Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-05-02
ADDRESS
or the Republican Convenhon,
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

|
:, the Legislature friendly 10 the present Adj
mnistration of the General Government
held meeting, at which they recommended
, To- their political friends throughout the Stat,
Inc appointment of Delegates, to unite W itl
them IN forming a Convention to be holden
IN The city OF Richmond on the 3rd Monday
IN March. The crisis was deemed TO be an
important one and in reference 10 certain
differences of opinion ia our party, which
might prevent mutual corporation in The
approaching elections, if not amicabIy ad
Justed-; one OF The objects they had in view
was declared 10 be, "to consider Of the best
means 10 restore our ancient harmony, and
10 advance the great principles OF free Gov
ernment." Another object was 10 unite all
the old Democratic Republicans" in COM
mon effort 10 maintain their peculiar doc
trines II was believed, that many persons
who belonged to the Virginia School of II.
10 and 1900, but had separated from ma.
J"rity OF their friends in onscquence OF GER
tain measures OF the late Administration,
! tending, as they thought, TO too great con-
ccntiatlon oil power 10 the Executive head,
would be disposed 10 reioin their standard,
under different auspices and in an emer-
Sency, so well calculated To excite their
'ears Tor The permanency of the glorious
principles they protested; and that others,
measure OF the present Administration,
would, by free comparison and inter change
OF opinions, be induced 70 confine their OH.
position 10 that measure, and 10 CO operate
with their political brethren in the re- cleo
| ton OF Chief Magistrate whose knowno
pInions SO nearly conform tn their own
Accordingly, we who now address you, hav>
Ing been nominated TO represent them >by
portions OF the people in their primary as
sem6lies, OF being Republican members of
the General Assembly, referred 10 in the sec
ond resolution calling il, have met in Con
vent!on, and would most respectfully invite
your serious attention TO the considerations
we are about 10 submit, with sincere hope
That they may tend TO heal our unnatural dis
Visions, and assist you ia coming 10 an I'M
partial decision OF The mOmentous questions
you VIII soon be called upon TO determine.-j
by union and CONCERT of action we may a
vert The evils we have too much To apprehepd
from the election OF Federal Wing TO the
Presidency; we may ndelihIy impress up
pom our system the doctrines, of the State
! iNgEls Republican school, and we may
parlmens 10 ire !P al s as.
lor in his Resolutions, and by Madison in bis
Report.
frequent recurrence 10 first principles is
| recommended, as necessary means TO pre-
serve our institutions in their purity No
less essential is il 10 wise and prudent action,
10 review occasionally the past history OF the
two great opposing parties and learn from il,
what we have right TO expect from the fu.
| ture ascendency of the one or The other
Soon alter the operations of the General
Government commenced III 1888, two polit-
| ical sects arose, entertaining very different
views OF lis constitutional powers and dulles |
The one, at The head of which stood HamilI |
Ton, believing the Federal Government TO 7
be too weak in its organization, TO answer |
| the purposes ofi.s founders, sous bit 10 enlarge |
its powers and patronage, by resorting 10
broad and laiiudinarian constructions For /
this purpose, he and his followers pressed in.
To their services that clause Of the instru
| men, which speaks Of "the general welfare"
aud another comforting on Congress the pow
er ''to make all laws which shall be necessa,
ry and proper for carrying into execution
the foregoing powers, and all other powers
vested by the Constitution in the Govern
ment Of the United States, or In any depart
meni or officer thereof" The first clause,
as they commended, authorized Congress to
use the public money for any purpose cal,
culated IN their opinion, 10 promote the gen
eral welfare, whether the objects 10 which il
| was TO be applied were enumeI ated in the
the express grants OF power or not; and the
last 10 make any law having tendency on
ly 10 promote an object for which they had
authority 10 provide or useful or con venient
for that purpose. Under this forced and loose
i construction, they proceeded 10 establish the
| Funding System; Ia create Il National
Bank 10 enact an Alien ard Seliton Law
TO convert the taxing power granted for the
purpose OF raising revenue for specific oh
Jecis, i0'o protective power for The encour-
| agemeDt OF manufactures; aud TO project
and partly 10 execute, a magnificent 81 Stem
OF internal improvements, Involving enor-
NOUS expenditures, under the direction and
control OF Federal agents, ty which section
81 interests might lie swayed, and States
| themselves be purchased They said in,
deed, that there was ''no room foi doubt
that wha tever concerns the general interests
OF learning, OF agriculture, OF manufactures,
and Of commerce, are within The suhere OF
| the national councils as far as regards 40 az
| plicaiion oi money ;" and sornc OF their
leaders have gone so far, as TO assert that lbe
words ri the Preamble 10 the Constitution
justified still larger grant Of powers and
authorized every measure relating 20 the
common defence and general welfare, wheth.
er through The application OF money, or 9th
erwise. Thus The Charter ofour Rights ard
Liberties was 10 danger of Welding 10 con.
structloDs founded on The doctrines Of rmpli,
cation and expediency, which "defied all re-
straints and overwhelmed The best hopes OF
RepUbiicsnism."
The principles OF The ether party are TO be
found embodied in tie Resolutions 81 X en-
lucky and Virginia in 17GS, and the report