Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-09-12
SOUND AND EXCELLENT sENTr-
MENTo

uacrd 20 an address rrcently delivered a. Taun-
ton. IN Massachusetts, by Jonathan Chapman,
ESQ. Boston, and afer its perusal, re could nos
refrain from making the following extract, which
contains some OF the most sound and excellent
sentiments conveyed in ehasie and nervous Lam
guagc that We have ever read. We ask intelli-
gent mea Of all parties 10 read Il, aud answer
eandidly II there is not t,,iA stamped upon every
line Of Il, and If "nOlsrn patent, Democracy. {"
10 not, in reality. rs here represented-eSpeci-
ally that species Of "aodcra Democracy" which
rests on the Pernieious animOaly OF the ''poor
against the rieh."-.iLr. Gazette
OF ell the words that have 4 charm for
American ears, and Justly so in its true
sense-,hai Of Democracy" is the most
potent. To this title. Of course. they
voeiferously lay claim. Yes, fellow ci,i.
zens. Il Is = startling fact, that all the
perversions OF your government. and all
the disasters 10 your interests. have been
commenced, continued aud are still sup.
ported by the foulest abuse OF that very
name. which was the proudest and mos,
cherished title Of the founders Of the Co
vernment. What is true democracy p
Its real meaning. A. we have seen, is a
government OF the people. Where the
sober sense and virtuous principles Of the
people. are alone appealed to. aud reign.
there alone, IS democracy. ARd who Il
true democratic He who knows no
motive IN himself, and would inspire none
IN others, but sober sense and virtuous
principle. He who would sooner die.
than stain or Sound that fair form Of free.
dom that can live only in the pure air
OF honesty and truth. Thi, is the stand.
ard which the past has furnished. How
compares with il the modern democracy
FIRST. that which is employed to get
othes. aud then that which is used to
keep IT. for you will find the two to be
very different things:
In republican government. the hon.
est. the industrious. the orderly. the only
true republicans, are The appropriate guar
dams, and should al the offices OF the
State. But in such a government, these
very persons are the most likely 10 accu-
mulste property. not in large overgrown
masses. but sufficient for decent and
respectable livelihood. II is accordingly
amongst this class OF individuals. the
middling interest.-that the great bulk Of
The overgrown capitalists, the men Of a
million. are rare, extremely rare. II is
the middling interest, who own the pro-
perry. aud who. not because they own the
property merely. but from their plumbers
&aporopriaie character. should bee ntrusted
With the control OF government. True
democracy invites them to this trust
looks to them for support, protects their
honest esrnings, and hlesses their exer-
tons. II Is against these, therefore, that
the reckless politician and the selfish de-
msgogue must prevail, il they would eff
feet their unholy purposes. And how?
There has come down from the old
world with its thrones and nobility. an
association Of wealth with oppression,
true enough. where every institution was
designed to con6ne wealth 10 the few.
but wholly inapplicable. where the whole
theory and practice Of government dis
tributes !. amongst the many. But il is
convenient instrument. II is Just the
thing to excite prejudice against their ma
turL foes, and there fore the ambitious as
pirants, wrapping themselves in the stolen
garments OF democracy, proclaim a cru
sade OF the poor against the rich II is a
miserable trick. base fraud. Had no,
ate consequences been 50 disastrous. we
could but smile at the shallowness Of the
Pretence. THE poor" would they who
Incite the ouicry. in their comfortable
mansions. and with their easy incomes.
be deemed poor. in anything but prinei-
pie; and is the poverty Of Their followers.
Itihey be poor, anything but voluntary.
m land like this Against the rich j.
why, the more than moderately rich
IN this country. might be surrounded by a
sergeanrs guard. And the few that are
scattered here and there. so far from ex.
eriIng formidable influence. are rather.
liable TO eensure. FOR the little interest
they take 10 public affairs. And even
should they rouse themselves, and gather
their forces. with a view Of subiec,io0
liberty to wealth. their scheme would be
about as chimerical as that Of the ind,yi.
dual who undertook, unaided to surround
numerous army.
Bot 1t Is not against these, that the plot
Is really laid, nor alas to them alone. or
ch'eiesi. that injustice is done. By
means OF this hue and erv against the
dangers from wealth. in this country. a
GLOW Is Intended, and 10 fact, is inflicted
upon The industrious mechanic, the hard
working yeoman. the Ingenious msnufac.
IuFer und the enterprsing merchant
These are the real objects Of attack. -
he Tact that They are the chief owners
OF TIE property OF the country, is seized
upon as the vulnerable point. And il is
10 wousd them 10 that point. and thereby
neuiral'ze add destroy their political in
huenee, that the selfish and intriguing
Get oa foot the ancient. yet captivating
war cry Of the poor against the rich
he poor against the rich I would that
TIE shallowness Of this preience, and yet
ihe a,rocious injustice Of its effects might
be fully UNDERWOOD. cali, not upon
the rich TO rise in self defencs, but upon
the middling interest Of the country, a.
giinss whom the CRY i, really directed. 10