet clecred, woodi apon fie p- temes eydavr to hire sia or cih s theitzentIntnecnt,inonP thn they siui nat sd m e'c lon (a n sua) I1 mre narges the honotb Jut, R sodd vihiavig seqra w elaon vhich nad betata sunndn dea he onested el ctotousy m r.m a the sahetinehs o alted os ie tha 1e dd most posi lvegase to n Diner tsum ny aken a' aother m and o'ace re ative to oontestng ad. too, mn orr o gain my colsen tonave me firstdep stois ali sumtoh J. Is rloi ct usn tat me go das nigh expir, and th n he wou go d enl, kwo ving tha I voil v by aoi he pe iple m tnls couny an the rtel poil was legoily and laiiy es- ttshed and tha I nad a myniy 29 sal vot s. He mentrns dh. he nad e cvd the whnlin o jon ot mamy te- al character, wh h I adni o be ot ory high resp clanl s, relaive o the salyotpll.B,nouis,ul- ether, to s ate the caus s wny ho tesil- nony waytaken to shrw the wantohog- rage tha was coammy ted on the propie, , adeavoragtosapport the small pol n Coles G sve, and to dustroy tnr lega- nv of thy o hr. I shat bri fy sate what thoseceuses were. I is goaeraly h the eao c ffigers uas pr is yin th same sllua tion with that ot the r pres nagve ; ther conld not oe two justces of the D atc ound to trke th- dup 'sii ns, e s 1n- orosted than the Coroher, whose ticuo vas nntes'ed. This circuinstance was the more unfoptunate as this man Iao vory hute regard to dischatge this duw coriertly, and a great deal of ambrisn and int. rest to do oherwise, wmch slaced it out of the power of th coutes- ing candidates to get a correct chain o depositions taken, Amgle tes'aont couid have becn bad to prove ani sub stmauae every goint in tne notice. B. every winess that w n' called, this ju sine before he aould consent toat n oath should be arlministered wouid ask him what he knew, and wha' he cat swear to relative to the case Dendnng. 1 the Derson said any thig tha wan throw light on the dark conouct of tno- men, Hansen and Ross uoula imoed ately say that mo's testimony must t. e admitted, and h was dis nissed by th sard justice (C rone) winout ben sworn, and sueh tesinony o' the wit. nesses wh) were sworn, as R ss ant Hansen objected (o, was not taken dowt by said jus r e; in this way those men passed three days, and n m d every ex- crtion of the conttsting andilates o ret a statement of facs redueed to tes timony. At the close ot the third day I was compelled to let the hopeless and insulated deposuions be sealed up and traasmitted to the Julre. It was this self same Hanseu tha' did,"i n his own hand, make up into a packet all the pa pers upon which the two jusuces had been writing during the thrce dass, and supers ribed them to the presidin, Judge to decide the contested elec'son of the crunty officers, as provided by the sta tute. And if there had been any testi- mony taken for the purpose of contest- ing the election of a representative or a senator, it should have been addressed and trausmitted to the speaker of the proper house. , And to recur to the sequestration ol those first depositions that were taken and transinitted to the Hon. Judge, every gentleman that was at Vandalia last win. ter will recollect that when there appear- ed to be a wish expressed (at the par- ticular instance of Hansen, he knowing hey could not be had) to examine those ducumenis, thst the HIon. Judg Rey- n lls was extremely anxious to bire and send sme fi.peraon to B leville Ier the sa) pipors, wut the Hiouse wou'd mat cons nt to d tay the de ision un ii the popers couid be brouglt for- d A luge m jority of the House wistimg to ret n (Jansen in his Seat tor a celtaln durpose, "ell known to the peo- sle ol Iilmons as woll as Missouri-mthe Senatorial detion.Notwithstanding IImosen speak- ofthat cireumstance sith tat dopnonecrtam'y that the expres- sion ofine HI use wouid hate becn more wea nn hs favor if it had not been for wonatoral cleetion which was then hi, whh ian amount to a atg uon hnis last good friends who dere mtie fist olare opposed to the re- oles tion ot Judge Tanmus, to tnte sot.d ag ist omm upen ahat prinaiule. B, I sha cake the uberty to express sn opiaion and not hat of other p p.e a ina c plromm actual obs rva- ma and a nd mes leaon of the con- dys a sseral men b rs o! the House R pr santanes, toiatne to the con- siel ol rtjon from Pike, as it stood ganect d vith the elea'onoftieSanator -t ists what conld have induced Co tV. Aexind ron eis way tothe II osn the mornig the etection from cls ounty was firs' decided to corsirue my lauguage into a ple dg, that if I ob- tained ny seat I would no decenve the trivols of Jrdge T omas, as may he seen by the toilownng sta'emcnt le gave me in wrinng at Vunali, at my qrest. Vandala, Feb 1th, 1823. Being called on hy Mhe. Juhn, Shaw, of Pike cony, tu ane hn a stahent o m ondep- Ja d ng ot a con. rsation tiat tock blnce he- twren dhesaad shay and myself, on the Laorn- ng gaeceding the fial dcisiun of the con- teret crcctin frnan Pike comv, in the dlouse o Rpesnaives of the Siateof Illhois; my u d is oig was, tha; hethe sai shw was fo at dht the (omeitee on clections, of w ha n nerI sason, vouid be mH tenced by the - atoral clection, which was then pemins Ido.o hou recollecr the precise cones, bu the we I udesioma then was, a n h , si. suw. ob an d hs seat. he woua nt cive tis trends oi Jadge ho- mas. yus &e. WILLLAM ALEXANDER. HOLJan SHLW Atr non the same rantle. men D nal D. Suo, p o ished in the Spcaor o1 29 n o M.rch, in whkn he sy, in onbl ane with Smita's aques e shall repy general- ly, a id sta i, tna I camet his lodgpnts, nl whle tmre ne nd soue bsless or of doors, and thut I :olowed him oul, aud migh heve soi I Iotced myseIf ino a cunvcrsa Ios win Iun, as he hus exp'ee hrms! (in hisonn legua.) spin n to he misucrsond, net It he suopported my ses.I a suld vote at the S ena rd elcction agrecable to his mes!!! "As Haseh has sail,-so sy I. let mo stop ia pas,1 oide o 1e the pa iht rrader an oppoiuny to ask ahat aay the wotes ot lutllage I made use oi to C . Arex hdi, fom whten i dry sich maane cen- hnsi?Itme,mmuYkcsvle, aot: Wna coui hae 1den ne M,aftempt tobr,bo tne Cojonel, oyafar- m, to tte ss he drotd me? mote- goo ot thr comttee ob c leesuns being then ss weii known to ue, and I bgheve oevery other person a Vaodali, who acl any imeres odere-ultot that elec- ton, as i w s nter the repert had beon roal m he house; at least some filteen i tweny persois hed mformed me in ne contse at the ttonlng and die Dext norolng afier the iopor was made, that he comdidee hadrepoted asuhiavora- be as thoy e uid possibly express them- lves. The readet w.it please to re- allee the C lonct sa s in his letter inat ne converst tou took olice on the very voratng precedg the tinal decision of ie cont stcd eico from Pikt coumty. The fact was us I sait bctore, the reoort wlng gemerally kown alt over V nda- 1. Isad some buslss uph Eqire M'Paunndge, ant I wemi wo.Judge War- wnk's to se nn, ad on my ietuin to he state-loust I lel in couopany with Culonel Aitxanier. and m convetsa ion with him, the su jet ot the pehding contested electiot, which was to be set- ted mhat morung, (s soon as the house net, was men loi , ahd I expressed much regret that the el cuiot. would oro- bably be determlued upon the report of he comnittee, which I thought had neen made without any regard to the merits ol the case. I abserved that I thought the counmittee had been loflu- enced by the senatorial election. He Said, tor his part. (asevery peeson mtyht expect) no such motives had governed him; and further said that the last bo- tice had not been given in due time. My language, as nearly as I can recol- lect, was, that the people of Pike coun- tv knew nothing about the pretensions of the candudates for the Senate, it was local concerns of the county that the people wauted represented; and that it would be doing thein great injustice to determine the election from that county upon a ques jon in which they had nei- ther interest nor choice. This is the ab- stract of my language in the conversn- tion I forced upon the Colonel, wbich
he says was in terms so plain not to be misunderstood. He however unfortunately did misunderstand my meaning. Hansen brings forward Col. Alexander's letter as conclusive evidence of my meanness, as he says. Let me ask the public what was the object of Daniel D. Smith to get Col. Alexander to write anything with respect to this understanding, (as the letter was written in compliance with Smith's particular request) was it not to place the well established character of Col. Alexander, (throughout this state) at issue before the public with mine? He stating his impressions and understanding of the case, and my statement of the facts, that were not liable to misunderstanding. If the senatorial election had no influence upon the minds of some other gentlemen, I should like to know what could have induced Mr. W. St. a representative from Madison county, to admit Hansen, not only into his company, but into his room, his bed and bosom, which circumstances he must have known, was extremely prejudicial to his own popularity with his constituents, and must be unpleasant to every man's family when it is known that Hansen left here with the worst disorder that a man could take in genteel company, a most dreadful scabby Itch. But this mystery may perhaps be elucidated by one question and the answer. If Judge Thomas should be elected he would not want the office of Receiver in a valuable land district himself, and might he not have influence enough with the President and the Secretary to venture to promise the office with great certainty, to his friend? The answer would be naturally highly probable!!!

I am much fatigued with this employment, controversial writing. I must return to my plough. I have not time and patience to reply to all the serpent-like blows which Hansen has darted at me through his state politics, all of which, together with the injury he and his friends have done to the present and future prosperity of Pike county and this state, would not have induced me to stoop so low as to notice or recapitulate any thing he has or could say, if he was as unknown to other arts in Madison and Pike counties. But how can I forbear when he says I knew I was hostile to the interests of his county. If he had not made a mistake he would have said three or four individuals. I acknowledge I was hostile to some of his measures, and was ambitious to promote the present and future interests of Pike county. When he expresses a hope that he will be yet able to get positive proof that I "was brought back to Vandalia to vet his seal, I call on all, both members and other persons, to say whether any communication or intimation that such a state of affairs existed, was made to me, and I appeal to Almighty God to judge me, when I say I knew nothing about the agitation of the convention question when I left Pike county. The object which induced me to return to Vandalia in January, was to endeavor to procure the appointment of two or three respectable persons as magistrates, if possible--that in case the clerk should choose to make another wilful mistake again at the next election and give the certificate to the person having the lowest number of votes, that the candidates might get depositions taken that would enable the proper tribunals to decide correctly in the case of another contested election. And my anxiety was great to learn the fate of the canal bill, as no paper had come to hand giving any information on that important subject. Much to my great surprise on my arrival at Vandalia, I found so blended with the convention question that one could not pass without the other, which made me, and I think ought to have operated with the same influence on every man on the western side of this state, willing to go all reasonable lengths to bring the practicability of making the canal into public notice. What rational excuse could any man make to the people living and owning property on either side of the Illinois river for having by one vote destroyed the preparatory measures contained in the bill authorizing the opening and making navigable the river through the most important portion of our state, thereby connecting the Illinois with Lake Michigan, not only enhancing the value of our lands and produce, but transporting us through a salubrious climate to the city of New York.

My opponent frequently speaks of his counties and constituents. It is certainly much to be regretted, if he has constituents on the Illinois river that he would prefer sacrificing their best interests rather than trust or confide to them the privilege of voting for or against a convention, as much as if he had said the people did not possess reasoning faculties nor common sense sufficient to decide which way they should vote on this momentous question, most properly left with the people for their decision and deliberation. If every representative in the state had been willing to submit the question, it does not follow that a majority of all the people would vote for a convention. Hansen had ascertained very clearly that the legislature had too much pride to have the dignity of the state tarnished by appointing him a canal commissioner. Who is he? A poor, starving, indolent pettifogger--and yet he has the audacity to say John Shaw has become a member of our Illinois legislature--if it had not been for the resignation of a Missouri

Judge of Probate, in his favor, he never would have received the appointment to fill that office in Pike county, and as to his letter from Baton Rouge to his friend in Pain Court, it is too mean and low to be noticed, as he does not recollect my name, and has prefixed the initial P. to dishonor the plain name of

Dec 15 1823. JOHN SHAW