Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-03-09
Address Of Charles m. Alien.
Fello,o- Citizens of Missouri

so far as il is practicable, l shall meet my
fellow citizens face TO face, and address
them in public assemblies on all important
topics which seem to agitate the commun-
ty, and make full Development of that
system of policy by which have been 60
verned should be the fortunate candidate.
But owing to judicial labors which have |
to perform, and other circumstances, fear
| may not be able TO visit you in person as
extensively as | designed, and as it is my
wish that you should know my sentiments,
and vote advisedy, have thought it expe-
dent to address you through the medium
Of circular.
And before lay before you my system
of policy, il may be necessary, on account
of my democratic friends particularly, to
clear away the brush which, by misrepre
sentation, has been thrown in my path. 1t
has been said by the Simon Pures, to wit,
the caucus democrats, the would be dicta-
tors Of the country, that one step more
would make me wing, and that they
would prefer wing to myself--that am
Catalina, an Arnold, and under Wing
bribery, &C., and the only reason is, that
do not submit TO caucus dictation--that
have had bofdness to become candidate
without their license or permit, which |
suppose is with them an objectionable sin.
And now, fellow-citizens, to show you
the falsity of this charge, let US try it
even on their own system of democracy.
And to that end will weigh myself in the
balances with the great models Of demo-
cracy in this country, to wit, Col. Benton
and Martin Van Buren,: and it will be seen
that l am as good democrat as either of
them, upon the principles of Federal policy
at least.
And first, these gentlemen are opposed
to National Bank, and so am l. They
are opposed to tariff for protection
other than for revenue, and SO ami. They
are opposed to distribution of the pro-
ceeds of the sales of the public lands
among the States according to representa-
ton, and so am |. These are the prominent
measures that divide the two parties in the
nation on Federal politics; and you see
that on these measures l am as good a
democrat as either of them. And it has
been said and published that the great
Dictator of the West, the model of the
clique democracy, has said that if John c.
Calhoun should be the nominee of the Ma
tional Convention for the Presidency, that
he wonld not support him; and if so,
am a better democrat than he is; for rather
than divide the democratic party, will
support any of the applicants. On Federal
politics. therefore, my democracy goes
further than his. And now cease you
blind guides, who strain at gnat and swal
low a camel.
, As to State policy, there is no compari-
son betwixt the clique and myself, which
you will plainly discover before you finish
reading this circuler.
But am denounced as being no demo
crat by the clique, because will not sub
NIT to caucus dictation--a principle tina
no democrat will submit to that is worthy
Of the name. These caucuses are anti
democratic, anti-republican, aristocratic
4. proscriptive, and altogether contrary L
n the genius of our American government
: and under their system the people have M
more participation practically, in the gov
l eminent, than the subjects of Victoria o
, England have in the government of Grea
d Britain. The subjects of the British mon
d archy vote, but they 60 to the polls fet
tered and trammeled by bribery and op
: preston. They do not vote their owr
r sentiments, but that of an aristocracy--th'
# sentiments Of the Lords of the soil. |
e they do not vote their will, they know tina
It they are to be unhoused Now let US maxi
!, the comparison: Have we for the last eigh
# years voted for the men of our choice
e Have we chosen our own candidates. No
If so. Have they been chosen by major
q i,y--or have they been nominated by a
:, aristocratic few, who have usurped III
IF rights of the majority? You know, felloN
III citizens, that caucus minority, compose
st of few would be and have been dictator
or about the little towns and villages Assem-
&c bled together under the garb Of a count
" meeting ia self constituted body9 in som
ip counties not more than half dozen, adoI
Of their own preamble and resolutions, an
he appoint themselves to the State CONVEX
~ ton, and publish il TO the world as count
m meeting of the democracy, when in man
nd instances there are at least one thousar
err freemen in the county not present, NJ
re- concerning themselves in the least about
60 &c And when they return from the conve
- ton, they inform the people that they nor
al mated A. b. and c. for Governor, Lieu
of Governor, and candidates for Congress
he and if the people express any dissalisfa
Va ton at the nomination, they are told |
Of the caucus they are no democrats, and a
in read out of the ranks And thus the peoE
ne are told who they must vote for; and TIN
obey the mandate of a self constitute
aristocracy. What is an aristocracyl,
is that government in which the few dire
and govern the majority. A democra
is thai in which the majority govern I
'' minority. That is the democracy
which our ancestors fought and bled-i