Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-02-15
CALHOUN'S ADDRESS.
THE ADDRESS OF Mr.. CALHOUN
TO HIS POLITICAL FRIENDS d
SUPPORTERS.


supporters, through whose favorable est.
mate of my qualifications, my name has
been presented 10 the people of the Uui-
ted States foi the office Of Chez Mays
trale, TO conduct the canvass on such
principles, and IN such manner as YOU
might think test. But in 50 doing, did
not waive nv right to d,t-rmine, on my
individual responsibility, what course ny
duty might compel me to pursue ultimate.
ly, nor have been nn inattentlVr observer
of the canvass and the course YOU have
taken.
Ii affords me pleasure Ia he enable To
say. that on all Ieating questions. grow
ing out of the canvass, | heartily concur
red with you, in the grounds, you took,
and especially H. those relating 20 the
mode in which tie Dell gates 10 the pro
posed converts, n to be held in Baltimore.
should be appointed. md how thy should
vote. You have, 10 my opinion, conclu-
slvrly shown. that they should be appoint
ed by Districts aud vote per capita; but
your reasons, as conclusive us they are,
have proved in van. Already New York
and some other States have appoint d
Delegates IN masse by State COW, nj ,ns,
AMI one State (Virginia) has resolved
that the vote OF her Delegates should be
given by the majority, and be count, d
per capita. Their course would ~ csssa.
rily override that which you have so ably
supported, should you go into convent N,
ard would leave you no alt-rn itive, but
TO yield yours and adopt theirs, h 'wev'
much you may be opposed t. il on pin.
ciple, or 10 meet them IN the IN ST unp.
quail terms, with div d sga'ns: united
and concentrated Tor rs.
The question thea is, what course. un-
der such clrcumst nccs, should be adopt
ed And that question, you will be COM
pelIe1 speedily To decide. Tn near ap
oroach of the time for meeting Of the pro
longer delay. But us your course NAV
depend IN some degree on that which
have decided take, deem il due TO tie
relation suhsistlng b tw, en- Us, 10 max.
mine known 10 YOU without further delay.
|, then, after the most careful and oe-
lberate survey o! tho Who'll. ground have
DE- cided, that | cannot permit nv Tame
go before the propos d convention, con-
sttuted as il must now be consistently
with the principh $, which have ever guI.
ded my public { nduci. My object ons
me- insnperable. AS II must be consttut.
ed, it is repugnant to all the principles
on which, 10 my opinions, such a conv, n.
-. 4, 4 l. 4. l.
cipl are, shall now proc eI briefly TO
state.
| hold, HIM, with you, III / the con
V ntoC should be SO constituted, as to
utter fully and clearly the voice of The
psople and not that political managers,
or Office holders and oil e seekers; and
for that purpos", | hold ii in isptnsabl
that the Dele gates shoul be appointed
directly by the people, or TO use no lam
guag4 Of Gen. Jackson, shout be flesh
from the people" | alsn holl, that III"
only possible mo lie to efle t this, is for thu
pfo III to choose the Delegates by Dis
trlcts, and that they should v";rp per c0piia.
Every other mo lie Of app, in,iug would be
controlled by political m,chlacty, aud
place the appointments in the hands Of
the few, who work il.
object, then, TO the propose CONVEX
lion, because it will not De constitute in
conformity with tn s fluid ruentll rtcir
of the Republican creed. The Delegates
to it will be oppointe Gotn somr of the
States, not by the people in Districts, but,
as has been stated, 10y State conventions
en- masse. composed of Delegates, appoint.
ed IN all Cas- 5, as far as am informed,
by county or District conventions, AMI in
some CASES, II rot mSintormed, IN s.
again composed OF Delegates appointed
by still smaller divisions, or a few inter
sted individuals. lnste d then Of being
dire city, or fresh from the people, the
% legates 10 the Baltimore convention
w,t be the Delegates, f Delegates; aud
of course removed, IN all c,s :, at least
three, If not four degrees from the people
At ch su 'cessiYo remove, the Ice nf
the peop'e will become less full OF distinct.
until, q, last it will be So f,nt aud i'm.
perfect, rs not TO be- aulitl t. drop
met ph'r, i'd il impossible to form
scheme mnre perfectly calculated t. an
initiate the control of the peope over the
Presidential election, and vest il in those,
who make pDt,lcs trade, md who 1--we
or expect to i've On the Government.
In this connection, object not less
strongly 10 the mode in which Virginia
has res lived her De egat"S shaa vote -
With all due respect, must say, can
imagine nothing more directly in conflict
with the principles of our federal system
OF government, or TO use BROADER ex.
preston, the principles on whick all con-
federated communities have been unerd.
| hazard nothing in saying. that there IS
n It an instance IN our political history,
from the meeting of tSe first Revolutions
nv congress to The present day, O. the
Delegates Of any State voting by malurl-
~ and counting per cawtd; nor do ! be.
Iieve an instance Of lhe kind can be found
in the history of any confederatel commu.
nifty. There is indeed something mon.
strcus IN the idea Of giving lha majority
the right OF imposing the vote of the
majority int lis service, and counting
them as his own. Tho plain rule-that
which has ever prevailed, aud which con-
forms 10 the dictates of common senses,