Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-05-04
SPECTATOR.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a.
CLAY MEETING

County, friendly to the election OF HENRY
CLAY 10 the Presidency of the United
States, convened at the Courthouse in
Staunton, on Monday the 30th day of April,
1892,
Samuel Clarke, Esq. was called TO the
Chair, and jefferson Kinney appointed
Secretary
The object of the meeting having been
explained by Kenton Harper, on his
motion it was resolved that Committee OF
seven be appointed to prepare a suita-
BILE preamble and resolutions expressive
of the sentiments of this meeting.-And
thereupon the chairman appointed the fol-
lowing gentlemen, namely, kenton Harper,
Col. James Crawford, Thomas J. Stuart,
John j. Craig, john ]. Dyer, Chesley
Kinney, and James NJ. Laidley, who having
retired for short time, made the following
Report, which was adopted
The citizens of Augusta County here as
sembled. viewing with just alarm the course
Of the present Administration of the Gen
cral Government, feel ito be a sacred duty,
10 endeayor. as fSr as they can, to rescue
ihe country from IFS misf2le. They do not
deem il necessary 10 enumerate all the acts
IF Gen Jackson's administration, or The I'M
happy circumstances attending II, to winch
they take exceptional is sufficient i9r
the present to say, that instead of the liberal
and disinterested patriotism which the
friends OF Gen. jackson represented would
characterize his conduct If elected President,
(and which his letters 10 Mr. Monroe did
seem to warrant,) it has appeared to us that
he has welded the whole patronage and in
huence of his station 10 selfish and vindichve
purposes. We have seen him do every
thing which he we'll could, TO bring eXecu-
tive patronage in conflict with the freedom
Of elections yet he avowed this very thing
TO be one OF the (falsely charged) abuses Of
government which he intended to correct
lie has removed from office almost every
man within hispower who voted against him
tho worthy and qualified not unfrequently
being made TO give place to the dissolute and
incompetent favorite. He has appointed
more members OF Congress to office than any
President before him, in direct violation OF
his own previous declarations of executive
proprety. He has showered offices and pa
tronage on the conductors of public presses,
TO an extent the most alarming-the inevi-
table tendency ofwhich we believe to be 10
corrupt and poison the sources OF public in
formation, and convert them TO the purposes
of his ambition
In short, no promise which he made, or
was made for him by his friends, has been
fulfilled. The expenses of government, so far
from being diminished, have been increas-
ed-and instead of 'strict accountability" in
public officers, we have but too much cause
10 fear, that fraud and iavoritism go hand in
hand. The very act of his being candi-
date for re election is violation OF his plight
ed word, and in opposition TO protested
principle in his political creed.-Nor does
he stop here-but we see him endeavoring
by his influence TO secure the election of a
certain individual as his successor 10 the
Presidency.
Therefore, Resolved, That we cordially
approve the nomination of HENRY CLAY,
cf Kentucky, as President, and JOHN SER
GEANT, of Pennsylvania, as Nice-President
of the United States, having full confidence
IN their talents, integrity and patriotism, and
that we will use all fair and honorable means
10 promote their election
g Resolved, That
he committee of correspondence TO confer
with the friends of Henry Clay throughout
the State on the means best calculated TO eff
feet our object
8. Resolved, That we approve of the re-
lection of Martin Van Buren,, as Minister tc
England, by the Senate ofthe United States
believing il TO be a measure not less called
for by the interests than the honor of The
country.
The blank in the second resolution wat
then filled with the following names
Archibald Stuart Jno. b. Breckenridge
II