Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-10-27

n -0"TNT Id OU ~ T'UTOWn Dy InslliOus ,loJ,,,:..
from actions explicable upon honest aud nat,;o.;'
grounds, or BY the passionate den uncratinns ~ 80
pointed uen-in these charges re lec;inr mo a.,
800 80. az u u Toua'y as mach rs upoa the distin
gu.'hed individuals themselves, they repeat their n,,o
disbelief; a disbelief 6orroboratcd By orcrv succoa.u,
attempt 10 establish them.
Ottte people OF Virginia, the citizens here assem-
bed enquire, what benefit they expect TO e,ive-
what triumph of principle they expect to achieve n,
,he election OF Gen. jackson? What sympathy exists
between them and him, on those great cnns,;in,;,ms
questions for which they have so long and so nob,,
coDtended? They are opposed TO enlarged construction,
OF the federal ConpaIt-Gen. jackson has sur,,n,,J
such constructions by his votes in the Senate of tLs
United States. They are ininical 10 n p,o,ec,;,o
Tariff-he having sanctioned that of 1921 pnr .Lso"f
his opinions In impenetrable mystery. Tbev os,oam
The Constitution 4 holy thing not 10 be nroc,roI g.
violence, or altered bt by The i'll ofil,e neorlo. H. +,
broken into its sanctuary with aims in his hands Tho,
esteem the writ of liabeas Corpus the great f,o,ar3
OF individual liberty, not to be suspended but BY law
he has suspended ii upon his individual authority. Thov
CONSIDER the freedom OF tbe citizen as the end al Tho ~
stitution, and not TO be Invaded but BY jujpnen, or III.
peers, and the law of the laud--G eneraI .Isckson ,S
thrown them INTO prison at his arbitrary will and p,,,.
sure. They have entrusted the power of ,o.r,.a,
war, 10 their representatives i'm Conorose so,Ll,
General Jackson has invaded a neutral conntrr :,
aehance OF oroers and IN violation of this constitutional
provision. Ihey nave guaranteed the freedom of the
fress as essential 10 public liberty-Gen. Jackson h,s
published its exercise by imprisonment. ,YheTc ,ian
IS the cause for sympathy in his behalf,
lac citizens here assembled rccur 10 these am.
80 ~ DtOUC win lnrsonc
They would gladly draw a veil over transac,ions
painful from the dishonor they inflicted on the copsti~
tu'ion, MT were possible. But tba time has arrived
when silence would be reauhery. No,L;,u -.
now attempted, than the elevation of tho
many illegal enormities TO the Office of The prca,os, q -
possibility and the greatest power in The co,n,rr
w i'i' no other passport bnt his military re,ut,,;or
General Jackson lays claim 10 rule a RepnbI;c 6",,
ded IN the supremacy of law; aud thousands of ~
feliow-citizeHs, forgetfui OF the fate of other Hennh,;o.
ana worsh'Pping IN is person that military principlo
WHICH SnECeSSlyGfv laid f,ro0cn 1o-- ~, -.
France, in chains nj the feet of a master. are found IN
support his pretensions. II is this admira,ion of lilo
military character and this disposition TO elevate !,
over tho less s~plended, and unobtrusiyc. hnt -, 81.
p!c.entions OF civil merit, that we dcplore 10 Tho -
ing characteristic which has but now dIspIayeJ ;,sair
IN our country. From General Jackson. we .rnro
bend no attack upon public liberty-it Womb bo ri
neless indeed, and not worth the defence, if il fell, no.
fore the hrst example OF n military rdler. States Il
NOT rush al once from Liberty TO despotism-the seeds
OF the latter are sown in long antecedent event. =, -
against sowing them, even in the qualification of , faoI
ing of patriotism and grati,ude-it is AGAINST ,at;nn
t1at hrst step, which is so often fatal, that we rcsnnct
'ni'y caution our fellow citizens In the general con
stitution OF things, the military principle soeoed 40
signed by fate, TO be the irreconc:lable foe and lilo a.
troyer of Liberty. The liberties of Greece GeI 49,
Alexander-those of Rome, before Sylla and Casa
OF England before Cromwell-oi France beG,re no
naparte. Why, feliow-citizens, shonld tee y, 80,
by the example of those celebrated and unfortpnare
states? Why should we, by the election of a e;,;.an
as our ruler, whose claims are derived ev cI,e;,oI -
the sword, sanction the principle that military is rroa.a,
than civil merit? Why should we establish = nrsceJ,n,
winch aitho' it may prove harmless in its own case. NAV
prove iataiin MS next repetition Why should se hold
Out tue idea TO the turbulent and ambitions. ,hat ~
surest and speediest road 10 the first honors :; 81,
''oiood and cornaGe,"and tbat the Presidency of Tho ~.
nited States may be conqIeTod on the field Of ba,.lc?-
These are the vieFs Which an impartial ConsrIeratio,
ct Tins interesting question presents 10 the people of
Richmond.
Resolved, therefore, That we view the eIcc,io, If
a citizen 10 The Presto. 1cy whose claims are ionnIoi
9SCiuGlYciy uDQ1 military acme aTnoutG nc , ,,~, l.
-gerous precedent 10 pubIic liberty, and that we uonIorc
such OF our fellow Citizens as concur in this opinion. IN
unite with US IN aYer!iug SO great an evil M 4. II ~
and honorable means.
Resolved, That while we disapprcve some thipos ia
the administration OF hr Adams, we can see uo;hinr
in il TO deserve The nnmeasured deuuHciaiioD which, :;
has encountered, ani that believing ITS continuance
under the circumstances OF the country safest for our
Liberties and constitution, we will zealously co-operale
in !Hs recollection.
Resolved, That in the integrity and homo, of ,mo
President aud Secretary o! State we have the fuIIosr
confidence; and that we depl,s the spirit of denunci-
alton winch The present State OF parties has cnsendcr-
Ell in our country.
Resolved, That we approve of the Convention e.,
nominating an electoral ticket, proposed 10 he boLIo,
in thus city on the 9Th January next, as RepubIicar
in principle, and best calculated, in effect to ascertain
the will Of The people.
Resolved, That we proceed fofhwifh TO n,a e,,c,;o,
of three delegates TO represent this city IL said con
vention.
Resolved, That a Committee Of CorrcspondeDce =
N''7i9' W ''c'''y S"' &c "ifD'il'CO; mat N have mower
20 supply any vacancy that may occur in the deIegaiion
TO the said Convention from this meeting, and cor
respond with committees ofsrnilar mae,inee. and tho,
they he earnestly recommended TO use the utmost zeal
in tie discharge of tiieir duties.
And The said Preamble and Resolutions being read
and no Objection thereto suggested by any one present.
were, on question put thereon by the char, od2otnd
by the meeting with tjoO dissenting voices only.
The meeting then proceeded to tle appointment IF
Delegates 10 the Convention TO be held in this city on
me 9Th day OF January next, and of a Committee
Of Correspondence, comfornIa5ly TO The resolutions =
toresaid-vhen the foiioring gentlemen we're appointed
Dehesaics 10 lie Kill Conrcntj07,, viz:
The Rev. John Kerr,
Chapman johnson, and
Daniel Cali
.9ad tie f1Yo~,ng gentlemen ,oere npDojnfed n Com
ptjHcs Qf Correspondence, VIZ:
WIN. II. Csbel T.. w. Roo,cs
EooeFi 7'anaTd Thomas Brockenbrough
John ~. PIeasaufs Preston Smith
VIM. IL. Ei:Xyh5IsODn ,JnO. Finders