Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-11-15
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"on Oh General Andrew jackson 70 the
presidency of ths United States. held A
Tue Court House, on Monday the lsth
November, 1927, pursuant 10 nrsviou,
aoocs' and computed to be u%otiess than
zoo ! number) for the purpose Of con-
s,dering the expediency Of appointing
delegates to the Convention proposed
TO be held in Richmond, on the s,h Ian.
u&ry, 1873, General ELISHA BOYD
was called to the Chair and HARRI.
SuN WAITE appointed Secretary.
lhe meeting being organised, its oh.
Ject was stated and enforced by David
Holmes Conrad, Esq. followed bv Col
Edward Colston, w~hereupon a commit.
zee was appointed to prepare a Pream.
Ole and Resolutions expressive of the
OBJECT and sentiments Of the meeting
Saio committee consisting of Joel Ward
JACOB Viewer, David II Conrad, Levi
Henshaw, George Porterfeld. William
Morrison, William Good, Thomas Rob.
inson, Robert ~Snodgras. and William
Gregory, having retired a short time. re.
turned and presented the following pre-
amDle ana resolutions:
The citizens of Berkeley county op-
posed to the elevation of general Andrew
jackson to the Presidential chair of the
United States, being assembled for the
purpose of publicly giving their voice in
opposition to his p~retensions, deem it
their privilege, as well as a sacred duty
which they owe to themselves, to declare
their reasons for this opposition, and to
unite with many others of their fellow.
citizens In appointing Fl, persons to re.
present these their opinions. They feel
the less hesitation in making this free
declaration OF their sentiments. even
upon a question involving the interests,
and demanding the views of millions of
others equally concerned with them
selves, when they reflect. that it is the
peculiar and highest blessing of a free
government, that the true sentiments of
the people, can, and will be heard and
felt, in every important crisis affecting
the common weal-that by how much
this expressed will is perverted, or dis
regarded, or the expression of it re
strained by the institutions, or practice
OF any government-B BY so much does
that government forget the supremacy
of the only power which could Iegiti
mately create it, and to the same extent
forfeit its title of Republican: That the
method so frequently, and too frequent
~ adopted in this state. OF framing a
Presidential ticket by a Caucus of the
Legislature, is a practice so liable to a
buse, as to call for its total abolition;
because II is no where recommended or
enjoined in u written constitutions, and
well defined systems of government, and
because it has the direct tendency TO OBJ
struct a free expression of the popular
Will, as well as to contound the land
marks OF the Constitution, by the as
sumption Of power in the Legislative
branch, in nowise delegated TO it.
Moreover, that when they have good
eason to aprrehend that another effort
will DO made in this way to dictate a
President to The people Of Virginia, they
may well assemble to protest against it;
having on this ground motives strong e.
nough to urge them TO any honorable
step, to couuteract a practice Of very
doubtful propriety, and dangerous in its
exercise.
The citizens here assembled, believe
further, that the stability of the union,
and the permanency OF our admirable
constitution may materially depend upon
the issue of this presidential contest. To
them Gen. Jackson seems, in temper, bv
education, and from merit, totally unfit
for the office to which he aspires. They
cannot forget that his public history pre-
sents little else than a career of high
handed opposition to civil rights and pri-
vileges, proceeding either from a disre.
gard of their paramount character, or
from a singular %inaccuracy of know
ledge as to their extent and sacredness.
They think moreover, that bis military
services (if indeed, they have not been
cancelled by his subsequent conduct) are
rather to be urged as reasons against,
than in favor of his pretensions, and that
even these, if they have not been over
rated, have at least by the undiscrimina
ting zeal of bis supporters, been lauded
so loudly as to drown the UsI deserved
claims of his compatriots in arms: That
giving them their full need of desert,
they can in no point of view entitle their
idolized actor to the chief office in the
CipiI government, OF twelve millions Of
frsemen, OF in any wise fit him for the
l no rfoPmaura of the hioh and rasnonsihlp