Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-29
ADDRESS
~ me Charlottesville JACKSON and BAR
BOUR Convention,
~ THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
ADDR ESs

COMMUNICATIVE having assembled in
.,: NJ charlottesville fnr the purpose oi
u me rs-eiection OF Andrew Jackson as
'rs'ien,, ani tho election of Philiu p. Barbour
as wee Presihcnt of m. Untcd States ,,,.,r !,
""' yourselves, our constituents, and IN orr conn
"y"'" ~ 'argr,io declare with becoming candor
'"" sincerity, the motives and reasons by which,
W" mr." act"ated While we wonld not cherish
w." WI" "ui reckless spirit Of faction which
mas a'rea'iy she'd IT'S male,i,ctions ON our ceuu.
ry,-we cannot basely betrny our trust ma senti-
"e,S, ny crying that tall is WELL when we be-
"o'a 'ne widespread and alarming disconteuts
""ch pervadc our Union. We would sneak, as
We '0e'' '"o sentiments Of Virginians and free
'o" VINO love their country, and loving il
"o"'u Perpetuate it's peace, its happiness, and
i,s glory.
ihne aud experience have long since demon
S'ra'ed that written Constitutions by which the
POWERS oi government may bo deiiued aud res
trained within just limits, and the rights of the
people protected are indispensable TO the prcscr-
Vat'0n Oi human liberty. Where these do not
exist, or where they hive ceased To answer the
great ends for which they wero designed there
Is no guarantee Of the rights and liberties of
people, but the arbitrary and captirious discre
ton OF those who may usurp the powers of GO
| vernment.
When powers which belong to The people are
thus usurped, whether by one d.spot. or by mil
hons there Is no standard Of right. no bulwark
oil freedom, hut the ciemcncy of the usurpers
f! As American PauiOts-as Virginia rspubli-
cans. we have looked TO THIS sacrei principle q f
CONSTITUTIONAL restriction, the last, best earth
| ~ hope Of an oppressed world, which would al.
tirnately dispel the cloud. and burst the letters
OF tyranny every where, and fn!fil all the bril-.
ham destiuies OF our happy conntry. 1t remains
TO De seen whether that grent moral experiment
OF which our country has been the theatre since
the period oil its glorious revolution, shall finally
triumph, or whether il can he haffed by the
restless and corrupt ambition Of man, which has
soon or late, sul'verted the liberties Of all tte
| nations who have gone before us.
We are among those who believe that the IL
bertirs of our country, cannot lorg survive its
constitutions -llonce our solicitudc TO preserve
rlviolate this sacred charter of all the ble ssiugs
which we have inherited from our anr esOrs and
which we hope TO transmit to our posterity. Ia
popular governments, the sovereign will is de
clared through the medium of elections. No
man can claim the sufrages of the people by
right,-no one can deserve their confidence who
would he unsafe depository Of TINT power
which is granted in trust for their security aud
protection.
/ As our form of government is created Ivy writ
ten COns,itutons-sO its spirit and purity can
only be preserved by the vigilance Of the people,
| and judicous exercise ofthe elect tive franchise.
| The fidelity of those public agents who may he
| selected To administer the government, depends,
essentially OF the caution with which the PEG
pie guard their own exclusive aud inaenal,le
rTiv"-ges. we cannot guard, in our elections
with too much caution against the influence OF
that iactlous excitement, which is the de &c
offspring Of an elevated party zeal
When public honors cease TO be conferred n,
the reward of public merit. our elections can nc
longer fulfil their great design. as opponents oil
the popular will, but must he degraded into mere
| political lotteries. whero the most daring and
| ambitious adventures may win, without desery-
lug. the power to WELD the deslinies of a 60
vernment.
| IN the present agitated and melancholy con-
dilion of orr country, trace but too dis,inctl,
the fatal consequences of that disregard of writ
ten constitutions. which has marked the progress
sf our federal government. md which bur for
| our undimlnished confidence In the jute Lip q mr..
"' our c"untFymeh, w"ult seem To indicate tie
decline and fall of our Curious icuubiir. We.
cannon liste0 without pain aud sorrow TO IIi.
| confident predictions which are already made
pf those awful calamIties which may speedily
<nSue severance OF ouT happy Union, Or all
absolute consolidation of the States We would
still rohde in that constitution whirh is on,
bon, of Union. We would again appeal to the
Intelligence. the virtue, the pa,riuiism of our
county meu, To avert ere IL Is too late thes,
impending evils. We yet believe that the sui
lrages Of an enlightened and free people, NAV lie
more effcacious than the sad alternative of civil
commot'p"' IN restoring tranquility and public
confidence.
We would therefore earnetly invite The CO.
operation Of our fellow citizens iH exrirpatinr ms
lar as we can. the cause of the evils whicI, they
deplore i'm common with ourselves. We would
ask them TO Judge, and to approve or condemn
public meh, Ivy the same standard as they Judge
public measures. We would ask them TO carry
out the principles we profess in common, if las
we believe) they are not prepared TO abandon
them.
In selecting Philip p Barbour as n candidate
for the Vice Presidency at this interesting crisis
of our public affairs, we have chosen one, who
has been known TO you through all the vicissi-
udes of An evehiul and distinguished political
career, and whose eminent virtues as a man and
abilities as n statesman have been couspicuousiy
exemp!ifed in life chiefly devoted to your ser
vice.
He is cOnrasied on the present occasion with an
individual, whose claims TO your confidence, rest
either on an indiscrninate hostility to- eTuivo
cal support of, every principle aud interest which has
been justly held dear by Vrgnians.
You are required nj this critical juncure of our
country affairs, TO do homage 10 the man; while you
denounce his neasures,-o elect to the second Office
o government, political enemy who still bears
the of his hostility in his hands, aud ears the
laurels fresh on his brow, which were won by his
inveteraie aud relentless opposition your rights
your interests, and your principles.
I We would ask you 10 pause, you commit your
selves and your country into such hands, and to
iinize The political character Of him, for those ag
grandizement alone, you required TO sacrifice
much.
| MIR. Van Buren, has advanced to that age, and has
filed those stations IN public life. which generally
stamp the political characters Of men unaIierabIy
either for good or for evil lie may therefore be fair
" judged by his political acis-aBd fairly condemned
| Az early period of his public career, find
him pursuiDga of systematic and indscrminae
hostility TO the fHvore and of Virginia
During the last war, when all the energies OF our go-
vernment were scarcely equal the shock OF exter-
nal force, and the intrgues of domestic faction when
| O. wa ed in he tented field