Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-02
MONDAY, JULY .. lssa.s
ADDRESS
Ofthe Charlottesville Jackson md Barbour Con-
rent,nn To- Inc Peonie of Iirginia.

Ofihe Charlottesville Jackson md Barbour Con-
ue,t,on, to the People Of Firgmia.
We, the delegates OF portion of the citizens
= Of thi. Commonwealth having assembled in Con-
vention at Charlottesville for the purpose OF pro-
noting the reelection of Andrew Jackson as
president, and the election of Philip P. Barbour
as Vice President of the United States, deem it
due to ourselves, our constituents, and to our
countrymen at large, to declare with becoming
candOr and sincerity, the motives andreasons by
which we are actuated. While we would not
cherish that Wild and reckless spirit OF faction
which has already shed its maledictiOns on our
country,-We cannot basely betray our trust as
sentinels, by crying that 8 all is we'll" when we
behold the widespread and alarming discontents
which prevade our Union. We would speak, as
we feel, the sentiments of VirginiaDs aud free
men, who love their country, and loving it would
perpetuate its peace, its happiness. and its glory
Time and experience have long since demon
strated that written Constitutions, by which the
powers of Government may be defined & restrain
ed within Just limits and the rights of the people
protected. are indispensable 70 the preservation
of human Liberty. Where these do not exist,
or where they have ceased to answer the great
ends for which they were designed, there is no
guarantee of the rights and liberties Of people,
those who may usurp the powers OF government.
When powers which belong to the people are
thus usurped, whether by one despOt, OF by mil
lions. there is no standard of right, no bulwark
of freedom, but the clemencY OF the usurperS
AS American Patriots-as Virginia repubii.
cans, We have looked to this sacred principle OF
Constitutional restriction, as the last, best earth
" hope ofan oppressed world, which would ulti.
ma,ely dispe the cloud, and burst the letters OF
tyranny every where, and fulfil all the brilliant des-
TIMES of our happy country. Ii 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 6nally triumph, or whe-
Their il can be bafled by the restless and corrupt
ambition of man, which has soon or late, sabvert-
ed the liberties of all the nations who have gone
before US.
We are among those who believe that the IL
berries OF our country cannot long survive its con
stitution. - Hence our solicitude to preserve in.
yinate this sacred charter OF all the blessings
which ave have inherited from our ancestors, and
which we hope to transmit to our posterity. In
popular governments, the sovereign will Is de-
cared through the medium Of elections Nc
man can claim the suffrages of the people by
right. can deserve their confidence, who
would be an unsafe depository Of that power which
is granted in trust for their security and protec-
ton.
AS our form Of government is created BY written
Constituions--so its spirit and purity only be
preserved by the vigilance Of the people, and a
iudiCiuus exercise of the elective franchise. The
fidelity of those public agents who may be select.
ell to administer the government, depends es.
sentially on the caution. with which the people
guard their own exclusive and inalienable privi.
leges. We cannot guard. in our elections, with
too much caution against :he influence Of that
factious excitement. which is the degenerate of.
spring of an elevated party zeal.
When public honors cease to be conferred as
the reward Of public merit, our elections can no
longer fulfil their great design, as opponents OF
the popular will, but must be degraded into mere
political lotteries, where the most daring and am.
billions Adventures may win, without deserving.
the power TO WELD the destinies of government.
In the present asi,ated and melancholy condi-
tun Of our country. we trace but too distinctly
the fatal consequences of that disregard of writ.
ten constitutions which has marked the progress
of our federal government, and which but for our
untliminished confidence in the intelligence OF
our eoun:rymen. would seem to indicate the de-
cline and fall of our glorious republic. We can
not listen without pain and sorrow to the conf
dent predictions which are already made, Of those
awful calami,ies which may speedily ensue: Sc.
yerance OF our happy Union, or an absolute con-
soldaion of the States. We would still con6de
in that constitution which is our bond of Union.
We would again appeal to the intelligence, the
virtue, the patriotism of our counrymen, to avert
ere it is too late, these impending evils. We We,
believe that the suffrases of an enlightened and
free people, may be more eficacious than thesad
alternative of civil commotion in restoring tran.
guilty and public confidence.
We would therefore earnestly invite the CO.
operation of our fellow Citizens in extirpatng as
far as we can, the cause Of the evils which they
deplore in common with ourselves. We would
ask them to Judge. and to approve or condemn
public men, BY the same standard as they judge
public measures. We would ask them to carry
ont the principles we profess in common. it las
we believe) they are not prepared to abandon
them.
In selecting Philip P, Barbour as candidate
fer the Vice Presidency at this interesting crisis
Of our public sifairs. we have chosen one, who