The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-10-03
ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE or GEORGN.


at dinner TO- be given to our Senators
and three Of our Representative in Con-
gres<, on the % of september, am de-
Iainrd here by painful disorder, incoin-
,n:ible with The prosecution Of my 'lr-
ncy. In my own Judgment, the detention
is Of no importance except TO myself, as /
cannu, presume that my presence or ab-
sencc will in the gh!esl degree affect The
opinions and actions Of any Of The per-
sous who may compose that asscnlb!agc.
Iregrctil, nevertheless, as am deprived
Of an opportunity to meet valued friends,
and I'm unable 10 do that which others for
whom entertain strong affection, aud
whose prudence and good sense give
weight tosstheir recommendations have
thought would be useful. in the present
agilaled state Of our country.
Ihave seen nothing to shake my conf
deEcc in the power of truth; nothing to
make ME doabl the fu;li:y Of all attempts
to delude the people by ingenious cquivo-
cations, artful exaggcralions, clustering
pretentions, or open falsehoods. When
the spirit Of inquiry is awakened, the
people are not to be turned from the Pur-
sui, Of facts BY professions and parades,
by travelling orators and ballad singers,
by fddlings and revelIies. careful in
vestigation Of those facts, and calm re-
Election upon them at home, give to the
humblcst ci,izcus the power 10 decide
wisely in whose hands the Cl.ef Masis
tracy Of the nation can be safely intrusted
for the preservation of eternal peace, and
perpetuaion Of those domestic inslitu-
lions with which eparably connected
the harmony Of tho Union, and prosperi
~, national and individual. These will
lie used, and being used, the result will
he right. If it were necessary or proper,
/ could bear my humble testimony to the
fidelity with which the declared opinions.
of the present incumbent have been acted
upon. Necessary it is not. since the chief
ground Of objection to him is, that he has
performed his engagements, and "io-
lowed in the footsteps Of his predecessor"
Proper it will not be considered, rs have
been intimately associated with his ad
,ninis,.ation, and identified in feeling and
Judgment with the great measures Of its
fiscal and foreign policy, and would be
looked upon as d volunteer and interested
witness. Instead therefore, Of speaking
what know and believe to be just Of Mr..
Van Buren, and Of General Harrison, |
will use the right of every member of the
community, to refer 10 things Of common
notoriety. which will aid ny fellow citizens
in Georgia in discovering TO which of
these persons they may safely confide the
Executive power, as It may influence or
control the great questions
Of q protective tariff;
OF Internal improvements;
or appropriation and expenditure;
OF the mode Of keeping and disburs;ng
the public funds;
OF slavery, as it exists from the nor
thern Confines Of Maryland to the Sabine
d7Rcd ri, crs..
{Qacslions OF foreign policy are omit
ted. for, strange to ~, they are not topics
in the Presidential canvass, and on that
subject the advocates of universal reform
intend to make no change.)
On these questions the opinions of Mr..
Van Burcn ard General Harrison have
been in various forms and ut different pc
rlOQS aSkcQ 1Or- "nat Ltnelr l2HSWcrS
were, at what time and in what manner
given, are we'll known facts. My fellow :
citizens can readily decide, with these facts
in view, which Of these gentlemen agrees
with them on these important ana vital
subjects. BY comparing the explicit, frank,
psompt, public, aud uniform communica-
lions of Mr.. Van Buren, given with like
readiness to friend or foe, with the reluc-
tant, equivocal, and not unfrequently con-
Trajectory, g;vings out, of Gen. Harrison
sometimes by'reference 10 former dccla-
rations, sometimes by letters from friends
and friendly committees, again by speeches
at arranged meetings, and then by private
letters for use but not publication-they
can. without difficulty, determine which
ofthem deserves their confidence. Should
any doubt remain, after this comparison,
there are two other facts not unworthy to
he remembered in forming correct judy
mcnt: Mr.. Van Buren has imputed TO Him
by his advocates every where, the same
opinions and The same principles; the opin.
ions and principles imputed to Gen. liar
rison by his friends anh supporters are
variaLt and contrasted-cliamelco like,
they take their hues from the objects upon
which they rest, while You are cllledupon
ID cxaminn them, and show a color to
sl1it the region where they are presented