The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-18
GREAT WING CONVENTION OF ALA
BAMA, AND IMMENSE GATHERING

/ DANA, AMI >~<A ANA~A~~+'N
OF THE PEOPLE!
In describing ordinary occasions, the mind
feels at no loss for ideas and language TO afford
Others a lust conception Of what has taken place;
but when we attempt TO speak OF the great and
splendid triumph Of Reform witnessed IN the
late Wing Convention of Alabama, we are awed
| into silence by the overwhelming and resolute
action of the People, who have advanced as il
by one general impulse to the rescue OF their be-
loved country. Nothing but the spirit OF 76,
which animated the patriots Of that day spirit
determined to cast of tyranny; TO overthrow
corruption. and to restore the institutions OF the
country 10 their legitimate sphere OF action
nothing but such spirit would have brought
together at the Capitol OF State, hitherto fet-
| tered by the party in power, so vast an assem-
blage OF the freemen Of Alabama, as met in the
late Wing Convention. Thousands OF them,
actuated by common purpose, and by the
purest zeal to save the country from ruin, quit
their employments at an important season OF
the year, their farms, their workshops, their
stores their professional business and their dife-
rent vocatons, TO mite in consultation on the
great and absorbing questions which so power
fully agtate the public mind from the centre to
the circumference of this Union.
| Under such circumstances and for such OBJ
jects did the enlightened and patriotic freemen
Of Alabama, moving in heavy and gallant pha-
lanx in the cause Of reform, meet in their high
sovereign character in convention, to testify TO
their fellow citizens Of other States that the
days of political vassalage past, and that the
Constitution, honor and happiness of their com
mon country are paramount to all other conside-
rations.
/ Monday last was decidedly the greatest day
ever witnessed in Alabama; on that day the un-
conquered and invincible spirit of freemen, just
ly estimating their rights and the institutions
under which they live, burst forth into glorious
blaze, which will Re felt, not only in our State,
but will have salutary redeeming effect on pub
| lie opinion abroad. Alabama, party-ridden and
suffering Alabama, has cast off the shackles
which she has so long wore in silence, and
henceforlh she will stand before the world, re-
generated from her political bondage, and olsen
thraled from the manacles of party. She has
come up in the majesty of her sons and pro-
claimed steady, bold and constant warfare
against the enemies Of her prosperity and that of
the whole Union. Alabama has spoken in a
voice which will be heard from her northern hills
to her own seaboard from her western extre-
nifty to her eastern limits. The harmony, pa
| triotism and firmness exhibited in the great
Wing Convention just held in this city; the
confident hope, the renewed energies and the
flood of light which emanated from this large
gathering Of the people themselves, over the
whole State will prove the last blow of the Sub
Treasury and Army plans of Mr.. Van Buren,, so
far as he may take warning by the sentiments of
Alabama
The procession of delegates and citizens on
Monday last, extending about quarter of mile
in sections of four, while the star-spangled ban
ner and the waving flag foated proudly over
them, accompanied by numerous banners and
emblems which graced the occasion and added
to its interest-headed by well disciplined bands
OF music, playing the national airs under the in
spring sound Of which the armies of our coun-
try have so often been led to victory, and that
too by the brave and successful commander and
eminent civilian, Gen. Harrison, to whom the
eyes Of the American people are now turned for
the deliverance of their country; when we recall
to mind that three to four thousand freemen of
Alabama assembled in one vast concourse, and
for one common object, the salvation of their
liberties and their institutious-we can compare
the grandeur and majesty Of the scene to no.
thing so aptly as the pillows of the ocean
wrought into mountain waves by the fury of the
tempest.
Our opponents may rely upon it, the world
may hail il with joy, there is spirit moving the
| freemen of Alabama 10 resist aggression, that
will never falter until the work Of reform for
| which they so ardently contend shall be accom-
| plished A blow mighty and decisive, dealt out
| by the spontaneous will and strength Of the peo-
| pie, has been given, which strikes dismay and
CONSERVATION into the ranks OF our political ad-
versaries The elements are in motion, and
they will continue to send forth heat and energy
until the Government is redeemed from corrup-
ton, and the true doctrine and practice which
can alone sustain it and make it blessing to
the people, shall again prevail in its Administra-
| ton.
OF the Convention, the official report of its
proceedings which we publish to day, will pre-
sent names which would do honor to any State
or country. We shall not at the present time
enlarge upon the talents which shed a brilliant
lustre over the deliberations of that body. All
that we shall now add is, that a strong, united,
and patriotic spirit, joined with the utmost har-
mony, pre-eminently distinguished the occasion
and the delegates assembled 1t was an event
which will be long and favorably remembered in
Alabama as connected with the vital welfare
and happiness of our republic.
GREAT MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA.