Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-10-07
BUNKER HILL DECLAR-
ALTON.
September 10, 1910.

aye, requires tnaL Lney SnOuld clearly I
set forth the grave causes which have
brought them together, and the purpo- T.
ses which they seek to promote.
Feeling the force of this obligation,
more than fifty thousand of the free |
electors of the New England States, |
honored also by the presence of like |
free electors from nearly every other
State in the Union, having assembled
on Bunker Hill, on this 10th day of
September, 1910, proceed to set forth
a DECLARATION of their princi-
Piles, and of the occasion and objects
of their meeting.
In the first place we declare our un-
alterable attachment to that Public
Liberty, the purchase ofso much blood
and treasure, in the acquisition ofwhich
the field wherein we stand obtained
early and imperishable renown. Bun
ker Hill is not spot on which we
shall forgetthe princi pies of our Faith
ers, orsnffer any thing to quench with
in our own bosoms the low offreedom
which we have inherited from them.
In the next place, we declare our
warm and hearty devotion to the Con-
stitution of the country, and to that
Union of the States which it has hap
PLY cemented, and so long and so
prosperously preserved. We call
ourselves by no local names, we rec
ognize no geographical divisions, while
we give utterance TO our sentiments on
high constitutional and political sub
iects. We are American citizens of
the United States, knowing no other
country, and desiring to be distinguish
ed by no other appellation. We be-
lieve the Constitution, while admins
tered wisely and in its proper spirit,to
be capable Of protecting all parts of
the country, securing all interests, per-
petuating a national brotherhood "a
mong all the States. We believe that
to foment local jealousies, to attempt
to prove the existence of opposite in
terests between one part Of the coun-
try and another, and thus disseminate
feeling of distrust, and alienation,
while it is in contemptuous 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 Above of power reckless
of the means eff its qualification, exhibit
their unsubdued and burning desire.
We believe, TOO, that party spirit
however natural or unavoidable iImay
be in free Republics, yet when it gain:
: such an ascendancy in mems minds
as leads them to substitute party fol
country, tokeek no ends but party ends
no appreciation but party appreciation
! : and to fear no reproach or contumely
= so that there be no party dissatisfaction
> not only alloys the true enjoyments o
such institutions, but weakens, ever.
Il day, the foundations on which the,
stand.
We are in favor Of the liberty O
speech and of the press 1--WE are friend
/ to free discussion we espouse tn
!. cause Of popular education we believ
s. in mans capacity of selfgovernment
we desire to see the freest and wide;
;, dissemination of knowledge, and {
truth and we believe, especially,
n the benign influence of religious fee
- ing, and moral instruction, on the Sc
:, cial as well as on the individual happ
" ness of man.
: Holding these general sentimen
or acd opinions, we have come togeth'
: to declare that, under the present &C
A ministration of the General Cover
= ment, course of measures has bee
IT adopted and pursued, in our judg
" ments, disastrous to the best intere
of the country, threatening the acc
- mutation of still greater evils, utter
~ hostile to the true spnit of the Cons
~ tuition and to the principles of eli
bo liberty, and calling upon all men
f honest purpose, disinterested patric
ism, and unbiased intelligence, to P
forth their utmost constitutional effol
in order to effect change.
80 Gen. Andrew Jackson was elect
-. President Of the United States, a
- took the oaths and his seat on the 4
,bt of March, 1929, and we readily adr
nd that under his administration, certs
use portions Of the public affairs were &C
are Quoted with ability. But we have
lament that he was not proof agall
the institutions and influences of e
councillors, or perhaps against his o
passions, when moved and excited.
Hence, in one most important bran
Gus, Of the public interest, in that essen
part of commercial regulation VIII
respects the money, the currency.
)" circulation, and the internal exchan
J" ofthe country, accidental occurrenc
acting on his characteristic love OF RI
s. and uneasiness under opposition,
him to departfrom all that was expt
:. ed from him, TO enter upon mt
'O's' ures, which plunged both him and
the country in greater and greater diffi'
is: ties atevery step, so that, in this resp
0sl1s' his whole course of administration