Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-22
ADDRESS
Of the National Republican Conreniion, TO the
Peoble of the United States.

People of The United States.
FELLOW CrrIzENs;-1he period will soon ar
rive when you will be called upon to exercise a
right, which, Of all the independent nations Of
considerable power on the globe, you alone pos
sess-that of electing, by your own free choice,
and from among yourselves, the person who is to
be entrusted with the high functions of your Chief
Executive Magistrate. 1t is sometimes said that
it is of little inpor lance what individual Is cloth
ed with that character: that President of the
United States has no great personal influence ell
ther for good evil, and that, in the esent pros
porous condition OF the country the public affairs
would be transacted just about as well under one
President as another. Such opinions can only
be entertained by persOns who have reflected We
nv little on the theory or the practical operation
Of our Government. The whole course OF the
public affairs depends. in a very considerable de-
.nrec, upon the direction which is given to the in
fiuence belonging to the office Of President
II is no doubt true that the political machine may
continue to move on while with apparent sue
cess under very unskiful direction by the effect
of favorable impulse received at other times;
but 1t is obvious. that II such state Ut things
continue long. the favorable impulse will be lost,
and the principle Of prosperity destroyed. per-
haps forever. II is generally acknowledged that
the pure and lofty character Of Washington con-
tributed more than any other cause to carry our
institutions into successful operation, and that
the eminent virtues and acknowledged talents Of
his SUCCESSORS in the Presidency. have aided very
powerfully in sustaining aud pertectlng the work
which he began. 1t is equally apparent that II
the Chief Masistracy should ever he committed
for any great length of time to persons OF an op
posite character. the condition OF the country
must undergo, in one way OF another, disastrous.
perhaps a fatal revolution.
Such being the importance of the right which
YOU will soon be called upon to exercise, you
owe il to Yourselves, to your children, to your
country. to the cause Of humanity, which is so
deeply involved in the issue Of the political ex-
pertinent that is now making among us, to exer-
else il with full and mature dehberation-wth-
out any bias from party feeling or mere personal
advantage, and with single viewsto the public
good. You owe this, not only to the interest, but
to the honor Of the nation. Ii Is Important To
the preservation of the fair fame which we hay e
already acquired throughout the world. that the
seat If Washington, aud his SUCCESSORS. should
be worthly filled: that persons should be chosen
to succeed these Illus rious men, who shall be able,
like them, to do honor. by their manner OF dis.
charging its duties, to the high office of Pre-
sident Of the United States: that the personal
conduct Of the head of the Executive department
should be marked. as it always was in former
DAYS, with dignity, judgment, good temper, dis.
erection; that the youth of our Government should
not be suIlied by the foul stains OF immOralit,
that disfigure the antiquated and corrupt instItu
tons Of other countries, and that our citizens
and the world at large should be able TO look up
to the high places of this Union for examples Of
public and private virtue.
Under these impressions of the Importance Of
e fail
zeus residing in all parts of the country, and who
have acted together in political affairs for some
years past, under the name Of National REpuB
LlcaNs, have directed US to meet together anC
deliberate upon the course which thew ought T.
pursue. g. the persons whom they nugh to supper
for the great offices Of the government at the ap
preaching election. In preparing TO exercise this
delicate trust, we have been naturally led to take
a careful aud deliberate survey OF the political
condition of the country, and of the manner IL
which the public affairs have been conducted BY
the present Administration. This survey has re
snlted in full conviction that the public good
i periously requires change; and in proposing
10 YOU as Candidates for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency the distinguished citizens whose
names accompany this address. we have deemed
it our duty, to lay before you concise statement
Of the principal circumstances which have led u:
to this conclusion.
No President ever entered on the duties Of
his Office under circumstances more favorable Il
a successful discharge Of them than the present
incumbent. The country, thanks to Providence
and to the ability and good fortune with which
the public affairs had been carried on BY proceed
ing Administrations. was in a high state OF pros
perity.-Ali public establishments, and all the
great branches of private industry were in the
most flourishing condition. Agriculture was ra
pidlv extending itself in all directions, and par
ticularly through the wide aud fertile regions Of
the We>t-manuiactures were advancing with
unprecedented rapid,ty-commerce. internal and
foreign was animated with a corresponding vigol
our relations with foreign powers were OF the
most amicable character-at home, tranquility
and general contenrment pervaded every corne,
of the Union-the parties that formerly divided
the citizens and distracted the country. had in 8
great measure become extinct under the opera
ZION of tims-the growing prosperity of the ma
ton, and the judicious and liberal conduct OF the