Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-03-30
A D D R Els S
Democratic state Convention
OF TIL f
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.


TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
FELLOW CITIZENS: The time vii
soon arrive when you mustexercise the
most importan, privilege, and discharge
the most important duty of American
freemen. The election of IA President
and Vice President of the United States
is always matter Of high public con-
concern, for it cannot fail to exert a
lasting influence both on State and
Federal policy. The approaching
canvass for those high offices is one OF
no ordinary interest, since it involves
the rights of the people, the nature OF
our Institutions, and the good name
1@N character of the nation. Under
these circumstances. it is not only rlgh'
and proper, but due to candor and
fairness, that this Convention should
frankly set forth the principles of the
Republican party of Virginia, and
urge its claims to public support. The
principles of ;bat party are not of re-
cent origin, nor are they of temporary
Importance. AS soon as our ludepen-
dence was achieve |, it became neces.
sary to establish a Government which
could use the authority of all the States
to conduct their foreign relations, and
regulate other matters of general i'm
portance. 1t was difficult task to
effect this important object, without
destroying the sovereignty of the sep
arate States, and interfering with their
proper control over their individual and
domestic interests. But wise spIri:
of compromise and concession over
came this great difficulty, and the Con-
sti,uion of the United States was
framed and adopted, granting to
General Government certain specified
powers, and reserving all other powers
and prerogalives not thus specially
granted, or necessary and proper to
carry them into effect, 20 the people of
the States respectiyel y. When this
Constitution went into effect, there
were many persons who desired a
stronger Government than the one ties
tabli>bed, & endeavored to give to that
instrument such an Interpretation as
would remove the salutary restraints
which it imposed. This end they en-
: deavoted TO accomplish by making
Congress the sole judge of the powers
which had been conferred upon it, by
implying others of which the -funda-
mental law made no mention, and thus
building up and establishing system
of affiliated interests, which, owing
their existence 20 the will of the feder-
: al Government, would be always rea-
dy TO Justify its usurpations, and array
themselves against The reserved rights
of the States.
It's unnecessary to follow the party
which was thus formed through its
whole history, under the various pames
it has since adopted. But the mis-
chievous principles it still advocates
deserve attentive consideration. Prom
inent among these is he establishment,
under the name ola Bank of the Uni
ted States, of an incorporated compa-
ny which has been defined by one Of
its most distinguished advocates as a
splendid association of favored lndi-
viduals, taken from the mass OF society
and invested with exemptions, and sur
rounded by immunities and privileges.
1t would be thought by some, that,
when proposition was made to ere
ate such an association, the Constitu
ton contained some special provision
3y which 1t could be justified. But
an examination Of that instrument
shows that no sach provision exists,
and Iihat it cannot be inferred as neces-
as-z and proper to carry into effect
si,y Of the objects for which the con-
federacy was formed. The power
claimed in this behalfas mere incl
dent ard appendage to some other
power would, if carried INTO effect,
regulate not only the trade and com
merce Of the country, but exert a con-
trailing influence over the legislation
sofghe States and of the Union, and
would reduce our confederacy to con-
solijated empire, ruled by an incorpo-
rated company through the machinery
Of The Federal Government.
Not satisfied with this scheme alone
10 strengthen the Union, and weaken
the States that compose it, the Wing
party propose TO place prohibitions and
..ras,r,c,;ons on our commerce, for the
purpose Of fostering and encouraging
manufacturing monopolies. II is not
necessary TO point out the undue
strength which protective policy
would give to the Federal Government
Brit will be seen at a glance that they
Howe their existence to legislative
s&men:s will, in turn, give their
sdloert 10 the. authority from which
ssuciI Apartments proceed. The Re-
nubIiel u party admits the power Of
Eoncre1 IS lay and collect tsxess, du-