Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-30
ADDRESS OF THE GEORGIA WIG CONVENTION
TO THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA.


TO THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA.
Friends aud FsliOio Citizens:
A frequent and clear sighted recurrence to first
principles is essential, We have been taught, TO all
Tree governments. Ii is the best security against
their errors, and the surest mode Of nsceraining
their actusl condition. Comparison with the stand
ard, shows at once excess deficiency.
Our institutions, Federal and State, are based
upon the same political axiom, namely; that the
People have sufficient wisdom and virtue TO govern
themselves. Starting from this principle. il is clear
that the continuance and well>beine of our Govern
ment depend under Heaven, like our personal sue.
cess and welfare, upon our own good sense and good
condltt
I'm n can govern themselves, and can he well
governed only by political wisdom and integrity,
such things must exist or we are cheated by illu-
sions. Public virtue, indeed, has almost become n
by-word. IT'S an evil omen. To disbolieve IT, is
the very atheism Of Democracy. The frenzy Office
ticn may proclaim such inhdehty Tor season even
the non. existence of Deity was once enacted by
Revolutionary France. But the necessities OF soce-
~ must restore faith and worship.
In seeking for clear maxiras OF civil policy, TO
Guide US in the tangled and stormy way Of party
strife we have only 10 apply im7artialy TO men
and the unerring rules OF right and wrong,
making the public good our aim, and the objects
of our affect on-frst, our couniry-next. our par
y-and last Of all, ourselves. The difficulty in
reality les not so much IN distinguishing our duty,
in resisting the passions that tempt us itom ii.
Nor is the sound theory OF government more diff
cult to reach. The greatest good Of the greatest
numbe +, may be easily diseerued 10y pure and viso
rops intellect. Tie practical application OF that
theory National affairs, requires indeed the high
est sagacity, honesty, and patience, not because
8 lom is naturally harder to attain thln virtue,
but because so many evil feelings are at hand TO
cloud il.
Right and truth then directed to the common veal
must he the end and aim OF every good citizen, in
opposition to all fasehood, violence, and injustice.
And when every citizen is wise enough 10 ds,in
guish truth and right from the plausible sophisiry
of and falsehO0d sbcl
is vruous enough TO pursue them in spite OF every
danger end temptation, our Republic will be per
feet We are not creduOus enough TO believe that
that millennium is at hand. Perhaps IL Is never
destined to arrive. But only by striving after
attainAble good shall we ever npproachit. Our
bark is upon the stream Of Time, borne onward to
the gulf that has swollowel up all commonwealths.
The current Is against US, and nothing but the
manly play OF our oars will resist It, Shall we
wiring hands, fold our arms in despair because
escape beyond some centuries is doubtful, and our
ultimate fate certain Or shall we not Ia her put
forth every energy, pro'olging 10 the last our ma
tional existence, with oil It's sprt-s,rring aspirl-
lions, winning what trophies We may, and when our
destiny is fulfilled, leaving possible TO foture ages,
such lessons ard examples as Greece and Italy have
left 10 US
Our decision needs no pause. The last aterna-
uSe BELTS us best, and We have only 10 resolve on
the action Of the present moment.
II follows from premises that Right ard Truth
being the end and aim Of human association, ma
,ssats TtasUu VI their fellow cllZens,
supported by the strength Of fact and argument.
No Party daEss SRsRtx,t9 jefWesnf their theory and
practice, by imputing prior fault TO their go.
nis,s. At length then we stand upon firm ground.
The terms Of the warfare settled. We have
only TO seek its causes and history. These for the
most part have often been discussed and are luckily
well known. The field indeed is vast and the OBJ
lecis numerous But all are not principal. A birds
eye view Of the most important will suffice, and TIE
accessories may be omitted or skeched with rapid
pencil.
If ever there was q full and fair expression of
popular opinion, brought about by legitimate
means, 1t was in the Presidential election Of 1910.
The defeated have unwisely endeavored to soften
their reyerses Of fortune by impuling it to popular
delusion, and the art Of their adyersaries who as
they say, misled the people.
This subterfuge is inadmssible II mputes error
so the people, and the people being sovereign cannot
orr. 1t accuses them Of folly, and the accusation
rs Indecent With peculiarly bad grace does it
come from the consion. sycophants of the people,
whose arguments in general seek atler their worst
rnssions But in this instance, Il in any, the theory
Of the Constitution and the fac. agreed. more
ample and thorough discussion on the merits and
dement's Of parties, was never held in the presence
OF whole Nation; and to assert that the American
people did not comprehend it, were as wise as 10
maintain that Chrstendom never understood the
Dcculogue, nor the men Of '76 the Declaration OF
Independence.
Among the questions then discussed and settled
ny triumphant majority, the Limitation OF the
oil ns patronage and influence: the security Of cleo
lions against the interference OF pacemen: the lin
station Of the veto, and the distinct and signal re.
probation Of political rewards and pun,shments
distributed on the pratical maxim Of our ndver aries
That the spoisoithe vanquished belong TO the vic.
tors"
The wise and good Of our country had 'ong 70.
marked the tendency OF government TO concentrate
on the Executive. Man must have visible objects
Of affection. lie is prone to idols, and Cons,i-
sutton - too impersonal and abstract, and Con.
gress too numerous and discordant for idoatfv
The head Of the government becomes by his very
UNITY ht Object for iJolstrous devotion, and zen.
efal though depfaved inclination OF our nature = =
ats him to il. Hence hero worship, with the IN
rense offered 10 military glory, rapidly degeneratne
ino mnn-wo5hr, with tie haelulahs Of craft OF fear
AID ultimately tending to the npOthcoss Of every
finYreplle and creeping thing. that tllvish and he
nghied Egyp, ever bowed to as a God.
In 1910 tie seal Of popular reprobation wnH set |
upon oil who bore the mark Of the beast Nor was |
tie veto power spared, which by the inclined plane
al the initiative, would gradually usurp all leeis
lauon-nor the subsidizing Of the pross, now I'M !
blu1hnglY claimed a necessary orutch for feeble
Executive power. But first, and Gbove all, hs the /
most cruel and oppressive exigency OF tie time,
utterly denounced the funOu8 war Of the govern |
ment on TIE currency. The prophecies of every |
POLITICAL Caellndcr had been unhanpily fulfilled. !
Rum had reused tie people, though usufpation /
could nol.' Ponic day. once scoIgd a. had indeed |
nuved Perish credit Perish commefcep was n |
w.ahiuhsJ. All who traded on borrowed capifoP
lad broken, including the iIlustrious author OF the
evil, ot least 10 the extent or hs character as q
Statesman.
The mysteries Of the currency were o., length
unveiled. Gold dust could no longer be shaken in
tie eyes Of the people Even love powder and
mage had lost something Of their efficacy. Time
hAd .olved tho true problem; not how bad the cir.
culaung medium might he with the Bank Of The u Ii
.t'te', but how much worse IL had been and would
oe nsMn Without Suffering aud experience had
inl1e OUT men desire remedy. On no point was
NC course Of The two past administrations more an
equyocaly condemned.
IN the progress Of that struggle was frat raised
ln our county 70 serve parry purposes n vel al
mingled ialsehood and bascness. II woa the erv Of
'tho poor against Toe rich" An attempt so afro
cioua TO set the elements Of social order IN eons'c
~os ~ only 10 be uttered in the REIGN Of ror,or
~ Wrotehcs covered with tho G.,h and sore Of p.,
The cfeduliiy that believed could be eouolcd is,
pothiog but tho auocity that dictated h. Canal =
she natural ally Of wages; wealth Of labor. Tb.v
arc designed by Providence Tor mutual belp n1,,eS
Bone OF one bone, and flesh Of one Hesh. mai aud
fcn'lo created. lie thom, and those whom lie
hath Joined together, let no man put esunJer- h
What s capital but boarded labor, stored away Tor
pssi And who - there among US ,hs, does not