Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-11-05
For The Engnire
DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN PAGE

DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN PAGE
A large meeting OF the citizens ot Page county
assembled al the Court House on Friday the 18th
of October lSlI The meeting was organized by
calling Col. Mcpherson 10 the Chair and appoint
ing Andrew +. Carson Alfred D. Almond,
Gid r Jones and Jacob Stricken Secretaries.
Richard T.. Byrd, Esq, oi Frederick, in COM
pliancc with an invitation previously gwen hun
hy many Democrats Of this county, 10 deliver n
political address on some day previous 10 the Pre-
sdential Election made his appearance among
us on Friday las.-and although the notice OF his
acceptance of the invitation was not generally
known in The county. vet, BY ~ o'clock, the Couh
House was filled 10 overlooking, numbering SIX
hundred perSOns-among whom, were many De-
mocratic ladies of orr county.
Mr. Byr! made his appearance on the stand at
- o'clock. He was greeted by the citizens with
tokens of appreciation and applause. while the
Luray Band struck up the tune OF "Thc Camp
bells are Coming.
Mr.. Byrd commenced his speech by bring
ing in review The principles protested and
pracised by the two great political parties,
which now divide, and have divided this country,
since the organization of this Government. He
went back 10 the origin OF Federal measures, frs,
introduced by Alexander Hamilton, and com
pared them with the Democratic principles then
advanced and afterwards successfully maintained
by the great Apostle OF Liberty. Thomas Jefier-
son. He traced the old Federal Party through all
their DISCUSSES, from Federalism 10 National Re
pubicans, down TO Modern Wings. lie repre-
sentcd The old Federal Party as an honest, bold,
and daring party. who avowed their pr nciPles,
insisting. as they did, that the great body OF the
people were incapable of self-goyernnent, and
that strong, consolidated, National Government,
was the best for the peoplc--thai such a Govern
nd nd
afford 10 the ,cealhy, learned, and reli-jrcd fc~,
The controlling power, and they would make
Wholesome laws 10 regulate the multitude, and
thereby prevent commo,ion, which might occur. if
the great mass had participation in Governmental
affairs and during the sway of Federal power, un-
der the Elder Adams and Hamilton, they forced
upon the people some OF their oppressive doc
trines, in the shape OF the Alien and Sedtion
Laws until their effect became so odious 10 the
people OF The States, and particularly so TO Vir-
ginia, that Hamilton and the Elder Adams, and
all the prominent Federalists around him. were
driven bv an indignant people from the seat of
power hy The asccndancy Of Democracy, in the
elevation of our beloved Jefferson 10 the Presiden
tial Chair
Mr. Byrd fully identified the present Wings
as The old Federal Party, with single difference,
tina, the Wings were devoid CT their political
honesty. (He would not apply so harsh term
10 the great mass of the Wings, who were de.
ceived BY the Wing leaders) lie spoke a,great
length, and with much force Of the promises made
hy the Wings in ls40 and how grossly they had
deceived the people by false promises and false
prophecies The same party are now attempting
10 deceive The people, BY pretending that they are
The real JefFcrsonian Democrats, with National
Mammoth Bank and High Protective Tariff on
their lips. II they deceive the people again, il is
their own fault, and they should eat the bitter
fruits OF disappointment in silence
Mr.. Byrd then severally took up the Bank and
Tariff questions, and traced their origin from the
foundation OF the Government up 10 the presen,
lures of-and had been supported through all
time blythe old Federal Party, or those in favor