Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-10-27
ANTE. JAG MDErEWGs
CITY OT RICHMOND.

wise means 10 prevent such an evont: W,n. II. Ca
bell, Esq. was called TO the chair aud Wm. C. Pen
dleton appointed Secretary.
The objects os the meeting were briefly adverted "a
by the Rev. john Kerr; and on the motion Of Pey+ou
Randolph, Esq. a committee of nine persons was APP
pointed, by the Chair, TO prepare and report a Pream n
be and Resolutions in fistherauce of the objects o,
the meeting furnishing Of the following gentlemen,
VIZ: The Rev. john Kerr, Peyton Randolph, Rober
Stanard, Gen. JAcqlelin B. ilarvie. John II. Eustace.
Samuel Myers, Daniel Call, John II. Peasants, and
Robett Pollard.
After retiring & short time, the committee return ed
and reported the following Preamble aud Resolutions:
The citizens oflIiciiinond assembled TO express their
Misrepresentation OF the election Of Gen. Andrew Jack
son TO The Presidency OF the United States, aud 10 de-
wise means TO prevent such an event. feel that il is
due TO themselves 10 offer 10 their fellow citizens of the
City and Of the State at large, a brief exnosi,io, nj
some ot The reasons on which their disapprohalion is
founded, and which reader the promulgatiou of it,, i'm
ms mode. Ut ana proper. Without affecting n sensibi-
l'ty they do not fee; disdainimg all influence but that
which may bcdne 10 a temperate appeal TO the reason
OF the people; not seeking 10 produce a croundIess =.
larmi and prepared TO NEE; all public dangers with tho
II rnuess becoming freemen-they vet CONCEIVE thai ,
CRISIS, new, peculiar and sinister, has arrived, in WHICH,,
arc u'scerneu proSnostics OF danger, if not TO the pre-
sent TRANQUILITY OF the country, at least TO the future
safety oil It's institutions. y contest is liercely wapcd
for the Chief Miagisiracy of The Union, in which The
iormcr crteria OF party are in a great measure absor-
bed or reduced 10 subordinate importance, and over
which personal and local aniipathies, or par,ialities.
have a predo,ninaiin2 influence. The State Of Virginia
Is made a party to this igaoble strife, and her voice is
CoauLenIly CLAIMED Tor Gen. jackson. The members
ot this meeting dissent, in common with a large por-
ton OF the citizens of the state, from this claim. They
cannot but dePrccate the election of Gen. jackson as
eninoils OF the decay of that spirit by which alone our
institutions can be upheld and perpetuated. Under
these Impressions they feel that they onght not to be
silent, and that their opinions should be PROMULGATED
hrmlT ana distinctly, after tue example of others of
their fellow citizens and to aid their influence. While
they earnestly dissent from the supporters of J jackson
they question not the purity of their motives; while they
p,resase the most pernicious effects from his election,
they indulge no fear that he will wage war on the Ii
berries of his country-while they allow his claims on
the gratitude of his country for his military services.
ttarulshed as they have been by acts of violence 1-and
readily accord to hiM all the rewards that p,trio,ism
could justly claim, and a generous country safely grant,
they deny that its irst1nagistracy is n reward appro
pirate 10 Inc services, or TO the character and quaiiG-
Cations OF him for whom il is asked.
. Gen. Jackson, the citizens of Richmond here as
setnoied think as they have always thought, aud with
a respect which his unreasonable desire to fill an Office
for which he has neither the necessary experience, nor
the appropriate talents, has not forfeited. Greater
indeed should they have esteemed him-more dear
~ would he have been cherished in their recol-
iectlons, had he been found 10 unite the moderation
OF Cincinnatus with his devotion to the laws and
protection of his country-and honoured amono his
country as the first in war, been contented TO
1--we on the inexhaustihle fund of gratitude and af-
lection treasured up for him III the hearts of the people.
But tho their principles impcrieusly call upon them
to oppose his success TO the ut~ternost-though the
Introduction OF his Name in the canvass has flooded
tao country with The waters OF bitterness though
they have perceived him 18th uautterab.e regret. des.
oend from his high dignity 10 mingle in person in
that contest, waged for his elevation-they continue
81 feel undimlnished gratitude for his military services.
AMI TO rePo;e uadiminished confidence in his love of
country. With equal frankness and sincerity they dis
csann all part:zan attachments to Johu Quincy Adams.
They are free to declare that he is not uEexception-
able in their eyes, and If they are Jealous for his re-,
election, an prepared 10 promote it by all honora-
bic and constitutional means in their power, tina, zeal
originates IN a higher source than individual partial
lily, or personal attachment. They have seen the whole
course OF his administration studiousiy misrepresen-
ted, his most Careless language perverted, his clarac.
Ter ADD feelings and those 9TH Cabinet, most wanton-
~ anl in;enperately assailed. These things have not
failed To arouse that sympathy, which the observation
OF irJlsiice always awakcns in generous minds; but on
the. other hand, tiiat sympathy has not blinded hem TO
errors IN his Administration, nor can it extort from
tie;n he acknowledgment that he is free from obiec-
ton. Bat thus mach tiey profess TO believe; that he
Us pure and upright in neutrality-suspicious., ho@eyer
occasionally misiakan-palicnt,~f lith1ul, and laborions
in the discharge of his Pa6lic duties-aiameless AMI ir-
repro7chab!e in private life. Arrived At an advanced
stage OF lie, ana having received from his Country
the most repeated AM the highest testimonials of her
conf ience, il is impossible TO believe that he cferisipA
es III bis heart disafsclion 10 her institutions, or that
he can have any other wish than TO perpeiuate that form
of government under which he has been trusted and
advanced 10 Tie highest diEnities. With these fayora
bic conceptions OF his public and private character,
they are determined 20 support him with Zaai--a zeal
yet not inspired upon his account, but that of the Re
public. They do not believe him the best qualified OF
ali their fellow citizens for the Presidency, but cir
chnstances, in making him the ra:i,inr point of civil
ascendancy, opposed 10 the military spirit and TO mill
laty predofninance, have let them no other alternative.
op TIE character OF the opposition which has been
"aged against the existing administration, the citizens
81 Richmond, here assembled, cannot forbear 10 express
their disappr0batIon. Commencing before The admin.
Istratlon was larry organised, and before The first ines
sage OF The President had disclosed Tho PRINCIPLES mon
which he proposed 70 conduct his administration. eyi j.
dence was thus given that the determine tion 10 assail
II vas independent Of the character it might assure.
This conclusion is strengthened by Surveying the po-
hhcai characters of many most actively engaged in
tue oppositioD; and The citizens Of Richmond cannot
out Ieei suspicious of The change they propose 10 bring
them, wbeu, TO effect IT,, they have sacrificed fbeir own
consistency, aud reversed tie principles of PnbI,c con.
duct upon which they had up to thai time acted. Ticy
cannot approve the personal aid vtndictiyc spirit in
~hIch the opposition has been conducted, and they
di'trnSt Tie SOM iness Of a cause which relies for sue
cess upon d'sgracinS TIC Charac;c. Of IFS prominent
adyersaries' They discrcd.t tie ouargcs of bargain