Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-08

ADDRESS OF THE ADMINISTRATION CON.
VENTION,


VENTION>
Held IN THE CAPITOL, AT RALEIGH, N. c.
FELLow-CITIzENs: The approaching
election of President of the United States
has created high excitement in the pub
lie mind, and reused into action many an
gry passions. Those who now address
you are far from desiring to increase this
excitelnent, or to intlame these passions.
They know that large majority of their
countrymen who take part on either
side of this controversy, are actuated by
honest motives. They claim to Them
selves the right of expressing their own
opinion, and of acting in conformity to
the dictates of their own judgement but
they acknowledge, to its full extent, the
right Of others to form different opinion,
and to follow it up by a correspondent
course of action. They see no reason
why the citizens of the same community.
entertaining the same reverence for their
common Institutions, and equally DESTROYS
pf promoting the prosperity of their COM
mon country, may not differ about the
means Of effecting this end, without as
berity or animosity. They believe that
calm discussion and dispassionate inqui-
are most favourable to correct decision.
While, therefore, as freemen, addressing
reemen, they would express themselves
frankly and fearlessly yet, as men who
know their own infrmities and weakness.
they would fain speak without arrogance
or bitterness.
We have assembled, fellow-citizens,
from different parts of the State, to confer
with each other on the forming ofan Elec-
toral Ticket, which we may ourselves sup
port, and which we can recommend to
Others who may determine to act with us
in the Presidential Election. A confer
ence on this subject was Indispensable
The law OF our State, as it now exists,
will not permit us to vote in our respective
districts for Electors whom lis.
lsneu, 1usF IN wlIorn we can canfde, be-
cause we do know them. We can eyer-
else the elective franchise only as the law
permits; and we cannot exercise it at all,
without learning who viii probably be ac-
ceptable to those citizens in the different
districts of the State who, with us, are ia
vourable to the reelection of the present
Chief Magistrate. We believe that we
have procured this information, and we
therefore take the liberty of making
known the names ofthe persons for whom
we intend to vote. We attempt no con-
troll over public sentiment, make no par
ade of our numbers, and claim no official
influence. The ticket which we propose
must stand 0. fall by its own merit.
The approaching contest exhibits a
state of things until lately unheard of in
the political history of our country. From
the period which closed the political life
of the illustrious Washington down to the
days in which we live, whenever there
were rival candidates for the Presidency,
the rivalry sprang from difference in the
parties who divided the country. To the
honour of the people these parties were
bounded on measures and principles, not
on men and a struggle for office. The
effect OF these contests was to bring be-
fore the people, for their choice, those
Pest qualified to administer the affairs
pt the nation, according to their views
pf Its policy and, in every instance, the
candidate preferred was decidedly the
abiest man of his party. The pending
controversy exhibits no such dignity. 1t
rs not conflict between opposing princi-
pies; but conflict between opposing
men, and combinations of men. Tt is
Sounded on no recognised difference about
measures but on competition for pow
er and place. On either side, we see ar
rayed politicians, who have scarcely be-
lore been known to act in concert. The
champions of State rights, and the liberal
expounders of the Federal Constitution
the zealots for national encouragement
to Domestic Manufacturers, and the big
OTIS who deem even moderate protection
usufpation and tyrranny--the friends and
.ne enemies to Internal Improvement
oy some extraordinary principles of cohe-
sion, are found either combined to over
turn, or united to uphold, the present Adj
ministration. In the political principles
OF Mr.. Adams and of his opponent in their
views of national policy---so far as they
have been declared, or are discoverable--
difference Of any kind is not known to
exist. This state of things appears to us
not only novel, but in some respects alarms
ing. 1t is Of character which we deem
menacing to the tranquility, the honour,
and the best interests, of our country.
We have no personal concern in this
struggle. Belonging to the great body of
sne people, neither fearing to lose, nor