Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-01-06
39nItttcat.
ADDRESS

Of the National Republican Conrention,
TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE U. STATES.
FELLOW CITIZENS:
The period will soon arrive when
you will be called upon to exercise a
right, which, of all the independent ma
tons ofconsiderable power on the globe,
you alone possess--tEat of electing. by
your own free choice, and from among
yourselves, the person who is to be en-
trusted with the high functions of your
Chief Executive Magistrate. tits some
times said that it is of little Importance
what individual is clothed with that
character that President of the Unit
ed States has no great personal influence
either for good or evil, and that, in
the present prosperous condition of the
country that public affairs would be trans
acted just about as well under one Presi.
dent as another. Such opinions can on
ly be entertainedb by persons who have
reflected very little on the theory or the
practical operation Of our Government.
The whole course of the public affairs
depends, in a very considerable degree,
upon the direction which is given to the
influence belonging to the Office of Presi-
dent. It's no doubt true that the po-
iitical machine may continue to move on
awhile with apparent success under We
ry unskilful direction by the effect of
favorable impulse received at other
times; but il is obvious, that if such
state of fittings continue long, the favora-
bic impulse will be lost, and the princi-
pie of prosperity destroyed, perhaps
forever. 1t is generally acknowledged
thet the pure and lofty character of
Washington contributed more than any
other cause to carry our institutions into
successful operation, and that the emf
nent virtues and acknowledged talents of
his successors in the Presidency, have
aided very powerfully in sustaining and
perfecting the work which he began
1t is equally apparent, that if the Chief
Magistracy should ever be committed
for any great length of time to persons
of an opposite character, the condition of
the country must undergo, in one way
or another, disastrous, perhaps fatal
revolution.
Such being the importance of the
right which you will soon be called up
on to exercise, you owe it to yourself,
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 exercise it with full and mature DELHI
eration--witheut any bias from party
feeling or mere personal advantage, and
with single view to the public good
Y on owe this, not only to the interest,
but to the honor of the nation. 1t is
important to the preservation of the fair
fame which we have already acquired
throughout the world, that the seat of
| Washington, and his successors, should
be worthily filled that persons should
be chosen to succeed these illustrious
men, who shall be able, like them, to 90
honor, by their manner of discharging
its duties, even to the high Office of Pres
ident of the United States; that the per-
sonal conduct of the head of the Execu-
tive Department should be marked, as
it always was in former days, with Dig
nifty, Judgment, good temper, discretion,
and moderation that the youth of our
Government should not be sullied by the
foul stains of immortality that disfigure
the antiquated and corrupt institutions
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 ofPublic 81 private virtue.
Under these impressions of the impor-
lance of the crisis, a numerous portion
OF our fellow citizens residing in all parts
ofthe country, and who have acted to-
gether in political affairs for some wears
past, under the name Of NATIONAL Re-
PUBLICANs. have directed us to meet to-
lgether and deliberate upon the course
which they oughtto persue, &the persons
whom they oughtto support for the great
Offices oithe governmental the approach
ing election. In preparing to exercise
this delicate trust, we have been natur-
ally led to take careful and deEber-
ate survey of the political condition of
the country, and of the manner in
which the public affairs have been con-
Quoted by the present administrations
This survey has resulted in a full con.
viction that the public good imperiously
requires a change; and in proposing to
you as candidates for the Presidency and
Vice-Presidency, the distinguished citi-
zcns whose names accompany this adj
dress, we have deemed it our duty t.