The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-12-12

Report OF The General Committee

mlttee, made the following report, which
was unanimously adopted
We have approached the performance
Of the duty assigned Us with just degree
Of sensblllty TO the egenllul nature Of the
crisis which hangs with the most frIghlful
symptoms Of fatality over the destuies Of
our country. We have yielded The mos.
patient and profound elaboration to the
present posture Of our political interests,
which brief compass Of time would per.
NIT and we have reached The firm, but
painful conviction that more sudden tran.
sition from glory to gloom, from strength
10 imbeclity, from moral sublunity TO
moumiul degradation, and from a btssfui
fruiiion Of all the choicest elements of ma
tional felicity to a season Of painful destltu
tlon, was never recorded upon the page Of
faithful and impartial history than that over
winch the American patriot IS now doomed
g mourn wl;n the most affecting sadness. -
Since the present administration ascended
10 power, our Government, which Uas lnsti
tuied TO serve as a sanctuary Of refuge aud
OF security, 10 the natives Of every cline,
has been converted into an armofy IN which
the most fatal instruments which can be
welded against the political rights Of the
citizen are forged 10 perllous protuslon.-
Garng lncapaclty, deep corruption, gross
pertidy 10 the most sacred pledges, yndlc.
live malice, aud an Unsuitable lust for gain,
have gotten possession Of the lofty emnen.
ces "hch were once adorned By natchless
wisdom, untalnted purity, inyiolate fidelity,
ennobing gnaulmlty, and BY perfect dis
lntciesledness Of heart. And when the
American citizen with anxious sollcltude,
now searches for spring Of health for the
political maladles which lnicst our country,
instead Of recognizing il u tie cousti ,tion.
al ark which has beea consccrated by tile
blood aud wisdom Of the pa.f.archs Of the
revolution, he is driven 10 that guarantee
for The safety Of popular freedom which has
been hitherto recognized as valid only 10
despotic Governments" the vigilance Of
the people"
In Great Britain, i is a maxim Of con
duct with the people which has been sane.
thed by the usage 81 ceuturies, to hold the
most prominent minister responsible for any
disastrous results which may flow from the
measures which are commenced and con.
summated during his asccndency in the
councils Of state. lfihs maxim should be
enforced With even partial degree b, rigor
in this country il reference to Mr. Van BIZ.
ren, where and at what point would the pop
ular malcdictions terminate For twenty
years previous TO his entrance upon his du
ties, the American couted,iacy was blessed
with q harvest Of social end political bIes.
Sings which has never been surpassed, eth
er in purity or plentituie in the history Of
civilized man. We beheJ maritime eu.er-
prize spreading its broad folds on the sur
luce Of every sea, aud earning the precious
reward off aspirations and labors, uumixed
with the startling apprehension that its tar
est and most substantial achievements we're
shortly to be reduced to dust aud ashes BY
the ever changing measures Of the Govern
mcnt. We beheld the Farmer sowing has
ground with the Joyous anticipation that
rich harvest was 10 spring from the bosom
Of the earth 10 requite his tolls. We beheld
the Merchant providing himself with all the
component elements Of matter which per.
tain to his vocation in life, and cheristing
the fond assurance that be was to become
the participant OF fresh comforts when these
ingredients should be wrought into articles
OF human consumption and use. We be,
held IN truth, all the professions prospeung
IA peace and in vlgor beneath the benign
auspices OF Government, aud contentment
aud happiness spreading ID broad aud re
wing wave from one eXtremlty OF the
Enon to the other, But we are doomed
at the presen; cherries period to dwell up
on a national picture, the dark shades Of
which are not sottened by single cheering
ray but that which bursts from the latent
virtues, energies and resolution OF a free and
enlightened people, And Ii these redeem.
ing qualities IN the character Of our people
were exered 10 the period Of our revolution
for the attanmen; OF prospective and uncer.
tain blessings, with what unrivaled perse.
verance should they now De applied, when
the nobIest possessions which ever descend
cd upon the path of man are all put IN i'm.
mincnt hazard, when all the elements OF
human prosperity have been thrown into
state Of deplorabIe confusion aud when all
the different pursuits Of man have been
brought into destructive state Of collision
by the mad experiments OF Government.
At what period IN the history Of our Coy
ernment did we ever witness such frequent
fluctuations 10 the price agricultural com.
modlues, as we are now constrained week
after week to depIore2 When have we ev.
er heard Of such frequent and extensive
failures among the merchants in every part
OF the confederacyl When have we, at
any former period, been summoned 10 re-
cord such frequent crashes aud explosions
among our Banking institutions? When
have we before seen the honest traders of
the country so unreservedIy delivered over
to the mercy of relentless usurers 7 When
have we ever before seen the Government
of the country openly and unblushingIy taxi,