Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-02-27

opinions by their conduct. But as have no
reason to dread the most minute investigation
Of my opinions, and that my fellow citizens
may be enabled to compare my actions with
my professions, offer you the following out
line Of my political creed, which you may
publish il you think it worthy of place in
your paper. This measure is the more neces-
sary at this time, as some OF my ne,o friends
have very kindly, in various handbills and O.
Their anonymous publications, undertaken to
make one for me, which Gf l have a correct
knowledge of what l myself believe) is not u
very exact likeness of that which profess.
deem myself Republican of what is com
monty called the old Jeffersonian School, and
believe Ill the correctness of that interpreta-
ton of the Constitution which has been CIV
EN- by the writings of that enlightened states
man, who was at the head of the party and
others belonging to 1t, particularly the cele-
brated resolutions of the Virginia Legislature
during the Presidency of Mr.. Adams.
l deny, therefore, to the General Govern
Inept the exercise of any power but what is
expressly given to itby the Constitution, or
what is essentially necessary to carry the pow
ers expressly given into effect.
| believe that the charter given to the Bank
of the United States, was unconstitutional
IT being not one OF those measures necessary
to carry any of the expressly granted pow
ers into effect; and whilst my votes i'm Con-
gress will show that will take any consti-
tutional means to revoke the charter, my votes
in the State Legislature will equally show
! that am opposed to those which are uncon-
stitutional or violent, and which will bring us
into collision with the General Government.
believe in the tendency of large public
debt to sap the foundations of the Constitu-
ton by creating monied aristocracy, whose
views and interests must be i'm direct hostility
to those of the mass of the people.
deem 1t the duty, therefore, of the repre-
sentative of the people to epdeavor to extin-
guish 1t as soon as possible, by making every
retrenchment i'll the expenditures of the Gov
ernment that proper performance of the pub
lie business will allow.
believe In the right of the people to in
struct their representative when elected; and
If he has sufficient evidence that the instruc-
tons which may be given him come from a
majority oil his constituents, that he is bound
! to obey them, unless he considers that by do
Ing 1t he would violate the Constitution, in
/ which easel think it would be his duty to re-
sign and give them an opportunity of elect
Ing another Representative, whose opinions
would accord with their own.
lbeileve that the existence of slavery i'm our
country Is the greatest evil that we at present
lie under /; and believe it to be the duty of
the non-slaveholding States to offer to their
sister States every inducement, and afford
them every facility to get rid of this CURSE
But am equally convinced that, upon Con-
sf'fufional grounds, as well as those of cape
diency and Prorriety, all the measures for the
accomplishment of the important object of e.
Emancipation, must be begun and supporied Jv
tie STATES holding tie SHARES; tile Gonsiitltion
haring giuen no Po,cer to interfere in this do
1neSfic concern lUfthOut tie consent of those most
interested; and every step which we may take
without their concurrence. will assuredly RI
vet the chains which we wish to break.
believe that upon the preservation of the
union of the States, depends the existence of
our civil and religious liberties and that the
cement which binds it together is not a
parcel of words written upon paper or parch-
ment, but the brotherly love and regard which
the citizens of the several States possess for
each other. Destroy this, and the beautiful
fabric which was reared and embellished by
our ancestors crumbles into ruins. From its
disJolnted parts no temple ofliberty will again
be reared. Discord and wars will succeed to
peace and harmony-barbarism will again o.
verspread the land; or what is scarcely bet
ter, some kindly tyrant will promulgate the
DEGREES OF his will from the seat where a
Washington and Jefferson dispensed the
blessings OF free and equal government.
believe 1t, therefore, to be the duty of Repre-
sentative, to conciliate, by every possible
means, the members of our great political
family; and always to bear in mind that as the
union was affected only by spirit of mutual
concession and foEbearance, only can it be
preserved. WIN. ii. HARRISON.
;, VIRGINIA EeUIS1afuro