Southern shield., 1840-07-31

n es us That power is ever sttalit from t the many to the few" that the lirty of : the people can only be maintaigcby in. |. cessant vigilance, and that their ertjes : are ever most in danger rom k,ilent
 and stealthy approaches O the { ,tive
 power fM r Whereas, We regard the diy and f distribution of the powers of go,ipnnent j, among several indepehdea, and ceItti ate } departments as furnishing the md
 firmest security for the preserva'iE ofcur Irepublican institutions and that v'aN.ard
 every encroachment of one departHnt up-
 on the legitimate and peculiar poversof the
 other as direct attack upon the yitl prin- ciple of the Constitution.
 And Whereas, The history oi thecouh.
 try for the last twelve years showsnder
 the past and present AdministrationhereI
 has been most alarming expansionf the
 Executive power, threatening the irrpen-
 dent existence of the coordinate tpart
 ments. To this dangerous and uncostitu.
 tional influence acquired by the Exeltive we may Tn a great measure tracehose levlls which have so sorely affllctt the
 country. It was Executive legistionI which overthrow that financial systenlongI tried and approved by the wisest an pur. est Statesmen of the country A sstem under whose auspices all the greatnter- ests of the country enjoyed such uIiorm
 and unexampled prosperity It ps the
 same power which took the lead anopro Jected that series of projects and eneri- ments which has destroyed our cunncy. deranged our exchanges, and inflicted uch
 wide spread and disastrous mischie ,non the country. To strengthen and conoli- date this power, and to extend more wde- ly, the circle of its influence, we have seen this Administration in direct violation of the pledge made by the great party chief acting upon the principle that the off,es & patronage of the government. and thespoils which rightfully belongs to the victor party, to be used in rewarding friends and pun lshng enemies, and thus to influence the elections of the country A principle di- rectly at war with the principles of Jeffer- son and Madison, and repugnant to the spirit and genius of our free institutions.
 And Whereas We believe that the period has at length arrived when it becomes the duty of the people if they would preserve our republican institutions, and perpetuate them to those who are to come after HIS as we have receirna - - s.ll.eIy interposidon to reform the extra vagances and abuses which have charac- erized this Administration, and arrest be- fore 1t ripens into fearful precedent this alarming increase of Executive power Therefore
 
 Resotred, That in the opinion of this Meeting it is only by the overflow of this Administration, that we can hope to see the 5rasping power of the Executive restrained within it's legitimate limits and the constitu- tional balance of the government restored That 1t IS only by these means we can re- store sound and uniform currency to the correct and equalize the exchan ges, revive credit and confidence arrest the influences which fow from the abuse of Executive patronage, and prevent hose frequent frauds and peculations upon he treasury which have occurred under he present Administration
 Resotrcd, That we cordially approve the nomination made by the Harrisburg Con- vention of General William Henry Harri- son, of Ohio, and John Tyler. of Virginia, IS candidates for the Presidency and Vice of the United States, and that n the purity of character. dcvotedness of patriotism, and long tried public services of hose distinguished gentlemen, we have a sure guarantee that they will be true to the People,, and faithfully execute the high rust which may be committed to their lands
 ResoLred, That We cordially approve the heretofore of Absaiom Fowler, IS the Whig candidate for Congress, and 0 secure his election.
 When the foregoing preamble and res utions were submitted, Mr. Cooke, being oudly called for, came upon the speakers stand, and responded to the call of the Convention for about an hour in his usual eloquent and impressive style of cratory He was followed by Mr. Pike in an able md argumentative speech, repelhng, by he testimony of his opponents, even the islanders which are daily circulated against Sen. Harrison and showing, by facts and igures, the manner in which the people of his coufitry have been deluded and impos- ,d upon by the party in power Messrs Owens, and TrimbIe, also at his time, severalIy addressed the Conven- ion, each animated into display of his va jed powers of oratory, by the enthusiastic cheering of the multitude, and the smiles of he fair by whom they were surrounded. The speech of the first marked by it's pi- luancy and humor.
 MT. McPherson of Phillips, then rose md offered the following preamble and resolutions:
 Whereas, the Convention of the New States to assemble in Nashville, on the sd Monday i1i August next, as proposed