Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-10-08
Political.
BUNKER HILL DECLARATION.
SEPTEMBER 10TH, 1910.

1875 ~ kElt HILL DECLARAIIO>N.
SEPTEMBER 10TH, 1910.
When men paus, from their ordinary oc-
equations, and assemble in great numbers, a
proper respect for the Judgment of the coun-
try, and of the age, require that they should
clearly set forth the grave causes which have
brought them together, and the purposes
which they seek to promote.
Feeling the force of this obligation, more
than Atty thousand of the free electors of the
New England States, honored also by the
presence of like free electors from nearly ev-
cry other State in the Union, having assem-
bled on Bunker Hill, on this 10th day of Sep
TENDER, 1910, proceeded to set forth a DEC
TAXATION of their principles, and of the
occasion and objects of their meeting.
In the first place, we declare our unaltera-
BILE attachment to that public liberty, the
purchase of SO much blood and treasure, in
the acquisition of which the field whereon
we stand obtained early and imperishable re-
nown. Bunker Hill is not the spot on which
we shall forget the principles of our Fathers,
or suffer any thing to quench within our own
bosoms the love Of freedom which we have
iaherited from them.
In the next place, we declare our warm and
hearty devotion to the Constitution of the
country, and 10 that Union of the States
which it has happily cemented, and so long
and so prosperously preserved. We call our
selves by no local names, we recognise no
geographical divisions, while we give utter
ance to our sentiments on high constitutional
and political subjects. We are Americans,
citizens of the United States, knowing no
other country, and desiring to be distinguish
ed by no other appellation. We believe the
Constitution, while administered wisely and
in its proper spirit, to be capable of protect
ing all parts of the country, securing all in
terests, perpetuating National Brotherhood
among all the States. We believe that to
foa.cnt local jealousies, to attempt to prove
the existence of opposite interests between
one part of the country and another, and thus
to disseminate feelings of distrust, and alien
alton, while tits In contcmptuous disregard
of the counsels of the great Father of his
country, is but one form, In which irregular
ambition, destitute of all true patriotism, and
a love of power, reckless Of the means Of its
qualification, exhibit their unsubdued and
burning desire.
We believe, too, that party spirit, howev-
or, natural or unavoidable it may be, in free
Republics, yet when it gains such an ascen-
dency in mems minds, as leads them to sub
stitute party for country, to seek no ends but
party ends, no appreciation but party appro-
baton, and to fear no reproach or contumely,
so that there be no party dissatisfaction, not
only alloys the true enjoyment OF such insti-
tutions, but weakens, every day, the founda-
tons on which they stand.
We are in favor of the liberty of speech and
of the press; we are friends of free discus
sion we espousc the cause Of popular cdu-
cation we believe in mems capacity for self
government we desire to see the freeest and
widest dissemination of knowledge, and of
truth and we believe. especially, in the be-
nign influence of religious feeling, and moral
instruction, on the social as well as on the
individual happiness of man.
Holding these general sentiments and o.
pinions, we have come together to declare,
that under the present administration of the
General Government, a course of measures
has been adopted and pursued, in our judg-
ments, disastrous to the best interests of the
country, threatening the accumulation of still
greater evils, utterly hostile to the true spirit
of the Constitution and to the principles of
civil liberty, and calling upon all men of no.
nest purpose, disinterested patriotism, and I'M
BIASED intelligence, to put forth their utmost
constitutional efforts in order to effect a
change.
Gen. Andrew Jackson was elected Presi-
dent of the United States, and took the oaths
and his seat, on the 18th of March, 1929; and
we readily admit, that under his administra-
ton, certain portions of the public affairs were
ment, that he was not proof against the in
situations and influences Of evil councillors,
or perhaps, against his own passions, when
moved and excited. Hence, in one most im-
portant branch of the public interest, in that
essential part of commercial regulations
which respects the money, the currency, the
circulation, and the internal exchanges of the
country, accidental occurrences, acting on his
characteristic love of rule, and uueasines:
under opposition, led him 20 depart from al
that was expected from him, and to enter up
on measures, which plunged both him and thu
country, in greater g. greater difficulties at eve
ny step, so that in this respect,his whole cours
Of administration was but series of ill-Gatet
experiments, and ofprojects, framed in dis
regard ofprudence and precedent, and burst
ing in rapid succession; the final explosion
taking place a few months after his retire
ment from office.
Gen. Jackson was not elected with any dc
sire or expectation, on the part of any of mi
supporters, that he would interfere with tn
currency of the country. We affirm this, a
the truth of history. 1t is incapable c
Tefutation or denial. 1t is as certain as tha
the American Revolution was not undertake
to destroy the rights Of property, or overtime,