Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-18
ADDRESS
Ofthe Wig Members ofthe Legislature,
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

U"ho PHcu ienleT " proper tnat
we should address you in relation to the
most prominent topics of public interes,
that now agitate the country.
The friends of the present Adminis-
tration. have recently held Convention
IN this place, constituted partly of mem
bers OF the Legislature. and partly of
delegates from several of the counties,
appointed in conformity with the invita-,
ton OF those members, for the avowed
purposes of harmonizing the discordant
materials of which their party is com.
posed. and of conciliating those who had
been alienated by some of the measures
which had received the sanction of
majority of that party. TWAS doubtless
anticipated, too. that one, and not the
least important of the effects to be pro-
duced by this unusual convocat;on,
would be the creation of an artificial ex.
citement among this people, at all times
SO uniavorable to a correct Judgment
upon the measures which they are cal
led upon, at the polls, to sustain or to
reject, with the hope that, in the whirl-
wind OF party passion, they might be a.
Ole TO procure reversal of the decision
OF the people, rendered twelve months
ago. under circumstances SO much more
propitious to a calm and dispassionate
consideration of the issues then present.
ed to them, and which are once again to
be subjected to the same ordeal before
the same sovereign tribunal. If the
Wing members of the Legislature have
not followed the example of their de
mocratic' brethren, by inviting, on this
occasion, the cooperation of their fellow
citizens, it is not because they are insen-
sible of the important interests involved
in the result of the approaching election;
but because they are not aware of any
special necessity to call them from their
homes and employ ments, with the sole
view of making an imposing array of
numbers. They would, indeed, have
been pleased to have enjoyed the benefit
| oil the counseland advice of their friends,
from every section of the ealth;
but they feel we'll assured, that, animal
ed by common purpose. they will not
the less certainly speak the sentiments of
the great body Of the Wing Party of
Virginia, because special delegates, ap,
pointed by that party, have not assemb-
led with them to unite in their express
ion ; and they do not apprehend that
those who concur with them in opinion,
will be less Jealous and active in the
maintenance and support of their cher
ished principles. simply for the reason
that they have not mingled in the ex>
citements Of the metropolis, and imbibed
morbid enthusiasm from the unwhol>
| y
centre of political intrigue and chicanery.
Last Spring, fellow.citizens, the prin.
cipal question which you were called
upon TO decide, was. whether you would
| give y our appreciation and consent TO that
thorough revocation in the financial sys>
tenn of the general Government, p-opos-
ed by the present Administration, and
adhered to with unyieldipg obstinacy
in despite of its epeated rejection by the
Representatives of the People. whose
sentiments majority of those Represen
tatives faithfully reflected. That decis-
ion was against the measure thus recon-
mended. and thus persisted in, by tie |
Administration. You proclaimed your
hostility TO il in the most decisive and !
emphatic manner. And it is only be-
cause, from the particular constitution OF |
the State Senate, many Of the members
OF which body were elected without re.
terence to this question, and some of ,
whom, it is believed, do not fairly rep !
resent the opinions Of the constituent !
body, that your decision, thus unequiv- !
ocally made, has been elfectualy "check. |
mated" That issue, then, is again fair |
ly and fully presented for your decision.
You are to determine, this Spring |
whether your judgment, solemnly pro-
nounced in April last, was wrong, and !
whether you are now prepared to re-
verse it, and. by its reversal, to add "a
mother to the long list Of Executive ,ri- |
umphs over the will of the People as
made known by them, both at the Polls !
and through their Representatives in |
Congress. vitality important as the SUBJ
treasury question $50 called) intrinsicaI- |
ly is-obDoxious as it is 10 the most i'm
posing objections-it becomes question
OF far deeper interest when regarded in
connection with The strenuous and uD-
firing efforts of the Administration to
force it upon the People, against their
will, by the combined influence of gov,
eminent patronage and party discipline,
by which the vena are purchased, and
the timid are dragooned into the support
OF men whose measures, they confess,
are both unwise and mischieyous. Cast
| ing aside old landmarks. we have seen
that this question, although occasionally
Il rao .f