Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-04-23
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% rhsn<,ay ftodry) yca viii Be ealird o.
rs frcemen Of Virginia, In he discharge Of your
elective privilege, 10 east yoer voses apohi The
aide Of liberty, oraer. and iusi regard Tor the
laws Of yoar couatry. against oppps<;on, mis-
rule. and Executive usarpation.
10 has bern truly remsskcd. that ve are IN The
midst Of Ieyola,ien. New doctrines are promal-
ga,ed-aev measarrs are deviscd--aew prinei-
pies are created and established -partrs are
changing, and mea change with thrm. M Goa
siiiu,ien Of your coun,ry-Ihe admiration Of the
worid-framed by Thai great and glosiou. basd
Of sierra rePablicass. Who sent IL forth a. the
guardian angel Of the peoples rights. as the
compact that bound the body add sosl of repub-
lieanism together, has, In this age Of reform.
been disregafded, miscoas,rued. perverted, and
mangled. BY PaI,ixsn rulers for party purposes
under the speeious garb Of Dtmocraey.-Demo-
crazy, that word which once beat hixA in the
pulse Of every American Freeman, and brought.
BY i,s magic sound, the old and the young from
hill and dale, TO do battle for ,heir rirh,s. ha,
been made the veil TO orershadow and conceal
the corruption aud abuses Of our rulers.
| time has nov arrived in our affairs which
will bring either ruin and desolation over the
face Of thisfair land and riyei the chains Of or
preston around the bleeding altar OF our eeun-
try's liberty, OF raise triumphant that republican
standard Of Constitutional Libe,ty and Rirki now
iramPled in the dust by the iron heel of power,
We have all witnessed the scenes Of corrup-
ton passing hefore US Of late wears. the enor.
u,oas Sirides Of Executive pover-the total dis
regard by the representatives of the people Of
their rights, Of justice, and the laws; the COM
Pieie prostitution Of industry and eneryy in every
portion of this widely extended countIy-airan.i-
ton from general prosperity 20 almost tabsolu,e
ruin. These, feIlow-ci,izcns, are the cause,
which call for rcfom--which carries IN the
prayer Of the hard working men TO the genius
OF Liberty 10 Undue our rulers with thai shirt
Of holy patriotism bequeaihed 10 ms by the blood
OF our forcfalhers, and to avert The weight Of
that yoke now about 10 be fastened on Us. Our
rulers are corrupt, and only by reform of them
VIII come change Of times-the grand system
OF rotation IN Office, the great leading principle
OF this PurSiy drmoeraiie administration Ihas not
beer carried into effect, bat the ruling principle
nov IS, to the " vieiOrs belong the spoils"-Ihe
ofheers OF the government distributed not TO the
worthy, but dispensed broadcast 10 sycophants
and parasites a. the Just reward Of the faithful.
1
eat, with the SyFeA song Of Democracy ever upon
their lips, are found the advocates Of Executive
Constellation and rank ultra Federalism.
Twelve years ago, Gen. jackson took upon
himself the management Of our Affairs, With the
popular pledge Of economy and reform; Just re-
gard for the hard earnings of the peoples toll /;
bat let me ask you, :ellow-freeulen, how far
that pledge has beea redeemed up to this day
Has IL been in a reduced and economical admin
tstTation Of our afairsl in an improved eurren-
cy Of gold and silver' in proper and Just dis
iribution OF the surplus revenuei In a proper
regard for the obligations Of the General Go
vernmeni to the States in paying his surplus
Has il been in the prosperity and advancement,
OF all the different avenues Of trade ami CON-
merce has 1t been in the promotion Of one sim
gle nc; tending 10 the general happiness Of the
people themselyesi Or has il been in the re-
trenchmenl Of out government expenditures from
ID millions up 70 30 millions in an expenditure
IN years Of Adams administration Of so mil
hons, 10 an expenditure in years Of NJ. Van
BuTen's administration OF III millions, in a
currency utterly wOrhless-a disgraeed and dis
honored eredii-in a corrupt and fiagitous dis
regard Of the moral obligations Of our laws-in
'rammelled and broken eommerce-in q sus-
pension and reduction Of wages in the mechanic
aris-and in the genera, distress and embarrass-
meni that now oveThangs and pervades all classe.
OF society," These are facts. This is no exag.
geraied picture Of our country at this day. Il i,
the sad reality. And nov call upon YOU. n,
the advocates Of free republican righls-of a
free representative government, Of the reople
themselves, 10 know how long you. as intelligent
freemen, are willing to submit TO such state OF
thingsl Look around you once more aud sec
what Is the history Of this administration. Is no,
the whole power and patronage Of this govern
meni concentrated and welded TO maintaia the
fabric now iotieTing With corruption 10 lie base
Is nOa the money drawn from your pockets BY
taxation for support Of the government, brought
70 hear against your Yea, il is openly claimed
a. right that your federal officers may inter
fcre With and control the freedom OF election, Il
they eAh'
Twas but recently you have seen the disfran-
ehisement Of a sovereign State by the most con.
iemPtuous disregard of Law and digniiy--b by the
most daring act OF party power, TO destroy the
Constitutional right ofrepresentaiion a free rrpub-
liean government has ever known the broad seal
OF New jersey iTampled in the dust and the repre-.
seh'aIiyes Of free people excluded, derided, and
laughed at, BY an unorganized aud improper
lTibnnal.
And nov, with all the proud ambition Of a
Cesar, you zee your Deaeeraiie President grave.
~ recommending for the consideration Of an
American Congress the establishment of stand
ing army, a national guard OF 100, 900 men, re-.
EularlY enrolled, equipped and supported BY the
government, with All the rules and regulations
of the regular army, and placed entirely at his
disposal. 20 do hiss bidding.
Fellow-fTeeinen Of Virginia, are you prepar-
ed for a state Of servinde' Let me enireat you
70 stand boldly forth before Il he too late, aud
secuTe % yourselves your rights and your liber-
ties--lcaIn the PTeiensioas and claims o. your
candidates for popular favor. and watch vah
p isslous eye ,he exercise Of hose povers you
may have isvsstsd them siih-rai,c the stand.
ard Of HARRISON and REFORM. a pure and
lstefn FePablican--a man with every quality Of
goodness and every requisite q efratness--to