Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-07-23
To The Peoplc of PenlLeton.

To the People Of Pendietoa.
FELLOW CITIZENS One who has known
you, and loved you for your singlencss of
heart, your plain but free and generous hos
pitality, your genuine democracy-one who
was himself born in humble poverty, and
taught in early childhood to hate the lordIy
aristocrat, who brushes the poor, whether he
wears the fawning smrk of Il canvass, or the
tyrant power of gotten otlicc-one who still
looks to the people for all Of honesty and pu-
rity that is left to our beloved country-res-
pectfully but earnestly solicits your attention
your sober and unbiased attention, on the
great question of the coming presidential G.
lection. Are we not all citizens of the same
great community-children ofthc same fami-
ly-brethren embarked in the same ship, hav-
ing the same interests-our wives, our chill
dren, ourselves, dependent on the purity and
permanency of our excellent institutions for
all that we hold dear ! BY what trick and
device of power is it then, that we are called
upon to distrust one another? Why may we
not reason together as partners in the same
great firm, on the subjects of our common in
terest, and with all the confiding friendship of
brothers Rely upon it, fellow citizens, he
IS an enemy of Liberty-a dark plotter a.
gainst our rights, who calls on the PEG
pie to fear and distrust each other-who
u
the men in Office, but to watch and distrust
themselves. Pure and virtuous officers con-
slider themselves servants of the people, and
love TO be watched-they know that they are
honest and are willing that their whole con-
duct should be before the world. But s'tis
a fearful sign of the times, when the gov-
eminent party call upon the people to distrust
one another-and to believe that their near
est neighbors and friends, whom they have
always known to be honest in every thing
else, are yet wilfully false and corrupt in pol
tiles; and that they, who have no interest
but to preserve the integrity Of the govern
ment as shield of protection to their chill
dren and to themselves, desire to overthrow it
by false clamor. This is all wrong-it ar
CUES the corruption of the times, and the ten
dency OF the government to monarchicaI
principles.
The true democratic doctrine is, that the
mass of the people, of whatever party, are
honest, because it is their interest to be So
because the continuance of pure and repub-
iican form OF government, is the continuance
OF freedom and protection to them-while
the tendency OF every government, however
pure at hrst, is to corruption; for the plain
and natural reason, that it is the interest of
those in power to enlarge and perpetuate that
power. Watch your government officers then,
as youiove 1iberty-and as you desire to hand
wnitsinestimable blessings to your children.
And always remember that your brethren.
your neighbors, who have the same interest
with yourselves, may be in error, but that it
is against reason to suppose them dishonest,
unless they happen to be officeholders, or
seekers after office.
There is another alarming political heresy
OF the present day, which is, that the friends
OF those In power are all honest, while the
opponents Of the Administration are selfish
throng, only DESTROYS of getting into power.
Common sense would teach us that the selfish, |
and those DESTROYS of power, would cluster a.
round the throne of power-woud adhere to |
the government party as the dispensers of Of |
flce. All history teaches us the same lesson.
But common sense and history are now to be
iisregarded, and the people are called on to
believe that those are seeking corruptly the
spoils OF Office, who oppose with all their
might that power, which alone dspenses Of
tice; while those who fiatter and carcss the
PRESIDENT holding world of patronage in his
bands, are the only pure and upright patriots
the only friends OF popular rights. | en-
treat you, fellow ciilzens,to pause and reflect
upon the dangerous tendency of such creed
An ambitious ruler could desire no surer
stepping stone to absolute power, than this
"a corrupt government 10 better security a.
gdinst popular enquiry. Let such a ruler
succeed in persuading the people TO trust him
entirely, and expend all their vigilance and
distTust on his opponent, and liberty is gone.
do not pretend to say that honesty is the
exclusive property of either party, and have
no doubt there are corrupt men in both. But
his is manifest, that people will better con-
'ult their interest, by too little, than by too
much trust in the officers Of government. and
hat it is much safer to repose too much than
DO little confidence, in the charges of the op
'osision. The motto Of true republicanism
s, that ''eternal vigilance is the price Of lib
rty." Did you ever know one to flourish in
nsiness, who left it entirely to the manage
'ent'of otbers--refusing when charge of |
dishonesty, idleness or profigacy, was made {
sspet those in his employ, even to 90 TO mis- ,