The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-05


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R. KENDALL'S ADDRESS
he People CT the United States
country presents new spectacle for the
hpIation of mankind.
andidalc for The Presidency is asking the sufl:-
of our people, and at the same time refuses
wer the questions they put to him for the pur-
f satisfying themselves AS 10 the principles
bicy by which he will be governed, if elected.
his own consent, a committee Is in,erp0sed
en- him and his cOun,rymen, not to uld him
ne frank replies to their reasonable inquiries,
cut OIL direct communication, and keep his
ms from the public. \ free and intelligent peo-
hose precious right is to ask and obtain the
of every man who seeks their sullragcs, upon
topi, uppertnining, TO their government, are
b told that they shall not ENJOY this right, but
axe candidate for the Presidency upon trust.
are called upon TO relax that "eternal vigil
which Is the price Of liberty" and bind
INIT themselves, il not to II "king, who can
wrong" to Chief Magistrate who assumes
iiudc of ircsponsibiIiy and surround him-
it'll ministers, even before the crown Of pow
been placed Oh his head!
candidate was nominated by a convention,
cause they considered him the abIcst of their
or at all qualified for the station, but merely
Sc he had once been Il GcHCrCI. Having
he people place the heroic Jackson in the chair
te, Notwithstanding their unceasing dcnuncia-
of ''miiary cheilains," they weakly eNpcc-
avail themselves, in their struggle for power,
sane devotion and enthusiasm, by presen-
he name of another who had worn the uni
pf hs country and attained 10 the same rank.
did not accord 10 the people sense enough TO
inmate between the weak and inefficient chief
who, allcr series of military blunders, for
,ly for his country resigned his commission in
idsi of the war, and the rcri hero who tool,
|,nd closed that war in II blaze Of glory at
Orleans,
Ter this fatal error. The conventions, Instead of
lting in an address or resolutions the prlnci-
Which would control the administration ofiheir
late ifclccted, concerted general movement
lhoul the Union to give cclut 10 their NOM
h nv simultaneous shout 10 the military glo-
which, after an oblivion Of twenty-five years,
Dw for the first time discovered to be worthy
nmcmorailon in iausis and in song, We have
ling'y seen vast asscmblugcs collected togeth-
kreni labor and cost, not 10 respond To any prin-
or listen to any argument, but to drown the
of reason in the shouts of rcyelry, and lead
e the feelings of the people in scnseIass ex-
ent. lIuzlas for the ncwIy-fond hero, AN
atoms Of lis poverty, ofhis residence in r,log-
and love ofhlrd ciler;,ho hauling ofmiialurC
,bius, aud canoes, and cider barrels, through
reefs The rolling balls, and display of banner
inmeanng notices dogscrcl rhymcsnnd vul'
ctures the drinking Of hard cider, the mum.
ofgingerbread, and initiating the cries Of blrd'
beasts, with other mummery and mochery
graceful to the country rs il il insulting 10 thl
Q, are the new modes of clcctionccring, b,
il is yainly expected TO induce the commu,
o surrender itself, like the charmed bird, tC
ws oilhe wiley serpent which stands ready Il
ar it, BY arguments like these il is expected
rsuade the lreemen of America 10 surrender
right to know the political opinions of the can.
3, aud take him, for better or for worse, gag.
MI guardei as he is.
hese means ofniluCncc are added money with
int, abuse oiollicill station and privilege with
restraint and violation of the laws without r,
the Harrison party in Congress are leagucC
her in grca, ccctioncering Association, will
Executive committee" appointing suboriinat.
Illtces throughout the Union raising money
Is of thousands 10 support presses, 10 magnify
mock hero, libel the Administration, and seat
slusion through the country practising the
mhcard of abuses, getting subscribers to .
paper under promise that they shall receive i
frank, violating the law by actually frank
and dcvoiing their money, their talents
privileges. and their time, not TO the business
islaion for which they were elected, but 10 al
|upuous and unceasng warfare upon anoiheI
tmont of the Government. The pGbllr busi-
Is delayed, the public faith violated and the
larry operations of the Government obstructed
he session Of Congress may be protracied
furnishing the influence of public station, the
les of the frank and money from the Treasury
Try on their elcctloneering operations. In somt
eleciionecring tracts lrankcd by members O
ress, weighing more than they had right IL
have been Falsely marked"pubic documents
cure their free transmission and in others, tn,
of members has been boldly FORGET VIVA
u be said of the Executive officers here If The,
to form such. a club, appoint such a commit
md resort to Such means? Would not the We.
|en who are now committing abuses and outra.
thousand times more aggravated than any
h. against the Administration. sound the tocsil
lrm upon a thousand bills, and starile the coun
it'll the threatening danger' And are this,
Iinaions less alarming, less corrupt, less dan
D., or less criminal, in one department of tn
|rmeni than in another.
bNTEMPT FOR TIE PEOPLE lies at TN
of whole scheme of clectionecfing.
be Harrison party showed this contempt in pre-
hg Z" a military chieflain - as their candidate
having for years denounced the elevation o
men ~ worse for the country than ''war, pea
&c, and famine, or any other scourge."
ey show it BY presenting sham hero to tn
Be-, and endeayoring 10 puT3uadc them that h
-cpi one.
bey show il by asking the poop TO vote for
+ei Gpd guqrded candidate, who evil ans
l. he questions of neither friends nor foes"
rey show Il by abandoning all argument, ant
hing principle out Of the contest.