The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-06-22

But surely there il difference of opinion
.tnong politicians, as to the rights, powers,
ard duties uf the federal government
Some construe the constitution in one way
and some in another One individual is In
favor of a splendid national government,
with great and ovrrshadowing powers =
| lie ad, COATES gilded schemes of national
Independence, national Improvements, aud
national glory. Anerher1bjects to all This
rnHsnilicence he contends, that the con
sfiintion originally contemplated no such
government ; that this exercise Of So much
patronage This dispensing with The pater
nal care and solicitude OF the state govern
inents this watching over all Our interests,
administering To our wants, Is subrr.Ise
of the great ends which were designed by
the patriotic founders of our Institutions
that such a scheme is, in fact, dangerous
to our peace-to our happiness-to our
| liberties. THE friends Of plain and frugal
government which shall be neither leit
nor SEEM (yet not SO plain and so frugal
as To strip us of one atom OF the necessary
defence of the nationl reason from the his
tory ofnatons which have gone before us.
Convinced Of the tendency Of human esta
blshments to retain all the power which
they have acquired, and TO acquire all that
they can, they perceive the necessity OF
rigidly adhering to the land marks of the
constitution, and of limiting the federal 20
ytrnment to the obvious and enumerated
duties WHICH have been confded To lis ju.
risdiction.
Virginia has enlisted under the banner of
this republican party. She has fought
manfully IN defence of the battlements of
the Constitution and is not disposed to
yield or TO vary the positions which she
has supported. She " i'll select the candi
date for the Chief Magistrate Of the nation
who will come the nearest to her views
who will administer the government nccor-
ding to the best principles of a republic,
and most completely possesses the other
high qualifications which are demanded by
SO high an office.
In the election Of our chief magistrate, |
we should discard rs far as possible mere
personal considerations, or mere private |
predictions. We should dishurlhtn our
minds, as far as may be, from all selfish or |
Interested motives. The question before |
y0uis not how TO compose an administra |
ton, by the union of many aspiranfs after |
Office, for the tempting purpose Of aggran
diZing themselves, their friends and retain
crs. But, in the selection of. the first Ma
gistrate, the only object ought to be to
promote the happiness pf the people. We
should act with single eye to the public
welfare. We should be guided only by the
qualifications of the individual whom we
shall seItcI 10 preside over the nation.-
We should fix our eyes ondlle man, who is
distinguished by his Virtues in private life,
and by those strong qualities which are
calculated 10 do houor 10 public station |
He should have that experience and know
ledge of mankind which will enable him tn
discriminate, in the distribution of his Off |
cial patronage, between the real patriot,
and the mere tme-server and. Office hunter. |
He shoild, himself, be incapable of being |
dazzled by vain glory, and sedueed ly poli |
teal decisions. He shond he duly i'm !
pressed with the conviction, that to attain
the happiness of the people, II is necessary
for their representatives, and for all their |
public fun ttiOnaries to practice economy, |
moderation and justice , to preserve the
peace, and husband the resources Of our
country to keep clear OF entaugling allan |
ces, to forbear involving us in the vortex
of foreign politics (; and 70 permit the in |
dustry of our citizens, unshnckled in every |
department and walk of life, TO reap the /
fruits Gifts own free exertion. In fine, he |
should be man whose native talents have
been improved by long course ofpoIiIical
experience, whose strong common srn-r
will enable him to catch the characters Of
the men with whom he ssGciates-who
has firmness enough 10 turn his back upon !
bad men and bad mcasures-a frankness |
which will utter what it thinks-a temper
" hieh will enable him to deliberate deeply |
upon all his measu1es--a frmness which /,
nothing can shake.
This Is Il brief outline Of the character |
which, in our opinion, should belong to the |
Chief Magistrate of th"se states. Ne do !
not hesitate to hold Up to your support the |
man, whom we think, whom your repre- |
Scntatlvcs thought, most emineniy posses /
sed OF these qualifications. We present
you, in a word, WILLIAM II. CRAwrrRD.
Notwithstanding the efforts which are ma
krlS to injurc him in The opinion of his Eel
low citizens, we DO not hesitate to express
our fullest confluence in his integrity, his
talents and his patriotism Persecution has
assaIed him in every variety of mode
The untirinG malignity of his enemies has
arraigncd him at the bar Of the public. and !
before the great council of the nation
lho1gh ne has kept aloof from all the in
trlgues and struggles fthG election, thonsh +.
he has trusted his Triumphant defence TO
TIE energy Of hi. friends aud the putty OF
us OVID character, yet we have seen him
IN One instance, called on for his ,indica
ION, and passing through the fiery furnace
IKE the purest gold thrice tried That
yindicaton has been 90 able, dignifed and ,
manly as to increase the confidence Of at! |
his friends, and 10 disappoint the anticipa
tons of all his enemies.
We have great confidence in his ultimate
success. Information from all quarters of
Virginia satisfies ua, that VIM. II. Craw- |
ford will obtain a triumphant majority of !