South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-07-30
ADD EeESS
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

fiouS parts OF virginia, having assem-
bled 10 Staunton on the 18th inst. for
the purpose Of adopting such measures
as, 10 their opinion, were best calcula-
ted TO promote the election OF General
VIM. II. Harrison Of Ohio, TO the
Presidency OF the United States, q
feeling ofrespect for the universal u
sage of the country on such occasions,
no less than thorough conviction OF
ito intrinsic propriety, has induced
them to adopt an address to the peo-
pie Of Virginia, expressive Of the senti.
ments by which their conduct has been
influenced.
I There is no candid observer of the
course of public affairs for the last,
twelve years, who is not constrained to
acknowledge, that its tendency. has
been uniformly downward, and with
q velocity, accelerated at every stage
Of its progress. The reflection is
painful to the heart of every patriot,
but /. is not therefore the less true, and
there are many persons, and those not
men given to dependency or unmanly
fears, who have been induced thereby,
to entertain doubts as TO the stability
of our glorious institutions. They
have seen Constitution, founded in
the most perfect wisdom and virtue,
framed with the most scrupulous re-
gard to the rights of every class Of So
ciety, adopted by the unbiased sufra-
yes Of free people, and commencing
its operations under the most auspi-
cieus circumstances :-they have seen
this government administered under
the guidance Of the father OF his coun-
try, and succession Of illustrious pa
triots in the spirit in which i. was franz.
ed, as sacred trust, created not for
the benefit OF the rulers, but of the
people. They have witnessed great
nation, under its genial influences, with
a rapidly unparalleled in the history
of mankind, advancing from the condi
| ton of obscure colonies into the very
front rank Of the nations of the earth,
its flag unfurled in every sea, and its
name respected and honored through
| out the world, and they had INDUCED
the beliefthat favorable solution to
the great problem as 10 the capacity of
man for self government, had a. length
been attained. But in the midst OF
these alluring visions, and animating
hopes, circumstances have occurred, to
fill their minds with the most gloomy
foreboding of evil. Within the last
few years, they have seen the purity
and simplicity Of the early days of the
republic not merely disregarded, but
almost openly derided. They have
seen the first principle Of the conssitu
ton completely inverted, and those
powers and prerogatives which were
conferred on the government as sacred
trusts to be administered strictly and
exclusively for the benefit Of the public,
boldly claimed and exercised as the
property of the chief executive officer.
Those officers which were necessarily
created for the purpose of facilitating
the correct administration of public
affairs, and which should never be de-
sired for the sake Of emolument, are
now proclaimed to be the legitimate
spoils of victory, and the champions
of the political arena are stimulated to
increased ierocity in their assaults up.
on their opponents by the olluring per-
spective Of official promotion, with
nominal duties and exravagant GALA
ries. The manly independence of
1 public sentiment, which was once the
boast OF the republic, and al the same
time the surest guaranty of the correct
administration Of the government, has
been succeeded by sayish subservi-
ency to the powers that be, and that
freedom of discussion, and universal
feeling OF federation, which was once
the glory OF our Institutions, has given
place TO an ar bitrary political inquisi-
ton, which denounces and Furnishes
with the rack and the screws, all who
dare to differ from the established
standard of orthodoxy, as revealed
| through the columns OF the official ga
ze,te. They have seen the treasure OF
the people seized upon without the
warran, OF law, and employed for the
purpose of arraying an immense chain
of moneyed corporations on the side oil
the government, and against the liber'
ties Of the people and finally, in go-
vernment which processes 10 be fpun-
ded on the principle that the people
are capable OF sels-governnsent, and
competent 10 elect their own oihcers,
they have seen the President of the U.
States, in opposition 20 bath these fun
damental doctrines, openly debating 10
| the people who shall be his successor