Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-08-02
ADDRESS
or TIRE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, CON-
VE.V1TON,
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINI.


from the Temple. The catastrophe may ihVa
fIahly be traced 10 the fatal Stun bers OF those
Co whom had been coniided the duty oil Iced
ing its often smothcred, bot inextngnIshabic
fires. And never yet were the iron tettersol
de-uoiism broken, or the slow consuming,
but letdly stream of corruption converted
into A healthy current, but by the aroused
energies and concentrated acton Of free and
INTREPID ,pirits. who. in all great emergen
cies, such As Thai "h'ch NOW exists ~ our
oHn county, true 10 their principles, have
raised a.oii the standard OF Constitutional
Liberty add Public Virtue.
Our system OF Government, fellow citizens,
- the only TORN of purely popular cast, 10
be found IN the annals OF the world. Avoid
ing the curse Of turbulent Democracy"
which 50 frequently arrested the regular opc
TstIohs oi Government 10 the ancient Repub
hes aud their modern Hutators, CONFUSING
them with The horrors Of Anarchy, and del
ugIng them with the vices of an unhfidled
lcentiousness, If likewise secures TO the pep
pie that well regulated Liberty which con
sists IN The secure enjoyment of all the rights
necessary 20 their welfare aud happiness A
mbagsi those ri hts none Is more important,
and Done should be more cautiously and
watehlully exercised, than the selection OF
public agents - because IT mainly depends on
their wis Tom, integrity and prudence, "he
Their the experiment Of free government shall
succeed or lall-whether the capaclty OF the
people to control the administration Of their
own affairs is grand and glorious TRUTH. or
baseless UtopIan dream.
II, then, il be true, that the exercise Of this
inestmahle right be matter of such deep
and abiding importance, II follows, as ne
cess trr Consequence, that u the solemn duty
of the people 10 scrutnine rigidly the pfeten
slons Of those who may be candidates for their
favor: and this duty becomes more impGra
tive when the offices to be filed are the hugh
est in their glft-invested with power and
patronage, which, harmless when entrusted
10 wise, skIllnl and prudent men, become o
dions engines OF tyranny, oppression and
ruin. IN the hands of weak, caprclOus aud
despite rulers.
Influenced by these views, and believing
that crisis has arrived IN our political hIsto
~ lraught with the most tremendous conse
qTences, rot oaly TO the country and To the
present generation, but to allnatlons, through
out all time-and believing. also. that this
crisis has been accelerated, If not produced
by the misconduct of the administrators &C
Ill government during tie last three years,
perion Of your fellow citizens, in ydIIous
sections OF the Commonwealth, have dcpu
Ted the members of this Convention 10 as
semble at this place, with the view Of contIi
buting their exertIons to the important work
of etiectng change OF rulers. That duty
we have performed by nominating HENEY
Cay of Kentucky, as President. and JoHN
SERGEANT Of Pennsylvania, as Vice tres
dent Of The United States We have also
framed an Electoral Ticket for the State of
Virginia for the purpose oil enabling those
who concur with us in sentiment 10 act IN
concert, at the approaching election, with
that energy which our righteous cause is SO
well calculated TO inspire, and which no fear
OF discontinue can dappen or repress. Our
motto is "Truth, God aud our County
We have no personal revenge 10 crafty -no
selfish ambition to stimulate as We bear on
our shield. and on our flag, the Patriots de
vice, and our hearts are animated and cheer.
ed by the Patriot hope. In such cause,
even defeats glorious far more glorious than
20 triumph with ma jority whose success is
built upon the wounded honor OF their cOun-
try.
But our duty does not stop here. It's both
becoming to ourselves and respectful TO yop,
fellow citizens Of Virginia, that we state sue
cincty some Of the most prominent reasons
which have led MS to the conclusion that Gen.
J ackson is no longer worthy OF your conf
dence. and briefly to urge the superior claims
Of Mr.. Clay to the sUifrages OF an honest,
moral, an enlightened, and a free people.
We are opposed TO the reelection OF Gen.
Jackson 10 the Presidency of the u. States,
because we believe him 10 be incapable of
discharging, faithfully and prudently, the du-
ties OF that high station: and because his
course, since his election TO that office, has
been characterized by dnplcity and Jesus
nv unworthy of a ruler OF a free people.
We are aware, fellow citizens, that these
sre charges of serious import; but they are
not lightly hazarded; and we appeal for their
confirmation to the facts which we shall pro
coed briefly TO recaphuIate
The history Of Gen Jacksons life, prevI
ously to the period at which he was called,
by the mistaken gratitude Of his countrymen,
20 destiny as splendid as il must have been
unexpected TO himself, was alone sufficient
both to Justify doubt OF his capacity and
60 stimulate the opposition Of those who hon
esty entertained II But, unfortunately for
him. and for us, this doubt has been CONVEX
ted into certainty, by various acts OF his ad !
nlnlstration, betrayiUg q want OF unity oil
design, and evincins eontrafiety OF purpose, |
necessarily consequent upon the variant and ,
IN some instances contradictory opinions OF
the ndyldlals who AZ different periods, have (
AS his confidential advisers Thus, \
az one period, he atlixes his veto to blil ap
a sum ofnIoney to ald IN the con
stfuclion OF road betwe cen Maysylle and /
Lexington. IN Kentucky on the ground Of