Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-08-16
Addrcss 10 DE People u the United States.
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IlopkISs l.. TuR>ry,

AadrcsS 10 he People y the United States.
Ia country advancing with the raptdlty Of ours,
great changes, having powerful conrol over It's pc
ltical relations and future destiny, must moi unIfc-
quently occur, which may make 1t the duty oi those
instrustcd tor the tIne, with the manag emcnt OF
public affairs, IN order tn avoid msappleheusion, To
publish an exposition Of tleir principles and pun
poses. Such tue changes which have taken
place within the last few years, and which have already
had great elect ON the political condition OF the
country, and are destined still To have much create,
hereafter. Among these NAV be enumerated the
final payment OF the public debt, the expiration OF
the charter of the United States Bank, without re
ncwal; tue fall OF the mIsnamed American system
the use aud progress Of abolition: and finally, the
stoppage OF payment by the banks with the conse-
qucrt embarrassment TO the community aud IN the
fiscal action Of the Government. Never, IN 50 shott
| period, since the commencement of the Govern
ment, have SO many events, destined 10 effect 50
mighty change IN our political condition, occurred.
That their inst effect would be To unsetlIe public
/ opinion 10 be expected aud accordingly, there
never was Tune when the political clemens OF the
country were IN state oi greater confusion, and
when il WAS more important that those who are in
trusted with the management OF public affairs, should
recur first principles, aud give full and explicit
exposition of then views.
Actuated by these conscientious, the republican
members of Congress, about to Ietuln to thea CON
stltuens, propose laylbeloic them bllei expos-
ton OF the principles by which they have been gui-
ded, aud intend hereafter 10 be governed some Of
the most important measures OF public policy acted
on, and be acted ouIn the councils ol the Geueral
Government.
We a,e deeply sensible that too much has been
expected from the deliberations of Congress. \
numerous anG powerful panty has induced a large
portion OF the people 10 look alone 10 the Congress
of the United States for relief They laugh to
believe that from thence alone emdnate the
measures required to restore the country to peace,
quiet, and happiness, unmipdlul that have wflt-
ten Constitution control those who administer the
various departments OF the General Government.
Many appear to think that Congress can do an,
and every thing called fuI 1T this novel crisis III the
Affairs of the country. To euaId against the urther
progress OF tins fatal deluson, and 10 cxonerale
selves from unreasonable responsibility, we propose,
At the threshold of this address, presenta con
clse history touching the character OF the Federal
Constitution, and the otigIn Of the two great polt-
zeal parues which have divided, and WI" probably 10,
ever divide, the American people.
There were radical differences Of opinion in the
Convention which formed the Constitution. They
laid the foundation Of those patties which have at
intervals ever since agIrated, and at tins moment
deeply agitaie, the whole county.
A portion oilhe Convention. from a rong partial
lty tor the BRUSH form OF Government, desired 10
appro xlmaie that system public opinion IN
America would allow. From them came PROPOSE
ions for President and Senate for life elections Tor
long TERMS and other fundamental arrangements,
which should remove the Government as far as pos
sible from popular control. Another portion, having
more confidence IN the intelligence and virtue OF the
people, advocated The principle oil making the exec
ut'e aud legislative branches elective FOR short
terms. Ailer the Constitution was formed, those
parties differed widely IN the views they took OF
the tendency oil the Government the one believing
/ that II towards consolidation, and the other TO
dlsunion and the one accordingly believed that the
danger despotIsm IN the head, and the Other
anarchy IN the members. Hence the different
| light IN which the Two parties viewed the character
oil the system. The Republican party held II 10
. be icderdtWe IN lis character, and formed by the
States IN their sovereign capacity, and ado pied ion
mutual security and happiness ;"hlle many OF then
adveIsaries regarded 1t as great national Republic
formed by the American people III the aggregate 10
promote the interest OF he majority instead oI The Sc
vera States composing IT,
When The Government put ia operation UNI
der the Constitution, each party adopted rules o
construction calculated TO their pee ulIar OBJ
ects, and advance thelr cherished principles III lis
practical operation.
Unfortunately, the execution of CERTAIN Vital paris
OF the stem was entrusted to men who had no iall
IN its stability, without essential changes removing
IL further from the influence OF the people and the
States and they Immediately set themselves to wotl
10 accomplish, bya broad construction, that which
was, in their opinion, essential 10 the conuh
ued existence OF the Governments but WAS nnditdind
Bile through dlrect appeal to the States aud PEG
pie for amendments To the CONSTITUTIONS out OF thu
design grew the funding system of the rst Sccfctd
~ OF the Treasury, aud other measures intended IL
create an improper action # the Government.
The ulher parry maintaining their faith IN the Con
stution ds is, insisted t,Ia the Constitution shoult
be construed strictly, according TO It's honest mean
ing as adopted by the States ; and that changes II
the system. when found necessary, should be sough
through applications for amendments, rather thai
through new, vague, and autudluous constructions
which, in effect would accumulate unlimited power
in a Government VIGOROUSLY limited by those wht
had created it, The rapid aud resoluto encroach
mcnts OF few years greatly alarmed and roused TO en-
ergetic action the friends OF limited, pure Govern
rnenl, controlled by the public will. They ofSanI
Zcd themselves for constitutional resistance, proper
, TONED to the character and extent OF actual ant
threatened usurpalions, aud threw out from the ables
pens OF that day luminous expoi"ns OF the real or
pn true character and ultimate objects Oi our Const
tuition After a fearful struggle, success crowned
their efforts the Government was wresled from TN
hands OF those whose principles were monafchIcd
and arlstocratlcal the Letter Of the Constitution, an
the honest meaning OF those who adopted 1t becam
the practical rule OF construction aud pubic opn
ION expressed by the unbi. ssed representatives u
the people and the States, through the diiierei
branches of tie Government, was recognised rs III
f only legitimate governing power
I'VE adhere to the constitutional doctrines OF til
Republican party Of 1889 we adopt the rule {
# strict construction they maintained, as the only tru
. and safe one, applicable to our Constitution W
reec, the assumption that the people have not I'll
r.puiste intelligence aud yituc to choose eomPete'