Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-08-20
ADDRESS
OF THE WING CONVENTION,
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI.


TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Feilov- CihSepS:-
TIE convention which assembled il
Jackson on the 28th of January last, com
mitted Ia us the duty of addressing you
in explanation, and in furtherance ofn
objects. We are fully aware of the diff
Guilty and delicacy Of the task that we un
deuake. But we address men far sbov.
the ordinary average of intelligence; ant
with perfect reliance on the business o
our views, aud the purity Of our motives
we will do our duty faithfully and fear
Iessly.
II was no ght occasion that could draw
30 many of US from our homes, in distan
portions ofthe State, in the midst of an in
clement winter. We Ind no motive 70
assembling. bur to promote the interests o
our common country; and hopeless a.
may be our effort TO win many. of yot
from your CHERISHED pfejudices. give US
al least, fair hearing, elor you finally
decade. The subjects which we propo {
10 discuss are deeply interesting to US all
and we who address YOU an have no mo
tive to dec We you, add no interest To gra
f' Ss';,t your expense. All OF US are plan
ters, or dependant on the success Of plant.
ing for our prosperity; and in every crisi.
the same dangers will threaten, and the
same safeguards must protect US all. We
have common purpose aud a common
sake in the destiny of Mississippi Let
US then, if poss bic, unite ourselves, aud
thus exert that strength which only union
can confer.
We believe that the government Of our
country IS administered by men who are
unfit for The stat ous I. ey occupy; that
corruption,servlity and Eeculauou re the
necessary, rs well as he actual aud uoto-
rious Consequences of tie system on W ich
thel avowe eddy act; that the disposition OF
party has supplonled republican freedom
OF thought and action; that vice and prof.
Iigacy are countenanced and IGNORED by
the highest fu q onaries; aud that the
power of the Executive, in dehance of the
checks provided by tie WISE jealousy OF
te trainers of the { onsttuuon, has in.
C. eased beyond tho anticipation Of the
most dlstrst(ul Of Inc wisdom OF Repub
los. md we caunOt compare the pes
cit W u tie past condition Of our country
vi uou fixed conv ctIon, that the worst
4bu>e~ ever aecrbcd by party rancor 10
i"t most unpopular Of former administra-
lions. are o, emily perpclrated by this.
! il IS familiar 10 all that great change
ha, come over the condition Of the United
) acs, tina the last few yea $. We
1 may assert without hazard OF coutradIc-
ton, lhat 10 couutry did ever exist so en-
| ntutly prosperous us tn $, before the ex-
perimeu. of tie party now III power. on
the finances Of the treasury, and tie fnan-
ccS of lie PEOPLE. Under the operation
or tie Comp, Sc Bill of 1888, the Ta-
i'll was fully adequate to discharge tie
mail emnart OF the pub &c debt; while
tie gradual dimnmIon of imports and the
steady rate Of land sales, promised to SC
cure lis against any great excess, or any
eic ercy, whaieve~, in the pub ic reven-
ue a d thu Bdtlk Of the nted States,
~ nile IL ele,ate the circulating medium
Z - gu w illE ttit'Si tCiilOAC AJtfAiC DhAANH
ia an equality viii lie issues of the bcs',
preserved the purity ofthe whole currency
by restricting its amount to the proper
wants Of. business. This was our condl.
ton when the deposites were removed
from the Bank of the United States. where
they had been placed by law. and where
thew were subject to the control of The
Legislature. 1t would avail nothing tC
inquire into the secret influences which
prompted that assault upon the credit o
the Bank and the rights Of the stockhol
ders. Let it suffice t. say, that the pr, 8
eut emharrassmenis Of the country wer,
toletold by the wisest Of our statesmen, a
the net esSary consequence of that act
and that all who had sagac:ty 10 under
stand. and Independence 10 speak-oppo
ne Is as vel as f. ends OF the Bank, con
fidentlv ~, dlcted fuaIcl explosion
unless the ENeCui,v would speedily re
truce his steps. Tie SpecIe Cucula
4as'eued t crisis WI Gu i was mteude
TO re-, ent; and susI ersion of payment b.
the Bouks oIIowed, and wide spread run
and AN empty Treasury, were the Imme
date consequences.
Tire honors of popular government
have usually been bestowed on thos
whose lives have been signalized by EN-
inent public services.
The history ofthe United States, bcfor
the election OF Mr. Van Buren,, furnishor
10 exception to this RUE. Bat woul
b. difficult to fnd,m his biography, Ioug
written by his pr,fcSsed admIrer, aud de
signed to recomm, nd HIM 10 his country
men, one act which Can be dlStn guishc'
for IT, public usefulness.
A mere instrument of party, in tina
State where parry sprn has ever bee
disgust ngy iuio.eiant--of that party, toe
w.ose leader, ~ e Scuale, unblusmng,
avowcd Tie princip lie, that the offices Gre
aied Tor tie regular adminIstra ion OF tl'
government, are The proper spois Of VIC
torv--iS not the statesman from WHOM
free people can hope for meas
ureS Of patriotism or generosity. I'll
adm usrralion. thus far, has not dlsap
pointed tins calculation. History Wi
search in vain for one act worthy OF pres
ervarion. Ii peaceful and prosperou
tines, government doubtless acts wisel
Iu leovng q affairs Of the people TO thel
own cement. But these times or
not prosperous, and cannot be considere
peaceful. MIR. Van Buren, had been j
fice little more than two months, an
: tie boa~ts which he had made it, bis inau
: gura fthe wisdom Of the financial meas