Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-10-11
lFrom ne Fne~isrieks5ug IVA. .irena.l
AN rI.JACKSoN MEETING.

At a meeting of the citizens OF the
county of Spotsylvania, and town of
fredericksburg, opposed to the election
of General Andrew Jackson to the
Presidency of the United States, held
pursuant to notice in the ewspapers
ia the public Hall of said town on Sa-
turday, Sept, 81, 1897.
The Hon. Francis L. Brooke was call
ed TO the Chair, and Col. VIM. +. Gray
appointed Secretary.
A committee consisting of Col. I'll.
Aerter, Mr.. Philip Harrison, Mr..
VIM. nj. Blackboard, DIR. Wm. Browne,
DIR. Beverley X. Wexford, Mr.. VIM.
Jackson, Jr. and Mr.. James Smock,
was appointed to prepare and report
suitable resolutions for the consideration
of the meeting.
The committee having retired for a
short time, returned to the Hall and
submitted the following preamble and
resolutions, which were read by the
Secretary and adopted by the meet
ing with only one dissenting voice:
We the citizens of Spotsylvania and
town Of fredericksburg, who are op-
posed to the election of Gen. Andrew
Jackson, as the next President Of the
United States-being DESTROYS that our
own votes, aud those of our fellow-citi.
zen who think aud act with us, may be
distinctly and efficiently given at the
approaching Presidential election, aud
considering that the mode adoptedhere-
tofore at Richmond, of nominating e.
%lectors of President and Vice President
Of the United States by the members of
tho General Assembly, who are not
| elected by the people for that object, is
unequal and unauthorized, and in these
respects violates tho principles of free
election and full representation, the ba-
sis of free ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it to
be tho duty, as it is the unquestionable
right Of the People to take into their
own hands the exercise of a power in
tended to be secured to them by the
constitution, but of which they will o.
therwise virtually be deprived.
In coming to this conclusion, we mean
to impute no blame to those who have
heretofore united in the mode of nomi-
mating electors which we r~eprobate. SO
long as there was little difference OF
opinion as to the qualifications of the
persen or persons for whom the vote of
Virginia was to be given to fill the high
and responsible Offices in question, it
was of little importance in what mode
electors of the State were nominated, II
the principle of the Electoral Law, COM
monty called the General Ticket Law,
was complied with. That principle gives
to Virginia her undivided weight in the
election of President and Vice President.
and it is not intended to be departed
from.
But a new and unlooked-for state Of
things is brought upon us. The people
Of Virginia are very much divided on a
question which has distracted all the
free republics that have .,erished before.
The question is, whether a military
chieftain. who it is admitted, has added to
the honor and glory of his country in
the field of battle--without the posses
sion of a single qualification, either of
temper. of habit or of information, for
the high, responsible, and arduous of.
fee of President of the United States,
is to be preferred to one highly gifted
and endowed with all the essential and
important requisites? A question too
which turns upon no principle of policy
on which they differ; a question which
has been raised by an opposition, many
of whom agree among themselves in
nothing bet an exasperated determine
ton to expel from office the present in
cumbent; and losing sight Of the value
of our inestimable institutions, are will
ling to sacrifice the principles of four
administrations, the most dear to the A
merican people, at the shrine of disap-
pointed ambition. Ia this state of things
we hold il to be u duty and the duty of
every citizen, 10 look with an anxious
eye to the consequences likely to result
from the choice that may be made at the
next Presidential election; and to take
measures TO prevent III votes from be
ing transferred, not only without our
consent, but in direct opposition to oar
wishes.
We furthermore feel it our duty to
declare to the world, that, after the most
deliberate attention TO the charge OF
corruption in the last election of Presl-
dent, and to the assertions which have
been exhibited in support of it, we ave
thoroughly satisfied that there 10 not the