Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-10-10
srAuNroN CONVENTION.

az Siaunion on the 9th ultimo Nearly two
hundred delegates from AL parts OF the State
were prescott. %
The Convention was called 10 order byAlLEs
wiLsoS, delegate from the coon,y OF Cumh&r-
land on whose nation, Capt PHiuiP ~ lueHrrs
Of cuiPcper, an Officer OF The Revolution. was
temporarily called 20 The Chair. and RicHlGo II.
TotES. delegate from Campbell. aud Editor Of
The Lynchburg Virsinian, appointed, Iempora-
rily, Secretary.
The venerable President, whose air Of lisni-
hcJ simplicity, b'ecched locks, noble private yir.
tues, AMI heroic deeds at nearly all the great bat.
Ties OF the revolution, attracted every heart to-
wards HIM. returned his thanks for the honor
conferred, with Spartan breviiy aud sim heiiy.
Subsequently. Gen. EnwssD Wars, Of Bote-
ionn, was elected President of the Convention,
aud JoHS III. PLEAsANrs aud RICHARD IL ToLER
Secretaries.
Gen. waits. when he had taken the Chair, re-
turned his thanks to the Convention in a most
Pongent and stirring address, invoking the wing
party tn uaisH sad Aarrasay in The great conflict
which was about Ia ensue between them and the
Administration. Hls address was received with
loud cheenng.
The proceedings were characterized ny srca,
unanimiiy, aud Tie best sprit pervaded the
whole body.
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Sir. LEIsH. from a Select Committee Of -
reported the following preamble and resolutions
for the adoption Of the Convention;
WHEREAS. IL is the deliberate and con.
sciecuous opinion Of this Convention. that
the leasing measures OF the present Chief
Magistrate OF the United States. and Of
his immediate predecessor. aud the prin-
ciPles introduced BY the one into the Ad.
ministration Of the Federal Government
and on which The other has acted. is still
acting. aud seems indeed under moral
necessity OF continuing 10 act, have
wrough. practical change in the political
institutions OF the country, most PERM.
cious in itself. and Taught, unless IL br
timely counierscted, with the utmost dan.
ger TO the very being of Republican Go.
vernment; We, therefore, regard il as
solemn duty, imposed upon US by every
consideration shat should move Republi
cans and Patriots TO exeriion, TO endeavor
by all fair, honorable, and constitutional
means. 10 prevent the reelection OF Mar
Tin Van Buren, to the Office OF President
Of the United States, and TO raise 10 that
high station some able, honest, and mag.
nanimous Statesman, who will bring VIZ
tue and wisdom TO our Executive C1un-
cils. and conform the Administration With
the true Republican principles of the
Constitution.
We have seen the patronage Of the Ex.
ecutive abused and perverted 10 the mere
purpose OF sustaining the President in the
exercise Of controlling influence over
all the other constituted authorities of the
Government. We have seen men ap.
pointed 10 Offices Of trust and emolument.
without any merit. or preience of merit.
but blind aud undiscriminaiing support
Of the measures Of The Administration,
however inconsistent with the professions
which recommended the Administration
TO power. We have seen officers remov-
ed from place, without the inpuiation of
any fault. but occasional independence Of
opinion and conduct, or want Of influence
or OF zeal and activity in The psriizan ser.
vice exseted Of them. such abuses Of the
POKER Of removal tom Office, a., in the
opinion OF the first Congress, by whom in
10 impeschsble offences. We have seen
officers. in several instances. missppIying
unaecounted thousands Of public treasure
10 their private use. and audaciously per
sis:ing ia their refusal TO pay public mo-
neys into The treasury; vet still wiilully
retained in office. in consider iion OF their
ability aud influence As parlizsns TO sup.
port the Administration and ITS friends
We have seen officers OF Government
|eon'ribuiing rlteable proportions Of their
salaries TO fund to be employed IN in6u.
encinZ popular elections thus corrupting
the Government IN it. very sources. and
depravinR public morals; and though The
facts have been pf jYed 10 the Admlnis,ra.
iion and 10 the world. yet, by the wilful
hegiect OF the Executive 10 remove those
officers from place, they have been coun.
ienanced ADD encouraged IN their cIini.
nal practices. we have seen men reject.
ed or discarded By the people. iron pub
lie trusts sought AZ their hands. immedi.
aiely Unidentified by the Executive for
Their disappointment, by offices conferred
on them. Of honor. trust and emolnmeht
We have seen the Executive patronage
enisfged and extended by such an ex.
irayaEant add Vasiefal expenditure o. no
man had imagined the possibility Of: and
by the corrupt and oonupiing influence Of
that patronage. We nov 6Rd the Execu.
hye exalted above the LegiSlsinfe al
the powers Of gov6EEmcnt. 10 sGsSi. Con
cerirsiet IN fhe Pfcudsbt and the iusi
powers ~ Congress --Of The represents.
iites ~ ibe people. and especially of ihe
representative % the aics.-feduced 10
insigni6cauce ADD contempt.
We have seen the Executive Veto. de-.
signed BY the Copsihofion only e. cheek
upon hasiy and untdvisod Lesisliiion q
Congfrss exercised on 90 many occa.
sions and maso many forms. ~ would
have shaken . British Monsteh from be-
throne 90 exercised, that u hss ceased
20 Be passive. add has become an aciise
LsgIslaiige power. 90 exercised ihsi u
Nnn kmrrrrn q 80 $1,000 cd rums-