Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-24
From the Lynchburg Virginian.
4 MHERST ADAMS MEETING

l
| AT numerous and respectable meeting of
the citizens of the county of Amherst, at the
court house, for the purpose of considering the
question of the presidential election, Edmund
| Winston, Esq. was called to the chair, and Luz
cas- p. Thompson appointed secretary.
The object of the meeting was stated by L.
| II. Thompson, whercupon committee consist
ing of Col. VIM. Armstead, VIM. NJ. Waller,
Tho N. Eubank Reuben Norvell, Charles c.
Carter, William Bourne, Robert Garland, John
Garth, and L.. =. Thompson, was appointed a
committee TO draft resolations-who having re-
tired, reported the following preamble and re-
solutions, which were unanimously adopted;
When we cast our eyes over the habitable
globe, we find the L nited States OF America the
only spot upon it where liberty has an asylum.
For ages fugitive & an exile from every cline,
she has at length found resting place, where
the enemies of human rights dare not approach
her, whilst her own votarIes dare to defend her.
Here she-first promulgated to the human family
the sublime truth, that self government was the
inherent and unalicnable right of man, IN de-
fence of which our forefathers fought, bled and
conquered. They purchased with their blood
the long lost birthrigbt of the human race, which
they have Transmitted to as aninheritance for
US, and our latest posterity. They have left us
government based upon the right and capaci-
+ of the people to govern themselves, and hay-
ing for its exclusive object the welfare aud hap
piness OF the governed, deriving its powers and
authority from the only legitimate source of all
power, the people.-That it may be perpetual.
both gratitude and selflove prompt us to hope
But man receives freedom upon the same con-
ditIon that is attached TO every other blessing.
He forfets the possession by ceasing to appre-
ciate the one or to guard the other. To be free,
and to remain free, we must will it, for it is yet
more difficult to enancipate than to ensave us,
against our wills. Let US then not forfeit the
blessing bequeathed by our fathers. 70 pre-
serve 1t we have but to appreciate and che
rish it.
II is the right as well as the duty of freemen
to form and freely and fearlessly to express their
opinions ON all subjects involving the public in
terest' and to canvass with becoming freedom
public men and public measures. Its a right
so essential to freedom that il may well be re-
gardcd Us the foundation of all others-It is a
right, tie exercise of which is as necessary to
the preservation of liberty, as the right itself is
to ITS existence: both modern and ancient times
unite in the solemn TRUTH that, TO exercise il, is
TO be free; To surrender il, Is TO be slayes-It is
the exercise OF this right that imparts 10 public
opinion that resIstiess energy that has burst the
letters of despotism wherever it has operated
that now appears the lcagued dcspots of Europe
on their tottering thrones--and that ere long
will establish upon the ruins of these thrones the
temples of universal liberty. The lessons NJ
past ages admonish us in vain--ihc voice of rea-
son proclalIns in vain these self evident and i'm
mutable truths that result from the very nature
and moral character of map---il, al this time, it
can be doubted, that public opinions is the only
creator and conservator of liberty. Without
the wholesome sway which it exercises over the
governors and the governed, by the alpowerful
operation of free, independent and enlighten-
c1 press, III vain may our Bill of Rights and De-
claration of independence proinulgate political
axiofns; IN vain may constitutions be formed to
guarantee them.
Under the most thorough conviction of these
important truths that the preservation of our Ii.
berries requires on the part Of the people yestaI
ptn1ty-thattiI the elective franchise is the most
traDsccndaot right & highest badge Of sovereign
g aPPertainng to freemen; that upon its GAIA,