Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-22

friends Of the INDUSTRIOUS lnulNtuu'u aiiuoeu 'o'
have deemed it fitting aud proper 10 come t'rtii
and appeal for support 10 all those VINO are 'sieha-
ly to the course OF measures that he Is SO well
known to advocate.
Fellow citizens-I consider the approaching
to be one of greater Importance than any that has
taken place for long time in our country. On
il NAV ,epend the continuance OF the constitu-
ton 1t is long time since have taken part
in the public concerns. nave been, tor series
of wears. prescribed man: and because would
not Weld to the dictation OF party-oecause
would not 90 to Tammany Hall, and bow down
70 the golden calf. and worship 1t; | have been
considered and treated as q stranger IN The hnd
ofmv fnhsrs. have refused and disdained to
sacrifice nv principles for political advancement.
love the constitution of my country, and all the
Offices on earth shall not induce me to abandon 1t.
Had been influenced by other considerations.
no impetliments were in the way OF my march.
The path was open before me. 1t was easily found.
1t was we'll beaten. have seen hundreds trav-
ell il who were formerly as warm Federaists as
| ever was. had nothing TODD but to march
boldly to Tammany Hall, openly enlist under
the banner of the Regcnc Y, renounce my Princi-
pies. dcnounce my former friends and associates,
and | should have been miraculously transform
ed .snto an original democrat, dyed IN the wool"
err friends, should have proved myself worthy
to be entrusted 81 new ones.
But have adhered TO these principles OF pub
lie policy which in my conscience believed to
be right. and nov deem it a matter OF no ordna-
ry felicitation TO address my fellow citizens upon
subjects of deep interests to their welfare.
The history of this Republic is deeply inter
estng to the friends of liberty throughout the
world, and full of instruction to Americans them
selves. Our revolution was peculiar in It's ma
ture and in the circumstances that attended II.
1t did not cry mate from any actual state OF SUI
fer,nc in the colonies Our fathers did not pledge
their lives, their fortunes and their sacred hon
or. for the relief of positive suilrrngs but Of anti
cipated tyranny. 1t was adherence to principle,
no, the inflcton of grievance. that mpelled them
to arms Ii was because the British Pa immcnt
claimed to tax them without their consent, they
appealed to force for vndicat0n OF their Fights
They saw, and they saw rightly. that if they re-
sisted at all. they must resist at the outset They
perceived that in proportion as they Welded, the
enemies Of their rights would advance. and that
AZ each successive advance II would be, ONE more
and more difficult, to repel They therefore took
an early stand. They dared much-they suffer
! ed mush--they nobly fousht-and they as no.
| bly, prevailed.
| the enemy had receded from our shores. it was
| found that For want OF an efficient government,
! ni,hout With no people be- happy. no libcr-
! " secure. the revolution was in danger OF being
a curse instead of blessing to us; the States had
| been kent together in waf bv a sense of common
Idanger and common suffering, there was great
reason To fear that their local conflicting interests
would array them against each other. To preserve
the union. aud to guard against the impending
evils Of the times, The constitution was formed
Under it the Union has been preserved, the lher-
ties If the country secured. the national faith re-
deemed. the national honor maintained, and our
country has exhibited an instance OF private and
public prosperity unexamped in the annals of the
world.
From this brief review of our political history,
Ier Americans learn these two important truths.
l. That a people determined to live free, can
never be vanquished; and
2. That TO preserve our liberty and indrpend-
ence. our union is essential. and the prcscrva-
ton of the constitution is essential to preserve
the union.
This constitution, my fellow citizens. it is our
solemn dntv To preserve untarnshed and unbro-
ken. But it never can be preserved unless we
maintain invioae the freedoms of The press, and
the parity of elections BY the freedom Of the
"
term, which permits every man to publish what
he thinks proper, holding him amenabie TO the
laws for what he does publish: bu, the great CON
sutational freedom of the press, which leaves it
free from the corruption or influence of the 90
vcrnment-which leaves it as it ever ought to be,
free and willing to oppose the approaches Of ar
bltrary power aud Corruption. whenever they MAJ
take place; and to be the continual supporter
ot the rights Of the people, and not OF any par
ticular set of men who may seek to invade them:
and By the purity.of elections. mean the right
| to vote according to the dictates of mans on
Judgment and conscience without restraint tIom
The government. and free from any apprehension
Of being punished for his vote: and from any i'm
proper bias from the hope Of being rewarded for
i BY the government. IL we fail TO preserve the
freedom of the press and The purity of elections,
thus understood. our boosted liberties are not
worth rush. and our constitution has become
shadow. We have recently Witnessed in France
a revolution that has been thus far extraordinary
aud glorious. 1t Is the commencement of tor
rent that will find its course thrcu.hcnt the con-
tjnaut of Euroue Ii hoa he. ON it-alf :;