American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-04-20
From the htcamom Constitutional fYhig.
FREDERICKSBURG MEETING,

FREDERICKSBURG MEETING.
We lay before our readers the proceedings of Ii
first meeting of Mr. Adams in the town of Free
Ircksburg. Another was to be held on Saturda
evening, the result OF which we have not learn
We feel TO hesitation in asserting, that Mr.. Adam
is far ahead OF any OF the Presidential candidates
popularity in Virginia, Mr.. Crawford excepted
and we feel as little hesitation in declaring, that
the people had been left to their unbiased and IN
prejudiced choice; if such early and vigorous e
forts had not been made to detach them from their {
rgina impressions, by an appeal to their prejudice
and their sectional feeling, that he would have bee
decidedly the first. Previous to the agitation of hi
question, the impulse of every mind was directed
him, as the successor ofthe present incumbent, an
it has been by insidious and anti-naiiona arguments
by unworthy reflections the character of his coun
try, and haunting references to his birth and educa
ton, that those who have no opinions but those
the ma jorty, and the Indifferent who had no opir
ions at all, have been induced to side against hin
| In the year 1920, there was general acquiescenc
in the superiority Of his claims, and in the proba
bty of his success. 1t is for his opponents to es
tablish any derelcton ofduty or principle since tn;
period on his part, or any posteror superiority
the claims OF his opponents. Let it not be sale
that the op!e,prevous to the existing canvass,wer
unenlghened on the subject, and that this chang
lie discussion has shed upon the subject Nothin
has TRANSFERRED TO impair Mr. Adams previous star
ding or to elevate the relative merits of Mr.. Cray
| ford On the contrary, the supporters Of Mr.. Adam
| have trumphed, with reason, in the complete pros
tsation of his diabolical assailants, Russell an
Smyth, and in the new evidence which his conte:
with those gentlemen furnished Of bis political cor
sistency and his great talents. The whole Unio
has awarded him an honorable victory, and consigr
ed his adsersaries to merited disgrace. Why is
then, that this gentleman, whose claims, previoU
to the commencement of the Presidential campaig
were deemed unrivalled, even in Virginia, has sine
that epoch sustained diminution OF his popularity
1t is because his opponent has been taken up as
sectional canddate-because the pride of Virgini
has been appealed to in support of native either
and her prejulices in opposition to Yankee.
has been necessarily dnged into the peoples cal
that Mr.. Adams was Yankee and Mr. CrawfoI
a Virginian, and many gentlemen, whose candC
lpredominates their good sense, have bold
rested their rejection of the and adoption of tn
other, on this broad bostomed basis
| But rejoice to see that there is re-acto
commencing in Virginia, or rather that the frienC
Of Mr.. Adams are beginning to discover their ow
strengthand that they have an equal claim to expre
their opinion with the partlsans OF the other cand
dates. From various parts OF the state, from II
counties around Norfolk, from several directly soul
of this place, from the neghborhood OF Abingdon
Stanton, Winchester, and Lynchburg, we have a
>urances that Mr.. Adams popularity is advancing
We exhort his friends every where, to preserI
their confidence in his ultimate success,and to max
free use ofthe invincible arguments upon which h
claims to the Presidency are founded-his long an
severe experence--the confidence Of Jefferson
Madison, aud Monroe, so frequently and unrese
vedly reposed in him-the great abilities, whc
even his enemies acknowledge him to possess, an
his attachment to the interests and institutions
his country, exempli6ed in his whole public caree
in the unaffected simplicity OF his private depor
menl, and in the whole tenor OF his declared opir
ions. If any other argument is wanting, it is u
nished by his unexceptionable conduct pending tn
contest. His enemies, inveterate and rancorous
they are, have not charged him with single IL
trgue with the bartering of single office--w
the smallest abuse of his official patronage. Will
the other candidates have been bolstered up by al
tive partisans OH the floor of Congress, by bold ar
daring factions in the states to which they respe
lively belong, and by partial and got up meeting
who have affected to speak the voice OF the peopl
Mr.. Adams has pursued the even and diSnifed tel
or of his way, posing his claims on the notorie
Of his merits, and trusting to the people alone e
their reward. His most uncompromlsing enem
has candidy and honorably said, " that Mr.. Adam
pursued his interest with some address, but wit
j perfect candor and fairness" Can this be said
all the candidates. Modest and unassuming mer
was once honored and rewarded in Virginia--tt
|disinterested honor which disdained to be adva
ced by electoneering articles, was once admire
and applauded in the Old Dominion--we hope ii
modesy of a Cato is not to be sighted, to rewa
the turbulent ambition of Mainus or Catalina.
y --rcTss5an----
+ By an arrival at New York, we have received O.
RI regular files Of Caracas papers to the 10th of Marc
Line lnsiue ,rheu aHnrd sill Enriher cnnGI mali