The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-03-21

.,rn inl,ar under nt,cuiiar disadvantages,
from the late hour iu which have post
ponrd this anniiuriaiiUn, aud trou1 Tue very
liimiied acquaintance have with the peo-
ple of this county. These disadvantages
i will endeasor in part Ia move by az ~
prn and narcser.rd declaration of my po'
| litcal sentiments; confse called Tor he
less hy the personal respect owe to the
great body of the people, Than by that ~
innate relationship which subsists between
the candidate and the constituent, anu
~ hich cnloin, on the former full dlselo-
sure of his opinions on all those great sub
iccts whirh Tie theory of our institutions,
ar the practice of our government, has
marked rs essential for the security anu
preparation of our common rights. en-
ier.nn the task with the greater plea ure,
rs am ASSUMED of coincidence oi opinion
with the great majority of those whom
address, aud that the operation OF late O.
vents has brought US nearly all 10 acknow-
ledge the same opinions, and, III the antici-
paliun Of future events, 10 cherish the sam
feelings.
Whilst, fellow citizens there WAS such
distinction acknowledged in our coun
try, as Republican and Federalist, my
earliest incIinations, backed by the reflec-
tons which enquiry and observation .fnr-
nished, Chased mein q he ranks of the first.
Refcpfing To- the origin of the republican
party, saw IN their organization aud first
exeruons disnterested purpose of resist
Ing the march of cncroacElnent and con
sOlldalun Referring H. the period OF 1901,
WHEN their influence finally prcdominatsd
in the country, found their triumph al
tended by the greatest moderation, their
success celebrated by a large majority Of
the people, and the government Itseli ~
gidly practising those maXlms OF republi-
can simplicity, economy and reverence Tor
the constitution, which, as party, Mr.
Jcllcrson's administration had always sire
nuou5ly advocated. Referring 10 their pc
ctliar opinions, found them based on the
constitution resisting every attempt 10
enlarge or diminish lis powers, without a
direct recurrence 10 the voice of the peo-
pie, and conlcudiuE that III" permanently
OF our institutions depended on lis nyioa-
bic integrty--They eonteadcd that The ie-
dera government WAS government pf IL
mited powcrs-tllat the specification of
those powers excluded ali others and that
tbs safest mode of interpreting the eousti
tuition was rather 10 restrict the excpciseof
the powers il granted, than by implication
To cularge and extend them.--ln lustlifca-
tian ofthese opinions, they contended that
by an adherence To- them nothing could be
lost--aud that if the people chose to en-
large the powers of their government the
constitution itself pointed out the mode by
which il might be amended. On these
grounds, they opposed any measure which
bad not direct constitutional sanction, or
which wae uot strictly and necessarily in
cidentd'to some given powe,; choosing
father to subject the nation 10 some tenn
porary Inconvenience, than to compromlt
its liberties by weakening the virtue of the
constitution. On the same reasoning, they
opposed the incorporation of Il national
bank ; the power claimed by Congress TO
the public treasure, at lis own
discretion, 10 perfect n system of internal
Improvements; the power of establishing
national schools and colleges; and many
Others of the same description; alleging
that the constitution no where recognized
such powers that if the people wished To
I II sier them 10 the national government,
an appeal To them would be ellcctual, AMI
that, IN the mean time, tlleir exercise was
uoi mperionsly demanded by the safety or
thu necessities of the country. In the force
aud the truth of tins reasoning, {, llow-citi-
Hcns, ! acquIesccd and the nation itself
declared its ATTACHMENT Ia the Same doc
trncs by reposing It's confidence and its of
hces at successive elections, IN the part Y
which protessed to make them the polar
star of their political conduct. From the
letter and the spirit Of these doctrines the
government has in many instances dc,iat-
ed, and the journals of Congress as well as
the records of the Federal Court, show ma
ny attractions of the constitution, and vi
olent disposition 10 return to the errors of
thu dark period of '99. This, whilst it can
not impe0ch their truth, proves that there
exists in power az innate tendency to en-
large and strengthen itself, and that, 40
preserve the equilibrium of power where
the constitution has wisely placed it, de
mands all the vigilance OF the people, a
frequent declaration of their opinion, aud
"A frequent change of their rulers.
These are the opinions hold, derived
from a candid examination of those powers
which the people of the United States have
delegated to the rational government, and
confirmed by the whole tenor Of its history.
These are the republican doctrines, which
the American people have SO often recog-
nlzcd, and which the statesmen of Virginia
have so often inculcatcdby their eloquenee.
They have grown stale and old fashioned,
Il is true-hated by their enemies and ridi :
culed by many Of their friends--but they
are nevertheless founded in immutable
truth, and must be observed or neglected
to the injury or the advantage'of the peo-
pie, So long as we have constitution 10
guard or liberties to defend.
Fclow-cilizens-rhc decision of great
question is approaching, which more than
any other al this time, interests the people
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