Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-31
. tic constitutional e1lb:g.
From me Staunion Spectator IF J"iy IS.
AEssDhs sIsiS.
NATIONAL REPUBLICiN CONTENTION
HELLO Al SrAuNTON,
TO TuE PEOPLE OLE NIRGINlA.
or THE

Il
nal vigilance. Wherever its affairs have been de-
molishod aud It's wurshIppcrs driven from the Tenn
ple, Tho catastrophe may nvariahly DO traced TO
tho fatal SAUNDERS OF those to whom had been con-
6dcd the duty of fccdiug It's often smothcred, but
,nc,tinyuishahlc fires. And yet the
iron letters of dcspotism broken or the slow con-
suming, but deadly stream OF corruption convert
ed into healthy current but by the aroused cnor-
ries and concentrated action of free and intrepid
spirits, who, i'll all great emergencies, such as that
which exists III our own country, true to their
principles, have raised aoit the standard of Con
stitutional Liberty and Public Virtue.
Our system of Government fellow citizens, rs
the only form of purely popular cast to be found in
the annals of the world. Avoiding the curse OF Il
Turbulent Democracy" which so frequently ar
rested the regular operations Ct government IN
the ancient Republics and their modern iuitators,
CONFUSING them with the horrors of Anarchy, and
dclugng t:icm with the vices OF an unbridled IL
centiousness it likewise secures to the people that
we'll regulated Liberty which consists IN the Sc
cure enjoyment of all the rights necessary to their
welfare and happiness Amongst those rights none
is more important, and none should be more eau
tiously aud watchtully exercised, than tho select
ion of public agouts-bccdusc 1t manly depends
on their wisdom integrity aud prudence, whether
the experiment of free government shall succeed
or fail-whcthcr the capacity OF the people to con
troll the administration OF their own AFFAIRS is
grand and glorious truth, or baseless otopian
dream. ~
If then il be true that the exercise of this i'm
cstimable right be Il matter OF such deep and abr
ding importance, it follows, as necessary cohse
quencc, that it is the solemn duty OF the people to
scrutinrzc rigdy the preteusions OF those VINO may
BIO candidates for their tavor and his duty becomes
more imperative when the offices TO be hllcd, are
the highest in their gltt-inveSted with power ana
patronage, which, harmless when entrusted TO
wise, skilful and prudent men, become odlous en-
gnes of tyranny, oppression aud rum, IN the hahus
of weak, capricious and dcspotic rulers.
Influenced by these views, and believing that
crisis has arrived in our political history iraught
,,tN,,,... Damon
to the country and to the present generation, but
10 all nations, throughout all time-and believing,
also, that this crisis has been accelerated, II not
produced, by the misconduct oil the adnlnistTa-
tors of the government during the last three
wears n norton of your fellow citizens, in various
sections of the Commonwealth, have dcputed the
members of this Convention, to assemble at TINS
place, with the view OF contributing their cNertons
to the important work of eiiectng change of ru
lcrs. That duty have performed by nomlna-
ting Henry CLAY of Kentucky, as President, and
JoHN SERGEANT of Pennsylvania, Vice Pre1i-
dent of the United States. We have also framed
nm Electoral Ticket for the State of Virginia, Tor
the purpose of enabling those who concur with us
in sentiment TO act in concert, ut tho approaching
election, with that energy which our righteous
cause is well calculated to inspire, and which
no fear of discontinue can dampcn or repress. Our
motto is ''Truth God and our Country" We have
no personal revenge to gratifying selfish ambition
TO stimulate us. We bear our shield, and on
our flag, the Patriots device, and our hearts are
animated and chcered by the Patriots hope. In
such n cause, defeat is giorlous-iar more
glorious than to triumph with majority whose
is built upon the wounded honor OF their
country
But our ddty does not stop here 1t is both be-
coming To ourselves and respectful TO you, fellow
citizens of Virginia, that we state succinctly some
of the most prominent reasons which have led us to
the conclusion that General Jackson is no longer
worthy of your confidence, and briefly to urge the
superior claims of Mr.. Clay TO the suifrages of
honest, moral, an enlightened, and free peo-
pic
We are opposed TO the reelection of Gen. Jack
son to the Presidency of the United States, be-
believe him to be incapable of discharg-
ing faithfully and pruGenty, the duties of that high
station: and because his course since his election
10 that office, has been characterized by a dupil-
city and jcsuistry unworthy of the ruler of free
people.
We are aware, follow citizens that these arc
charges of serious import; but they not lightly
hazarded; and we appeal for their confirmation to
the facts which shall proceed briefly TO recapi-
tuatc.
The history Of Gen. Jacksons life, previously to
the period at which he called, by the mistaken
gratitude OF his countrymen to destiny as splen-
did as it must have been unexpected TO himself,
alone sufficient both TO justify II doubt of his
capacity, and to stimulate the opposition of those
who honestly entertained it. But, unfortunately
for him, and for us this doubt has been converted
into certainty, by various acts of his Adnlinistra
tion betraying IL want of unity of design, and O.
yincing contraricty OF purpose, necessarily conse-
Trajectory opinions Of the individuals, who at diff
ferent periods, have ofiicated his confidential
advisers. Thus, at one period, he aiiXes his veto
TO bill appropriating sum OF money to aid in the
construction of road between Maysvillc and Lex
ington, in Kentucky, the ground Of its unconsti
tuonality; and, at another, he approves and signs
another bill, making appropriations for the repair
of a road between Mars Hill and some other I'M
heard of place in Maine, and containing variety
of provisions, in aid Of other improvements of as
little celebrity and utility. Without asserting or
denying the constitutional right Of the Genera! Co
Vernmcnt to take cognZamce of this sn beet il may
with propriety be affirmed that the policy of the
Executive, for the time being in relation to
stitutlonal doctrines at least should be fixed and
setted-becausc, If the constitutionaitY of lars is
TO be determined by any fluctuang standard, there
must of necessity oe much useless legislation, much
needless excitement, and much gross Partially in
the appropriation of the public revenue. And it
Will not be deemed too harsh to say, that when a
law Is to-diy pronounced unconstitutional by the
President; and another identical in principle and
similar in detail is tomorrow pronounced constitu-
tlonai, such contradictory course must proceed
either from amentabie ignorance, something
worse. In relation TO the present incumbent, this
GROUND may be assumed without offence even to
those who sincerely believe him to be an honest
man, because il is readily conceded, that, although
he may WELD the pen which gives validity to one
law and renders anothcra nulty, he is impcllcd to
this course by ga power behind the throne,
greater than tho throne itsclf"-a gigantic shadow
paPabe neither to sight touch, but whose banc1
tul Influence is felt in every corner of the land
When General Jackson was candidate for the
Presidency in 1928, in opposition to John Quincy
Adams, he cmphatically declared that individual
ought to DO twice elected to fill that Office ascnti.
7nent that was echoed g. re- echoed by his friends
from one extremity Of the Union to the other, as an
evidence of his devotion to the cardinal principles Of
the Republican party Of lSOl,-one of which prin-
cplcs frequent rotation in Office" 1t is well
l,uf 81.