Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-10-24
From the Richmena Enqaarer.
TO VIRGINIA AND THE SOUTH

II IS time that you should seriously
examine the position Of the two great
parties of the Union, as to their rela-
tive effects upon your prosperity and
best interests. You have ever been
jealous advocates of a strict and prop
er construction ofthe Constitution
You have been warmly opposed to all
usurpations on the rights of the States
and, while you are willing to concede
to the General Government the very
limited powers given to it by our Ma
tional compact, you have firmly but
peaceabiy resisted any unauthorized as
81 mption of those powers and priyile-
ges which are guaranteed to the States
1t is true, that in 1910 some of you
were arrayed against the Republican
party--but the leaders of the Wing
party of the day either had no pFirei-
piles, or protested genuine Republican
doctrines, such as opposition TO Ma
tional Bank and a high protective
Tariff In their temporary separation
from the Republican party, ,hey never
gave tie least counteaance, by voting
for General Harrison, to the odious
Federal usurpations which mark the
character of the Clay Wing Federal
parry Of 1874. Then the Wings pro-
fessed to be cold fashioned Replbh-
cans" opposed to Federal principles.
.No,0, while they pretend to be Repub-
licans, they openly avow their love for
all the Federal heresies, an! by their
acts, prone themselves to be Federal
lists. The Wing party, with the da-
ring, ambitious and "moon-reaching"
Clay at their head, would rob the
States Of all their sacred rights and sa
cred rights, and sacrifice them upon
the altar of the General Government.
Many Wings Of 40 have already be-
come convinced of the deception Of the
Wing leaders in that year, and have
come out nobly on the side of their old
Republican associates. In the South
there are still many in the Wing ranks,
who once stood pre-eminently in sup
port Of Jefferson and jackson, and yet
by the force Of parties, have been hur-
ried along in the train of Henry
Clay and his dangerous measures
Before it be too late, we would
solemnly warn them Of the prec-
ipice Oh which they stand. If they
Still have any regard for the immortal
principles Of $500, which they once
looked upon as their political Bible;
If they would conGne the Federal Gov
ernment within it's constitutional and
safe limits; if they would consult the
honor and interest or the South, which
are from a combination Of circumstan-
ces, threatened with Danger,we charge
them not to vote for Henry Clay. Let
him be elected and the sacred charter of
our liberties will be torn in pieces and
desecrated-the rights Of the States
will be overwhelmed in the vortex of
Federal construction-our Government
viii be converted into an engine of o.
verbearing power ard oppression
We shall look in vain for the Resolu-
tions of '98 and '99, which we have
ever loved to cherish as our sure and
certain guide. A money king will
stretch his iron hand over the fertile
plains of the South, transferring the
hard-earned rewards of our labor to his
more immediate fayorites of the North.
Speculation will again sweep the land
with desolation. Uncertainty and "a
larm viii, mark the course cfevery bus
mess. Ruin will again stare US in the
face. Have we not witnessed all these
ruinous effects of National Bank, and
shall we countenance with our votes the
ENGRAVING on the Constitution of such
another mighty fungus, which viii eat
out all our substance, destroy the moral
sense of the community, ndupturn the
foundations of the republic on theglobe9
Should Mr.. Clay be elected, we shall
have still more oppressive Tariff for
protection; the immediate effect of
which will be the reduction of the far
mer'S produce, now so rulnOuSly low,
and an increase in price ofthe necessa-
ny articles of consumption. Instead
ofallowing every individual to pursue
his own business in his own way, to
buy where he can get cheapest, and
sell where he can sell highest, the
Government will oficiously step in,
disturb all the laws Of trade, regulate"
labor and confer enormous favors on
few, BY the sacrifice of the interests of
the many. Should Mr.. Clay be chosen
President, the friends of Texas may at
once give Up all hopes Of achieving It's
annexation. The institutions of the
South will be endangered by the imne-
date proximity of an imperous nation,
whose boast and aim is the abolition of
slavery throughout the world and she