Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-07-10
POLITICAL.
ADDRESS

ADDRESS
OfMe Charlottesville jackson and Barbour Contention
10 THE PEOPLE VIRGINIA.:
We the delegates of a portion of the citizens of this
Commonwealth having assembled i'm Conv enton Char
otesvie for the purpose promoting the re- election of
Andrew Jackson President the election of Philip p
Barbour Vice President OF the United States deem il
due to ourselves, constituents our counymen
at large, to declare with becoming candor and sincerity
the motives and reasons by which actuated. While
we would not cherish that wild and reckless spirit of fac
ton which has already shed its maledicons on our co
Gy we cannot basey betray sennels by cry
ing that call is we when behold the wide spread and
alarming disconents which pervade niou. We would
speak, as we feel the sentiments of Vrginans free
men, who love their country and loving it, would pcrpc-
tuae its peace its happiness, aud its glory.
Time and experience have long since demonstrated that
written constitutions, by which the powers of
may be defined and restrained within lust limits and the
rights OF the people protected peusabe the pre-
servaon oil human liberty Where these do exist or
where they have ceased TO the great which
they designed, there is guarantee the rights
and liberties OF people, but in the arbitrary and capri
cous discretion ol those who may usup the powers of go
vernment.
When powers belonging the people arc thus usurp
ed, whether by one despOt by millions, there is no
standard oil right no bulwark OF eedom but the cemcn-
cy Of the usurpcrs.
AS American patriots--as Virginia republicans we have
looked TO this sacred principle of constitutional restriction
as the last, best earthly hope of oppressed world which
would ultimately dspel the cloud and burst the lers of
tyranny where, and fulfil all the brilliant lesnies
OF our happy country. IT remains TO be seen whether
that great moral experiment OF which our country has
been the theatre since the period of its glorious revolution
shall hnally triumph whether il be baed bv the
restless and corrupt ambition of man, which has or
late, subvered the liberties of all the nations who have
gone before
We among those who believe that the liberties of
our country cannot long survive its constitution Hence
our socitudc 10 preserve nvolate this sacred charter of
all the blessings which we have inherited from
tors, and which hope 20 transmit poseritv In
popular governments, the sovereign will is declared
through the medium of elections man can claim the
SURFACES oil the people by right deserve their
confluence, who would be unsafe depository of that
power which granted in trust for their security aud pro-
lection.
AS form of government is created bv written CON
stutonsso its spirit purity can only be preserved y
the vigilance OF the people, and udcous exercise OF the
elective franchise. The fidelity of those public AGENTS
VINO may be selected to administer the Government de-
ponds, essentially, the caution with which the people
guard their exclusive and unalicuabe PRIVILEGES
We cannot guard, in elections with too much caution
against the influence of that lacous excitement which
Is tne degenerate offspring OF an elevated party zeal
When public honors TO be conferred the reward
oil public merit, our elections longer fulfil their
great degh as cNPonents OF The popular viii, hut must be
degraded into political lotteries, where the most dar-
ing and ambitious adventures may win without deserving
the power to WELD the desiincs OF i government.
In the present agitacd aud melancholy condition of our
country, trace but distinctly the fatal consequences
of that disregard of written constitutions which has mark
ed the progress of Federal Governments and which
but for undimnishcd confidence in the intelligence of
our counlrymen would TO indicate the decline and
fall OF our glorious republic. We cannot listen without
pain and sorrow to the confident predictions which are
already made of those awful calamities which may spccd
Iy ensure of happy Union or an absolute
consolidation oil The States We would still confdc in that
constitution which bond of Union. We would again
appear 10 tie intelligence, the the
counymen, 10 avert ii is late, these impending
evils. We yet believe that the SURFACES of an cnighen
ed and free people may be cfcacious than the sad
alternative OF civil commoon, in restoring tranquility
public confidence.
We would therefore, earnestly invite the cooperation
Ofour fellow citizens i'm extirpatinp as far as we ran tho
cause oil the evils which they deplore in common with
ourselves We would ask them judge, and TO approve
or condemn public men, by the standard as they
Judge public measures. We would ask them TO carry
out the principles profess in common if las we be-
heyye) they are not prepared to abandon them.
In selecting Philip p. Barbour a candidate for the
Vice Presidency at this Interesting crisis OF public az
fairs, we have chosen who has been known TO Won
through all the vcissitudes OF cvenu distinguish
cd pOiucal career, and whose eminent virtues man.
and abilities statesman, have been conspicuousy ex-
emplfed in life chiefly devoted TO your service.
He is contrasted the present with an indi-
ydua whose claims yOLr confidence rest either on am
indiscriminate hostility TO, equivocal support of
every principle and interest which has justly been held
dear by Vrginians.
You required at this critical juncture of our coun-
trys affairs to do homage to the while you denounce
his measures to elect TO the second Office OF our govern
Inent political enemy, who still bears the of his
hostility in his hands and the laurels fresh OH his
brow which were by his nYeterae and relentless OPP
position your rights, your interests your principles
we would ask you 10 pause, you commit your
selves and your country into such hands and scruinze
the political character Of him for whose ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
alone you are required 10 sacrifice much.
Mr.. Van Buren, has advanced 10 that age and has filled
those stations in public life which generally stamp the
political characters Of unaleraby, either for good
for evil lie may therefore be fairly Judged by his pOl
cal acts, and fairly condemned.
suing course of systematic and indiscrinnae hostility
to tie idvoric mon and measures Of Virginia. During
the last war; when all the energies of government were
scarcely equal 10 the shock of external force the
tgues Of domestic iacton when every patriot was posted
'in the tented field" anxousy celebrating for his
counry's safety, Mr. Van Buren, was found in the ranks
OF an nsiduous opposition Mr.. Madisos administration
OF which that war the leading This opposi-
ton was carried 20 extremes by Of the prominent po
liicians Of New York and New England. The memory
Of the Blue Lights, and the Hartford Convention would
endure for ever abiding stigma national char
acer, were IL not cildccd by the glorious victories which
armies and naves achieved, despite the inidous rca
cherry Of some Of our politicians. in November, 1872
ticket Of Presidential electors formed by the eea-
turc Of New York (of which Mr. Van Buren, was then
inembe) with the avowcd purpose OF defeating Mr. Mad-
sons recollection and the This statesman, who is
now held up the mirror Of republican orthodoxy voted
throughout for that ticket
IN 1920, the celebrated Missouri question deliberate
ly conceived and concoctcd by OF the leading po-
clans OF New York and he Legislature Of that State in
sructed RUFUS King, their Senator 10 insist nc
terms oil admission which subsequently proposed. Mr.
Van Buren, was then member Of the Senate u bat State,
cOncurred IN this sand voted for Mr. King under
these instructions
In 1922 we find Mr. Van Buten IN Tie Senate Of The
United States Ills dcbuti hat body was signszed by
his support Oh Bill which proposed 90 ioU gates on
The Cumberland r0'd. 10 collect tolls &c within hc iu