Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-12-30
POLITICAL MEETING.


Al ameeting of portion of the "Democratic,
Republican, State ri ghts' Citizens Of Augusta,
pursuant to previous notice, at the Courthouse
In Staunton, on Monday the 9th day Of Decem-
Der, 1871,
On motion of Jacob Baylor, Esq. Capt. Thos.
Burke was appointed Secretary, and on motion Of
Thomas Wilson, Esq. VIM. Young, Esq. was
called to the Chair, who thereupon delivered
neat and appropriate address upon the object Of
the meeting.
u. w. Patteson, Esq. then addressed the
CHAIR, In brief but forcible manner, mainly on
the subject OF an entire reunion of the party on
Pr'nc,ph, tor the first time, since the procIama-
ton, &c. SC.
On motion Of Joseph Points, Esq. a commit
tee OF five was appointed to prepare a preamble
and resolutions expressive of the object OF the
meeting When the Chair appointed Michael
CARRIER, sen:, ID. w. Patteson, Thos. Wilson,
Jacob Baylor and David Summers, Esqrs. who
having retired to the Superior Court Office for
few minutes, returned, and M. CARRIER (their
Chairman) made the following report:
In the act of separation from the British Do
minion' Me People of the then Colonies moved
and ELECTED their object-which having accom-
pushed, they framed Government i'm eacl,
State; and these now Sovereign States, or peo-
pie thereof, severally framed for themselves ana
their posterity Federal Agency or General Gov
eminent for the convenience of all and to guar
an,ee perpetual Republican form of Govern
ment TO each.
We regard the Constitution of the United
States as the Charter ofthe Federal Government.
The States granted this charter or act OF ncorpo-
ration to the then Isl equal and coordinate part
ners, VIZ. the Legislative, Executive and Judi
cial Departments, for specified, limited, and well
defined purposes.
By the terms of this Charter all powers not
therein granted to the Federal concern are reser-
we'd to the States.-The States have, from the be-
ginning, exercised the power of granting Char
tiers, acts of incorporation, without question of
their authority and sovereign right to do so.
There being no special grant of this power in
the Constitution of the United States, it was ev-
identity intended to be withheld or ''rcserved"-
consequently, the Federal Government cannot
lawfully create Corporation Of any kind, for a
ny purpose whatsoever.
The same charter gives to Congress the power
''to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and
excises," and even ''to borrow money on the
credit of the United States"
But for what purpose? is it to distribute a
mongst those from whom it has just been impro-
pery collected2 No, but "to pay the debts, and
provide fog the the common defence, and general
welfare of the United SaicS-not of the States
separately. What then is the obvious duty of
Congress in the event of an OVERLOOKING 1reasu-
ry! evidently to remodel the system producing
such redundancy. To deplete, where depletion
can be best borne.
we seriously ueprecate, and SOlemnly protest
against the influence of party policy, where such
influence may operate against the principles of
justice or the practice of patriotism.
The powers of the United States government,
and the reserved rights Of the Sovereign States
being specifically granted or withheld, the latter
cannot curb, or the former impinge upon the lat
Ter, without usurpation III the one case and lack
of good faith in the other.
LIST. Resolved therefore, That no power hav-
ing been conferred on Congress for that or any
similar purpose-that body cannot lawfully char
ter a United States Bank.
ID. That Congress has no authority under the
Constitution of the United States to raise money
by the sale of the Public Domain or otherwise, for
The purpose of distribution among the States.
Sd. That We will support any Administration
OF the General Government which shall act upon g.
carry out, the foregoing principles; and oppose
any which will not.
4th. The, d. W. Patteson, Michael CARRIER,
Joseph Points, Geo. Baylor and II. Wilson, be,
andthey are hereby appointed for this County to
meet, and confer with our brethren OF similar sent
ments, from other Counties and portions of the
State, in Richmond, on the day of February
next, and that WIN. d. Wren, Joel Holleman,
}. g. Shi2man, Chas. Yancey and John Wool
folk, be appointed alternates to any all of said
Delegates, who may be from any cause unable
to attend.
5th. That the Editor of the Staunton Spectator
he requested TO publish these proceedings, and
other Journals dee;ning them worthy the trouble,
TO copy. Signed,
VIM. YOUNG, Chairman.
Teste, THOMAS BURKE, Secretary.