Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-15
REPORT.

WILSON M. CARY, Secretary.
REPORT.
whereas NC consider the Federal uud STATE Govern
ments as designed under the forms and restrictions of our
constitutions TO be fair opponents of the will of the States
and the people, hold TO be less the duty than the
right OF the people OF country deliberate and
declare their opinions on all subjects of public interest
there is any subject which than all others calls
for the candid and dspassorate consideration of the
ple it Is the choice of their agents administer the 90
vcrnment. The importance this choice rises with fo
character oil the station which is to be filed and the -
ties which will devove those who may be the objects of
confidence. We consider that all The mowers of GO
vermcnt held in sacred trust for the people, and that
every public officer whether he belongs to the Legislative
judicial or executive department, is their agent
in their behalf and by their authority TO promote Their
welfare and happiness within the scope and functions Of
his particular Office. II is therefore natural and
that the people should feel deep and solemn interest in
the selection OF persons to fill the highest and most re-
sponsble offices of governments the duties of which
Intimately connected with all the foreign and do
nestle relations OF our country Feeling this interest in
common with our fellow citizens of the United States
and sensby impressed with the importance of the crisis
which has arrived in our public affairs, would declare
in the language OF reemen the and motives which
actuate us OH the present occasion.
In bestowing confidence on one or withholding II
IRON another OF the candidates for public Office and ese-
ciay for those offices which much conoul over
the destines OF country, profess influenced
by their respective opinions and political principles and
by personal fear, favor affection. We look TO the pub
lie characters OF men, 10 their doctrines and measures
furnishing the only sale guides in selecting fit objects of
our confidence The great end and design of
tive governments is faithfully to reflect through tho me
dunn OF elections the wishes and the opinions of fine neo
pie III there is any for preerrng man TO ano-
her FOR an important public trust is be found in his
readiness and capacity represent those principles which
we consider essential the welfare Of our country This
is the salutay and redeemng virtue of republican govern
ments, which distinguishes between the blind ina-
uaon of faction and the exalted purity of party zeal
1t is this which eevates the American people above the
level Of European mob and constitutes them emnbat;
cay the sovereign arbers and guardians of their own
liberties.
no hroo1 linz If I;,t;rc -.
democratic republican from the federal party in our conn
try were early traced in the plan of our confederacy
Though the relative positions OF these parties have varied
according to the particular which at different
pcous ther respective principles have been brought TO
DeaI SUI those opposite and conflicting principles have
renamed and must continue to operate under whatever
name or phase they may assumes until the struggle shall
end in the complete subversion entire ascendancv ofone
or the other The limitation of the powers of the govern
ment within the literal and obvious provisions of HE CON
suon has been the leading and controlling principle of
the republican party while the extension of those powers
by implication and construction has characterized the his
tory OF the ederass Believing as we have always done
that the permancnce Of free and bappv instu,ione do
ponds essentially the preservation of those checks which
constitutions are designed TO afford against the undue
ercise OF power by the government profess still TO be-
long to the republican party We profess to belong to in
its genuine and primitive simplicity-and while we re-
pudate the CLOSES and interpretations which have crepin
It's tene amidst the successive struggles and mutations of
parties would point to the doctrines of our Jefferson
and Madison in l70s the articles of our political faith
Influenced by these considerations naturally led
PVlutdi tHddCtefS OF lnOie VINO seek
TO fill the first offices of government Three candidates
are before the people Of the United States for the Office
President, viz; William Writ Henry Clay, and the present
incumbent, Andrew Jackson Without inquirng into his
political claims to the confidence of the American people
consider the peculiar grounds on which Mr. Writ has
chosen to rest those claims utterly unworthy the ap-
probation Of an enlightened people. RE is nominated and
sustained by the iM asonic party-a party whose ex-
stence should regard as fabulous we're il not testified
by bis nomination. We regard Mr. Clay now as we re-
gardcd him at the last election, the advocate measures
md doctrines which then condemned as dangerous 10
the pace and welfare Of country and time and expo
renee have tended 10 confirm rather than diminish our an
pyehensDns. Vie is conrasted as he was then, with
General JackeOn by the zeal and relentless perinacy
with which he p,Osecu;es his favorite and las we
think dangerous pole Of extending the powers Of the
federal government far beyond the legitimate pale Of the
constitution The principles therefore which induced us