Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-31
TUESDAY, JULY 81, 1882.
ADDRESS
Or TIE NArIoxAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION,
He'll at Sia,0,t0n.
ADDRESS

He'll at Std,0lt0R.
To the People Of Virginia.
Fsll,p. Cuizens-The price of Liberty is eter-
nal vigilance. Whenever its affairs have been
demolished and its worshippers driven from the
Temple, the catastrophe may be invariably trac-
ed to the fatal sumbers of those to whom had
been conGded the duty VI feeding its often smo-
thered, but mex ,ingushabe, fires. And never
vet were the iron letters of despotism broken, or
the slow-cor ,uming, but deadly, stream OF cor
ruptiun con .erted into healthy current, but by
the aroused energies and concentrated action OF
free and intrepid spirits, who, in all great emer-
gancies, su h as that which now exists in our own
country, tue to their principles, have raised
aluft the stertlard of Constitutional Liberty aud
Public Writ g.
Our system Of government, fellOw-citlZens, Is
the only form o. purely popular cast to be found
in the annals Of the world. Avoiding the curse
ola "turbulent Democracy" which so frequent
" arrested the regu!a operations OF government
in the Ancient Republics and their modern iini-
tators, convulsng them with the horrors Ut An-
archy, and deluging them With the vices of an
unbridled Licen,iousnesS;, it likewise guarantees
10 the people that well regulated liberty which
consists in the secure enjoyment OF all the rights
necessary to their welfare aud happiness
Amongst those rights none Is more Important,
aud none should be more cautiously and watch
fully exercised, than the selection OF putic
agents-because it mainly depends on their Wis
dom, integrity and prudence whether the expert
ment Of free government shalt succeed or lail
whether the capacity OF the people to control
the administration OF their e"n affairs Is grand
and glorious truth, or baSeless Utopan dream.
IL. then, il be true that the exercise OF this IN
es,imable right be matter Of such deep and
inns tIlpWS. q
consequences, that IT is the solemn duty of the
people too scrutinize rgidy the pretrntinns OF
those who NAV be candidates tor their favor: aud
thI, dury becomes Imperative when the Offices e
be filed are the highest in their glit-inves;ed
win power and patronage, which, harmless when
entrusted to wise, skiiful and prudent men, be
come odous engines OF tyranny. oppression and
ruin, in the hands Of weak, capriclous aud des
DU'iC rulers.
Influenced BY these views, aud believing tia
crisis has arrived in our political history ifaugh
with the most tremendous consequences, not on
~ 10 this country aud To the present generation
but to all nations, throughout all time-and be
Teyine also, that this crisis has been accelerated
II not produced by the misconduct OF the atlmi
nstrarnrs of the government during the las
three wears, portion of your fellow citizens. in
various ectInns of the Commonwealth, have de-
puted the members of this Convention, to as
sembe at ,his pace, with the view Of contrbut
imp their cxertICns q the important work of ef
feCtinu a change Of Rulers. That duty We have
performed, by nominating HENRY CLAY, Of Ken
lucky. as President, and JONI SERGEANT, o
PENNSYLVANIA. a. Vice President, of the uniteC
: ates. We have also framed an Electoral Tic
ket fnr the State of Virginia, for the purpose 0
enabling those who concur with US in senti
ment to act in concert at the approaching election
with that energy which Our righteous canse IS 81
well calculated to inspire, und which no tear o
discount ure dampen or repress. Our motto
is "Truth, Gid and our Country" We have
no personal revenge to gratifying selfish ambl
tion TO stimulate US. We bear-On our shield
aud on Our fac. the Patriots device, and oul
hearts are animated and cheered ~ the Patriot,
hope. In such cause, even de.eat i, glorious
tar mnre glorious than to triumph with ma
iorltv whose success is built upon the wounded
honor of their country.
But our duty does not stop here. tits botn be
coming to ourselves and respectful to you, fellow
citizens Of Virginia, that we state succinctl,
some Of the most prominent reasons which have
led us to the conc lusion that Cen Jackson is n,
longer worthy Of your confidence, and briefly t,
urge the superior claims of Mr.. Clay to the suf
frages of an honest, moral, an enlightened anc
a free people.
We are opposed 10 the reelection OF Zen
Jackson to the Presidency Of the United States
because we believe him to be incapable Of dis
charging, faithfully and pruden,ly, the duties o
that hiyh station: and because his course, since
his elevation to that Office has been characteriz
ed by duplicity and jesuitry unworthy OF the
Ruler Of free people.
We are aware, fellow.citizens, that these are
charges of serious Import; but they are not light
y nalarded;-and we appeal for their contirma
,ion ia he facts which we shall proceed briefly
90 reCdptulate.
Inc history of Gen. Jackson's life. previously
"a lhe period at which he was called, by the mis-
taSen s,ai'0de OF ms country men. to a destiny
a, ID rn,lld IT must have been unexpected TO
hrusrlf. was alone sufficient both to Justify a
DOUBT Of his capicity. and to stimulate the oppo.
sitlun OF those who honestly entertained it,