Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-11-17
LnLGS.l COlA.Il-

H''''9 '"' >H'NN - a. ~H".f1 rHaI
Ja'nes Richie appointed secretary.
On motion, I.ucien Minor, DIR. Joseph w. Peudle
ton, Benjamin Is. Drake, aud James Michic, were
appointed a committee TO prepare and report Il pre-
amble and resolutions, in accordance with the object
OF the meeting.
Tire committee having retired for a short time, re.
ported the following preamble and resolutions, which
were unanimous adopted:
The citizen freehciders of Louisa assembled to con-
cert measures 70! preventing the election Of General
Andrew Jackson 10 the Presidency of the y States,
deem it proper, briefly TO enumerate the motives which
prompt them 10 such a course.
In iiftug up their voices against the elevation of a
man, 10 whom they own themselves and their country
so signally Indebted for his services in war--ser,ices
for which they have ever been fervenily, vet rati.naIiv
Srateful--tne members of tins meeting cUnscient,ouslv
believe themselves 10 be acting upon the eternal
foundations of reason. and of fust pIjncipie.
Casting their eyes backward upon the transactions
recorded in History. they find all former experience
warning them against the dangers 10 which the repuh-
ics are exposed, from the %usurping character of mill
'afv qualifications. Greece and Rome were once free
atu enlightened. as TINS republic Row is; wars. waged
II itst tor defence, but afterwards for conquest, nou
tished martial virtues 10 the exclusion of civic ones .
distinguished warriors monopoltzed the partislties o,
their countryinen; and soon the clustering democrat
cies of Greece, as well as the solitary grandeur of the
ilonan commonwealth, crouched beucath the iron
inte al desroiisil. To omit the various Siciian states,
winch though once furnishing and independent, are
now principally famed by the enormrties OF Diony sius
" agathocius, successful soldiers who oppressed thein.l
modern Italy has swartned with ~rer"hi.cs, tllat mostly
owe the subycTsIuu Of their liberties To the rraIu7i en-
croaCh;nents, Or the sudden assaults, of w~arl.ie lead
ers. England, after a long, saogrinary and triumph
ant contest with kingIy tyranny, was enflayed BY a
chic!ta!n, who, in tie very name and rnder the ban
nets of liberty Tough; his way 10 ! height oE authority,
IRON Wt!iCh tue re-eSia6lIShei throne, even oil the fog
mer tyranls, was 4 welcome refuge. F.ancc. after
awakening from The !ethargy Of centuries, into which
absolute monarchy had supplied her, fell again under
the more appalling despotism Of a popular warriors:
and even the soil of America has been polluted by The
u%surpation of an ltuibide; who, at first hailed as the
champion and defender, died the enslaver of his conn
try. II was thus that free nations formerly fell; il is
thus, unless h:nan nature itself change, that eyery
people must fall, who make deeds of arms de criterion
OF fitness for civil Office: nay, snch must be the tate OF
all, who do not studinus!y guard against The natural
Propcues5 of man, to be cnptiyated by the false glitter
OF military re1Own. II IS observed by n pli;ngcrhic
historian, that 'eXaUples bagct custom, and custom
riPens into tar; and the doubtful n~rcCcient Of one oe
neration becomes the fundamental. maxim of another. u
history has been aptiy called. ne V0ice II IRE nrSt
speaking 10 lie (IknrC; and this meeting i'm picrc thc:-
fellow citizens, not 10 let that warning vote sound il.
vain.
iftis manifest (as they believe il 10 be- that Z ruler.
of talents exclusively or even ch;.fy military, is in
general dangerous To q republic, both Immediately and
by the preccden, established, peculiarly strong cir
cu'nstances should be required TO sc; aside the disquali
tied principle III any individual case. They resDcct-
fully enquire, nat traits OF character. Via; exfranr
binary qualities, General Audrev Jackson possesses
10 warrant an exception IN his behalf from The rene.
raj ru'cs Has lie skore, in any civil siaiiou2 lie hae
ito the praise oF honesty he i, Observation-Disclosures
retired from the bench and from the senate. confessed
y because of 1:ic0pciy TO fl}i! their duties! iias h.
displayed, npon any OF his nH'acrcus occasions for dis
playing, 4 profound hn0":siya OF The nature o
our political institutions Iiu has acr;oysyy com.
plained, that the speaker OF one branch OF a State re
gis!atnre would not, at LIS request, prorccue the house
ever which he presided: and has talked Of ecccvling ci.
HSens charged tsHt hcrSoa under n military ,u}l
concerning spies taken in a canI! Has hc irvariabIv
manifested towards the fundamental laws OF cur ccro,
try, that awful reverence Discerning one whose hioi
nnsnn ,1Iar yt--o L. -. -
maintain and defend them? He has, with a sacrlie
9ious hond, torn tire Tei! of the temple, and destined
the sacred ministers 10 sacrifice, because the, 1crYnel
Inn III The holy ground which he was profaning. ane
there ID credible evidence, that lie has since beer
prevented only by the mcnacing interposiion of gal
liant sailor, from entering the Senate chamber q Tia
U. S. 10 iDiict bodily violence upon q Senator, 10
haring, according TO his sworn duty, in the Senate il
self, frankly exposed General Jackeon's inGr;nr-ment,
oi the laws! This meeting waive as suplriCcus. :
further enumeration Of deficiencies: though ;afer duly
allowing for seine vile ca!unDies, which they d!scia in
as unworthy OF ti.eir Cau5e they believe uther Ciarne,
are substantiated: and tht appeal to tie calm reason
and the caudor Of their country men, whether the me.
Tits OF tie eminent parsonage in question errqyf i;iJ,
!Fom the general disqHaiitying rr!e2 They hone Il
escape the impu!aiicn Of undue aspor.ty, when thew
declare, according 10 the sentiment pyertiI;ng IN !B:
%l93I three years ago, and in TIE words Of FIrgin,a'.
most authentic organ, that they ''would dcprccate hi.
election as : CURSE UPON TIE CCUETRY.D
This meeting has seen, with mingled emotions Of in
disnation and wonder, a parallel attempted 10 ne drawn
between the Father Of his country, and General .Jact
son. a temper, rendered mia by early aud hab;,uar
sclI-cornnand; a genilcncss never known 10 have en-
gagged IN a personal hroil: a scru pulous Gieiity, which
carried him through a seTen years war without IN in
traction o! a7 HatI1ua! or municipal AMI \ genius for
state affairs, discerned b. the sagaciiy OF Paf1jct Hem
~, even before the revolution, TO be the Gist In dat
Congress which Chatham pronounced tie foremost in
the worid;-these axe some of tue particulars in which
Washington utterly differed from General jackson.
30 Innneasurabic Is the interval, so gIaring ihe con
tldSt, that The 2f(gUDt 10 CyfDDa-p tlFn, - rpfyt Lo
Y;s''ed as an impressive example Of tie greediness with
which pre'e%ts viii be hereafter seized, for RAISING
some still more daring, and less honest soldier, 70 the
supreme command; until, "the doubtful rrecedeu, of
one generation becoming the fundamental maxim Of
aHo!heF''ine sway WI! at last be awarded Of course,
10 the candidate who Yields the kecnost sword. If
thirty years have produced such degeneracv, az 10
reconcile America 10 n comparison Of General ,E1rrs,1
With WASHINGTON, II will be but a natural pro
sTes5, should . century more bchol! her r'iaiing IN
der the domination Of q Caesar oT a Cromwell. scif cleo
and supported III power by armed bands.
The citizens tere assembled DO 10; entirely approve
tbc course OF the existing administration, ard do moi