Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-07-27
ADDRESS
OF THE
Nd7TON44L REPUBLICHN CON-
PENTYON,
HELD AT STANTON
ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE OF yIRGINIA
HELD AT STANTON,

shippers driven fIom the Temple, the ca
tastrophe may invariably be traced 10 the IA
Ial slumbers ofthose TO whom had been con-
iided the duty of feeding its often smothered
hut lneNtinguishable fires. And never vet
were the iron letters of despotism broken,
or the slow consuming, but deadly stream OF
corruption converted into healthy current,
but by the aroused energies and concentra-
ted action OF free and intrepid spirits, who,
IN all great emergencies, such as that which
now exists IN our own country, true 10 their
principles, have raised aloit the standard OF
Constitutional Liberty and Public Virtue.
Our system of Government, felIow-citI-
zens, is the only form )fapurely popular cast
10 he found in the annals of the world. A.
roIding the curse OF a turbulent Democra-
cy, which so frequently arrested the regu-
lar operations OF Government in the ancient
Republics and their modern imtators. con
vuisIng them with the horrors of Anarchy.
and deiuging them with the vices of an I'M
brldied righteousness; ii likewise secures
to the people that we'll regulated Liberty
which consists in the secure enjoyment of all
the rights necessary TO their welfare and hap
pmesS. Amongst those rights none is more
important, and none should be more eau
iIousiy and watchtully exercised, than the
selection public agents-because it main
iy depends on their wisdom, integrity and
prudence, whether the experiment of free
government shall succeed or fail-whether
the capacity OF the people TO control the adj
mlniSiratIon OF their own affairs is grand
and glorious truth, or a baseless Utopian
dream.
II, then, II be true, that the exercise of this
nestlmable right be matter of such deep
and abiding Importance, it follows, as a ne
ces'ary consequence, that il is the solemn dutv
OF the people TO scrutinize rigidIy the pre-
tensions of those who may be candidates for
their favor and this duty becomes more i'm
pera;ive when the Offices to be filed are the
highest in their giit-invested with power
and patronage, which, harmless when en-
trusted to wise, skiful and prudent men, be-
come odious engines of tyranny, oppression
and ruin, in the hands Of weak, capricious
and dcsPntic rulers.
Influenced by these views, and believing
that crisis has arrived in our political his
tory fraught with the most tremendous con-
sequeaces, not only 10 the country and TO the
present generation, but 70 all nations.
throughout all time-and believing, also,
that this crisis has been accelerated, ifnol
produced, by the misconduct Of the admins
traitors OF the government during the las;
three years, portion of your fellow citi-
zens, IN various sections of the Common
wealth, have deputed the members oftbis
convention, TO assemble at this place, with
the view of contributing their eXertions 10
The important work of eflGcting change OF
rulers. That duty VIC have performed bv
nominating HENRY CLAY of Kentucky. as
president, q JOHN SERGEANT of Pennsyl.
yanIa, as Vice President oGthe United States
we have also framed an Electoral Ticket
ior The Stale OF Virginia. for the purpose OF
enabling those WHO concur with us in senti
hent to act IN concert, at the approaching
election, with that energy which our right
eous cause is so well calculated TO inspire
and which no fear Of discontinue can damn,
en- orrcpress. Our motto is "Truth, God and
our Country" We have no personal REVENGE
10 gratliy-no selfish ambition to stimu-
late us. We bear OH our shield, and on our
nag, the Patriots device, and our hearts
are animated and cheered by the Patriots
hope. In such cause, even defeat is pIo-
r'ous-iar more glorious than TO triumph
with majority whose success is built upon
The wounded honor Oftheir country.
but our duty does not stop here. II is
Dolh becoming 10 ourselves and respectful
10 you, fellow citizens of Virginia. that we
state succlnctly some of the most prominent
reasons which have led us TO the concIusion
That General jackson is no longer worthy Of
your confidence, and briefly TO urge The en- =.
perlor Claims of MIR. Clay to the sufTraqes nj
an honest, moral, an enlightened and f ee
people.
We are opposed 10 the reelection ofGen-
eral Jackson 10 the Presidency of the United
States, because we believe him to he inc
Pable of discharging, faithfully and prudent
W, the duties of that high station and he
cause his course, since his election TO that
once, has been characterized by duplicitv
and lesuistry unworthy of the ruler of free
people. 9 Il &C
We are aware, fellow citizens. that these
are charges OF serious import; but they are
not lightly hazarded and we a,neaI ar
'helr confirmation 10 the facts which we
Shall proceed briefly to recapitnlate
The history Of Gen. Jackson's life pre-
vlously TO the period at which he wascailed
by the mistaken gratitude of his country
men, to destiny as splendid as it must have
been unexpected 10 himself, was alone sniff.
cent both TO justify a doubt Of bis capacity
and to stimulate the opposition of those who
honestly entertained i'll But, unfortunatel,
Tor him, and for us, this doubt has been con-
verted into certainty. by various acts ofbis
betraJing a want Of unity Of
1esign and evincing Il contrarlety ofpurpose
necessarily conseGuknt upon the variant
md in some instancs\ contradictory opinions
)f the individuals. Zoo at different periods,
nave oGiciaied as lis confidential advisers.
1 ihus, at one periAd, he afhxes his veto TO
,ill sppropriating a nom of money TO aid in
he construction Of lad between MaysyiIle
md Lexington, in lucky, on The ground