Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-02-29
ADDRESS
4
OF THE DEM. STATE CONVENTION
To the People OF Virginia.

| 10 the yetoes OF the present Chief
Magistrate, we eve our escape from an
unconstitutional and oppressive system
of measures, which neither the nattery
or the denunciation of the Dictator,r rude
" invading the. independence of the Ex-
ecuGve. could force him to sanction. -
AID though that Dictator, in conse-
quence of his disappointed hopes. has,in
a spirit of bitter tlenunciation unbecom-
| ing his years, and disrespectful TO the
Institutions of his country. declared that
the President is. IAN example Of utter a
abandonment Of of all the obligations of
honor, of duty and of fideiity-and will
soon retireu,xith the contempt and amidst
the SCOTS So. honorable men'-we
here, in this public and solemn manner,
do tender to him our thanks ard pro
found acknowledgements for the signal
service he has thus rendered his country.
No candid reader can ponder over
these facts and not perceive the identity
OF aim and consequence. in the princi
plies and measures Of the great Apostle
to Federalism and his modern disciple.
If a funding System and Bank of only
ten millions could create monied Arts
tocracy and exert a controlling and
corrupting influence over the action Of
government, how much more corrup-
ting and overshadowing must be an
institution oftyfy millions. extending its
| interference into the wide and complica-
ted commercial relations of six ard
twenty Statcs--l1ow much more aluring
and seductive must be Protective Tar
1T System, building up the interests OF
| capitalists and manufacturers, at the ex :
pense of the producing classes, and &C.
cumu!ating vast sums beyond the legiti-
mate wants of government;to be welded
| by the AristOcracy as a magic wand to
sway the opinions of the people, corrupt
their principles. and change their love of
liberty into thirst for gain. If Ham!I-
toms assumption of State debts caused
such eloquent and patriotic denunciation
against IT, asa scheme to degrade and
aud suDsidlze the States. how much
more earnest and eloquent should be the
condemnation of that Growing and mas.
ter stroke Of policy. the distribution of
the proceeds of the public lands? Were
there no other measure connected with
the name OF Henry Clay,that alone would
suffice to condemn him with those who
love the Constitution, who cherish the
independence of the States, or have anu
Faith IN the virtue and integrity of the
people. A more unblushing declaration
that men can only be governed by their
wees, was never written on the face of
any measure. Walpole and Pitt by their
targesses. and Hamilton by his funding
schemes, sought only to bribe few in
divlduat members of the Legislature; but
/ Mr.. Clay. not content with that. scars
above them all, and seeks to corrupt, to
steal away the sense of independence to
render dependent. helpless. and humble
pensioners on Federal bounty. the six
and twenty sovereign States of this u
Mon.
| In proud and Majestic contrast with
these loose and corraptins principles, let
US behold the pure and simple doctrines
OF democracy; which like broad, massive
Dor'c columns, are the support and orna-
nent OF the Temple of Freedom. Stern,
rigid and impartial, they dispense Justice
TO al, farors to none; with even hand
extend protection and the rights of prop
erty as we'll to the plouehman in the
field, as the lordly financer in the Bank
palace. These doctrines, as a precious
heritage. we hold to be true. seif-evident
and essential to the prosperity of the
People, and the stability Of the Union.
we the Democratic Republicans of
virginia, hold that the Federal Govern
ment IS one of limited powers, derived
solely from the Constitution. and res
ting on distinct and substantive grants
contained therein-alI other powers be-
ING reserved to the States and to the
People. We hold, that Congress has no
authorlty to charter National Bank, or
10 construct a general system of Internal
Improvement; or to assume the debts Of
me states, contracted for improvements
or TO distribute the proceeds of the pub
nc lands, or any other fund of the com
mon treasury, among the States, for
any, other purpose whatsoever. We
hoid, that Congress has no authority to
interfere, directly or indirectly, with
the domestic institutions of the States;
they being the sole judges of every thing
appertainIng to their. own affairs. not
prohibited by the Constitution. ANY in
reference cannot be tolerated-and we
s''a'i regard as an indirect and lmperti-
nent interference with those rights. any
petition or remonstrance to Congress. or
any action OF Congress, having for its OBJ
tJect the abolition of slavery in the Dis
tfict of Columbia or the Territories.
we hold,that no more revenues should
be collected than are necessary for the
economical administration oil a Govern
ment with Limited and specified powers;
that they should be collected in actual
values, and not in spurious promises; be