The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-08-20
AlIgrnsT ApAMs MEETING Il.

Al n numerous anil respectable mml,T.g
i OF the ciiizclis of the county II Amherst. a
{ the court iuuse, Tor thu pntpos. of eonsid
efing tite qarsinn uf the Itfat itlsntial .lnc
tian, Edmund Ain-lun, cal. was cailrd Il
,hrehhif aud Lucas l.. Thompson aFpein
ted sscrelary.
The uhlrei .fihe meeting was stated j.,
l.. L. Tb"nlpaon, wheteupnn COMMITTEE
ronsisiiag ulLol " M. Afmi-,cad, YIN. VI
/ Njiller, Tho. y. Eul,enk, Reuben Nofall
Charles [. Carter, William Bourne, iobrr
Gai3nd John Garth and l.. 4. lhami ~
1 vas appmuteE committee {" draft frsolu
tiaus who, having retired, reported In
! following preamble and rrsal tons, which
WIRE unanimously adopted
/ Whrn ~. casi our EYES o,rf the hahifa
( bic globr, Ne find the United States of A
m.fiea iIr onl, spot aI,sn u whore liberty
has an asylum. tor agrsa Fugitive aud ~
exile lrnn every cline, she has at lrhs'i
found resting place. where the encmies NJ
human rights dare mt arprpaeh her,whilsi
her own ,1tarles dare IL defend her. Here
she first promnlgated 10 the human family
the sublime truth, that -ell.g osernmeIt MAS
the inherent aud nnafcnable right al man,
IN deirrer of Which o't foref,thcrs fought,
blcd and conquered. THY purchased With
their blood the long LOST iiirlhright of the
human rate, which lhry have transmitted
Ia us "a an inheritance for US, and otR Ia
test posi.rity. They have left us II gov.
ernment based upon the right and capacity
oi the people 10 govern themselves, aud
having inf its exclusive object the welfare
ftI p..I lNr -
ponrrs aud auihoril, from the only l. gltl-
mate source OF all power, the reople.--
That II may be perpetual, both gratitude
hd sr,i.lp,e prompt MS 10 hope.
Bat man receives freedom upon the same
eondlllon that IL attached ~ every nthcr
blessing. lie lorf,its the possession by
eeaglng 10 appreciate the onr or u guard
The ether. To be free, and 10 remain free,
We must NJ i'll IL for II Is yet more difficult
IL cnlancipatr than Ia .usL,e us, against
pnr wills. Lat Us then not forfeit the blrs
my begdcallrd by our fathers. To preserve
1t We h"'e bni To appreciate aud cherish
II is the right rs well rs the duty of free
men Ia form & freely & f.arlcsJy toeSpress
their opinions on all subjects iuvol,ln s The
mnS freedom public men and public mra
elfrs. II IS tight 81 essential lo freedom
that II may well br regarded az the tounda
lion nj all otllrrs-ll is right, the crorciSe
al which Is As necessary Ia The preservation
III liberty, rs The right itself Is To lis cxls
tence bath modern and ancicut times
mite III TIN solemn truth, thai, 10 exa. si.r
u, - In be free to surrender II, ~ Ia hr
slaves II Is the exercise of this right that
mpdrts t0 public opniou than rslstless !
Energy that has burst the letters of dt spO I
ism "hrrn'er ii has operated that now |
lPpals the leagued drspois of Europe on
hclI lettering thrones and that ere long !
" llirsahllsh npon the ruins otthcsr thrones
he temples of uaiversal liberty. The les
'bn" ol past ages admonsh us in ,ain--lhe
'olce ot reason prochlms in vain these self 7
,Nldcnt and irmuiablc truths that result
rom tile very nature and moral character
II nsn--ii, III this time, il can be doubted,
4ta public opluien Is the only creator and
'ontervalor al liberty. Without the whole
zone sway which ii exercises over the go
'ernors and tir' goArrnmcd, by the all
'pN erih operation DIN free, independent
nj enlightened press, in vain may our Bill
i Rights and Drclarai ~ ct n lrpen
|rnce Pronulgatr political aNi rms IN vain
nay constitutions be formed to guarantee
lrm.
Under The most thorough con,i, tion of
hese Important truths, lhat tine pres,rya'
ION al our liberties regimes on the pat of
he people rrslH ,isilauee aud estoi putty
that the elective franchise is tl,c most
ranscrndanl right and highest badge of
oNcrelSniy appertalnng To freeincn that
pon ils calm, unbiased and enlightened
Krrctsc depend their most important rights
that the election of In. highest officer in
he government shn,s m',ays excite
he deepest sollcitude, and call forth
he most ,ioilant circemspection and that
hc approaching election of chirf magis-
rate, IRON the pnrientuus aspect of lie
'ollileI "lcmcnts i. a crisis which requires
hc exrrlnn nf more than ordinary ,igI
snce and clrcumsprction. this meeting has
lrrmrd II their duty, in common Nth lhrir
"t"w citizens OF the state, aud Of the Y
,li"d states, Ia convene Tor the purpose of
,hIng expression 10 their opiuions on Il
ul1rct al common interest. In W. as
'enalIng aud promalSalluS th,lr~oplnions,
~ BIZ from III IN the wish To S,rogatc Ia
h Sc OPP .ions superior "rls II, ar the van
~ te believe that their opinions Will add
10 the cause they advocate one p,osclytc.
lhry appreciate too highly thor own
lights, which srr~rtainto freedom of opin
ion, thus to mediate the invasion Of the
rights of others and 81 Gar irora wishing
by III" mode they have selected of giving
expression 10 their sentiments, 10 usurp
The Rights of others, they are reluctantly
driven 10 il IN ,iticatiun of their own
Had the spi'It Of the constitution been pur
sued ~ the election "f t,1'sricrt, M this
slate aud the other states of the Union
had the people been prrn1it,rd to exercise
that agency IN the business, than instrument
s'mrantrrdihrm,, by coming 10 the poll, and
voting for unpledgcd electors, responsible
L. IL II. a