Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-02-02
Prom a. .fi,1sna,ia Gsr,tf,.

ne progress oil eveLs IN thIs roun-
try is rapidly accelerating the approach
Of tina, period when IN issue will be
fairly made up between the cons,rca.
tire aad assirueiivs principle, OF 60.
vcrnment. and tho people will be call
ed on 10 decide which they will rejec;
and which they will sustain.
We look at this subject Calmly and
practically. and speak Of IL aud reason
on ii. without particle Of political
bias Ms far a. the previous measures
OF our government are concerned or
our present leading public men into-
rested.
A contest has been for a long time
going on in England. between those
" no wish 10 preserve the present IN
s,itu,ions OF that country, aad those
who desire 4 thorough and radical
change and reform. Il will he we'll
then. in the outset. to specify distinctly
the difference which exists between
this contest in England and the ono
which is coming on in America. They
are entirely aud strikingly dissimilar.
nor ought they 10 be a; all compared
with each other or represented rs alike
or eoinciden,. There it is. a struggle
TO obtain n constitutional government
here it will be q struggle for the main.
tenance of constitutional govern
ment:-there IL is an obstinate defence
Of abuse, and a vigorous assault upon
the m-here IL will be manly effort 10
h.
protect the viriuous work Of our psirio-
tic fathers against wild and visionary
schemes 10 pull down and destroy -
there il IS a movement TO infuse popu-
lar sentiment into the operations Of the
legislature, and resistance 10 that
movement: here il will be a movement
10 destroy legislation altogether, by
making it subservient to popular ola-
NOR and a resistance 10 this mischIe-
vous movement: there il is the -~ople
seeking &c cb.s,n chartered and ID
rights for their own future securit, >,
here IL will be the "leaders" striving
to destroy charters and snnihila,e ve.t.
ed rights: In word there it is q great
and noble design TO ensraft republican
principles upon British Liberty; here
1t will he equally a. noble 4 de.ermi.
nation to per,erve our constitutions al
republican government as u ia and aS
it has successfully worked for ba!f a
century. from the poisonous influence
Of modern Jacobinical and Disorganiz-
ing 6ocir,nes;-it will be republican
democracy against democracy run z,1d'
These are some OF the cardinal points
Of difference winch distinguish the
politics Of Great Britain from that rapid
ly approaching crisis in our affairs,
which is TO establish here a. well as
there. a great conservative party--a
alike only in the name which the Ian
guaSe we use, in some measure, forces
us TO adopt. In truth. n slight exami-
nation Of the subject suGces to satisfy
the inquirer that as to principles. the
conSsrUafires here and the r.form7'
in Great Britain are not far spart-our
friends there seeking TO oJtnia ihs,
which0 desire 10 preserve and retain.
And IL The sacred ves,al fire which
thus far, We have kept burning brightly
in our country's altar, be cx,ingui,bcd.
sad indeed will be the day Ia the
friends Of freedom across the Atlantic,
who have ever watched IL with so
much interest and been constantly
chrered with its beams flung even
across the waste Of waiersl'
-"H1 nnse p'ii cot ih-l light.
We kno~ not where IL the Prone tiIeEs hvG
That can thst IT, Int felune"
Already. in our day. Coming events
cast their shadows before" We have
proportions to destroy vested rights
to disregard conirac:s--to annul char
tiers. We see the proceedings OF self.
called self created Convention scknow.
lodged TO be paramount TO the deolars.
tionS Of a regularly organised, lawful
: Convention: the Independence Of the
Judiciary is threatened-mob law is
coun,ensnced in some quarters-fsnai-
icism is called philanthropy the
rights Of property arc invadeJ--snd
tie people are BATTERED, Wheedled and
caioied into the belief that they can do
no wrong. and that their voice - the
voice OF God Inpious deolsrstion--
hioh the voice Of al history and the
reason Of every rejecting mas, o, once
contradict
With these facts before us, sad those
which upon an exsa instion ~ the
subject, must present. themselves n
every mind. and which are indeed
startling m their character. and alarm.
ing hen viewed IN conbexion With
their probable results--sf~ We preWa.
ture 80 calling public attention serious
i 10 tbs important subject. and n,ok-
ilng the gcf,on Of the wise and good.
m b, hslf of our beloved country -
Impending ev,ls We soleunly believe
are over u.s. In poliii-,. AZ IN morals
ihe progress IRON bad 10 y ofse Is IN.
ptrcepuJlr anil easy. Fgcihs dsg-
eensul firm" Now. nov. vbil,t
there Is health and sigor 10 pohlie sfn.
ument--5eiore corruption IsIn'' too
deeply-beiofo tho poison Of ibn Sc
due,ng hsuerer has penetrated the
whole SYSTEMS ihs proper tins -
make hsad sgaind the Dsstroyef---
And in this noble struggle. y no soon.
er ihsn the Ingenious. the warm besfi.
ed--the ch,talnck YOUTHS Of our