The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-12-03
AFRlCANUS.


2ens oil Bedford county convened At the Eagc
Tavern in the town of Liberty, ON the 9th day
OF November. 1927. TO express their diSapplob
ton nfthc election Of Gen Andrew Jackson 10
the Presidency of the United St,les-Col la
vd Saunders was called 10 the chair and Ma.
thsnc Manson and John L. Sale appointed
Secretaries.
On motion submitted 10 that effect the chair
proceeded 10 appoint nine persons To prepare 4
report preamhl# aud resolutions faI tn Consid-
Grafton OF the meeting, consisting OF The follow
ing gentlemen To Wit michael Graham Isaac
otrv. Bada Mcdaniel, Thomas Salc, Pleasant
VI Gogen John W Holt. Nathaniel l. Hanson.
Robert Campbell and john +. Sale After Icti.
ring u short time the committee returned aud
reported The following preamble aud resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted
We, the citizens al Bedford county, opposed
to the elevation Of Zen Andrew Jackson, TO the
Presidency of the United States, think proper 10
make public declnI atoa of some OF the reasons
which influence or oppoSitlon.-We know ell
two persons only, who are likely 10 be before
the public as candidates ~ the next Presidential
election, John Quincy Adams aud Gen. Andrew
Iackson-Onr choice then, as we conceive he
ing limited 10 one OF these individuals II becomes
our duty 10 investigate their respective qualii-
cations, and 10 give our support TO the candidate
who shall seem 10 ns most competent TO I'LL the
niHll 'illif III ufsAiOHs we 1ft no reason WHY
We should withdraw from our present chief mag.
istIale, the confidence aud taust rcposed IN him
by his election 10 the first office in the govern
mHnt-we are aware that, in theis opinion, we
differ from large and respectable portion Of
our fellow citizens and that 10 such difference Of
opinion, IS 10 be traced the origin Of the present
conYnlscd state ofthe pablic mind. which We
/ sincerely depreoale. Since II Is Thereby greatly
inexperienced from the exercise of that sound X
unbiased discretion essential in the election
ola chief nlagstrate-ln contrasting and Weigh
ing the respective qualifications al Mr. Adams
and Gen. jackson, to discharge the important
! duties Of President OF the United States I seems
To us that the scales greatly prrponderale in in
your of the former aud sc rely evidence in
support oil our opinion 10 our minds conclusive
/ We say, since the commencement 0fhs SPLEEN
did political career, n period OF about ia iiV
/ years, he has been constantly aud US fully en-
/ gagged in the service OF his country, having filled
within that period several of the highest Offices
IN onr government, with IN ability thai reflects
! great honor on himself, aud lustre On ms cuun-
Try, not merely receiving its negative appruba-
! ton IN foI bearing TO censure aud condemn his n
boufs but the almost united applause of hiS
countrymen has beenaHarled hun la vainha,r
some OF the heated paitzans OF hls rival icnjed
him superior endowmnnrs for c,ytl office Tine
diplomatic history of the Unitri STATES furnishes
abundant proof OF his possessing intellectual
powers that have distinguished hun HS one OF thu
| hrs pc ltlcans and statesman IN this country
| II appears TO us that fhr people of the United
| States, with chlei magistrate thus emnently en-
| dowed should mol SEEK hls removal al the neAt
| election, but for some apparent and weighty adj
vantage 10 he canned Y the substitution of bis
| rival-we have sought IN VAN h discover such
advantage In the election of Gen Andrew
| Ia 81 TT
nothing that is 10 he gained, but much 10 alarm
| us, and weaken orr confidence IN the stability Of
! our republican institutions. We should behold
| in his elevation the feaiu and certain hnrhin-
ger OF despotism, the pfrponderance Of military
over ciVll merit IN hs elevation We should de-
monstraeto the world, that. IN its most enlighien-
! ed age, maniis incompetent 10 self government
| We should see him raised to the Presidency by
the same blind devotion Of the people 10 their
successful generals, that enabled them 10 sub
vert all the ancent republics. and erect the stan
datd Of dcspotiSm on thu nuns. In his elevn-
ton we believe the last nope oil frcedom would PEI.
ish-we believe General Jackson, besides the OH
| jeciions we have urged on account OF his military
character, TO be en- rey destitute of the apprepfl-
ate talents 10 discharge the duties Of chief mags-
! trate otthe United States; Some o the advocates
of his election contend that he does posses. the
competent qualifications bu the evidence rell
ed on to establish the fact Is rgatIye aud ncon-
elusive in its character They say he has filed
several offices IA the general government, and as
there were complaints of his want Of capacity
10 discharge the duties apputanant 10 such Off
ces, they therefore arrive IT Tho conclusion that
he filled them with ability aud consequently es-
'absh ms fiurss 10 be President Of the United
States. But surely, when a man present, hun
self before The public as candidate for the most
important Office IN the glit the people he should
produce higher evidence of his competency
Admit, however the qualifications Of Gen Jack
son TO be equal TO those Of Nh, Adams, and
what has Virginia 10 expect from his success ?
Not an able aud efficient opponent Of that lailiu-
dnous construction of the constitution which
she has uniformly opposed for the two great
measures adopted under such construction found
ia Gen jackson "A most active aud jealous adyo.
cate But charge of corruption has been pre-
icrrcd by Gen. Jackson against the President &
Secretary Of State in relation 10 the last Presi.
dental eleciion-Sucb CHARGE, supported by
such An accuser could not fail 10 excite snspi-
cions and an enquiry into its truth has engross
ed much Of our attention. II appears TO US that
the high staining IF those gentlemen in the alb
senee ofevery thing like proof should be a sniff
eient reiutaton OF snch charge. Yet we have
not thought proper to rely upon their long and
patriotic services and ther hitherto nnassailed
regulations, TO establish their innocence We
have attcntiyely examined the documents in the
case, aud whilst we rejoice 10 find thai they
prove incontesiibly the Innocence of the parties
accused, we regret that VIC are irresistibly for
ced to the conclusion. by the evidence they eshb-
! IT, that ecu Jackson has justly incurred suspi-
clons OF beinp Influenced IN making those chalg-
es by motives highly derogatorv TO his charac-
ter AS man of honour.--rhe President and Sc
| cretary OF State, oppose the only obstacle be-
4 nj IL.
aspires put them down bis ascent is smooth and
easy. Thus situated, an honourable, magnan-
nous mind would have been scfupuously anx-
Gus to avoid every unworthy and improper in-