The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-04-04
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF TEN.
NESSEE, BY THE WHlG STATE
CONVENTION.

| he chosen ueiegntes ~ ire wing phrIy
having tins day assembled IN Convention. II
! select from the body of their fellow citizens
| me worthy of your confidence and supper
| for the high office Of Governor of The STATE
| lcem il proper that you should not tor on
| moment misunderstood what thew regard n
tho cssenliaI principles of our government
md consequently those bs which they ar
guided. They would feel that an exposition
f those principles was almost superfluons,
out for the ungenerous imputaIinns by n
regent assembling. claiming to speak for
their pultIca opponents, that they have
heretofore withheld an open and manly
avowal Of them.
The whig purity Of Tennessee glory in
their time honorcd republican principles -
For sixteen years they have spread them
fairly before you, amid oft recurring md
animat ted political contests, and you have
deliberately given them the sanction of your
hearty appreciation. They are the principles
which animated he people of Tennessee in
the memorable contests of 1921 and 1923,
clevating Andrew jackson 10 the PresId"n'
cy of the United States. Boldly standing
upon them in 1896, against the powerful
name and influence of that venerable man,
who under the then nluring counsels of
Martin Van Buren. rs we verify believe,
had lost sight Of some of the brightest land.
marks Of rrpubilcanism. which Ind so plain
, ~ characterized his earlier administration
the wings of Tennessee fought their first
great battle for principle against those who
chose to tullow men rather Than measures;
and you. fellow cltiZ"ns, nnswayrd by pow.
or, unscduced hy names, covered yourselves
with n Worldwide honor by ndhering to
your cherished principles, those borne upon
the banners Of the Whig party. even against
the h"nored hero who had led you to victory
in 1sli, and in 1918. you again had them
pl esented 10 you, upon the same whigt bnn-
ners, on every muun'n IN and in every valley
of the State, IN every mode Of free and full
discussion. and against powerful array of
Ia lent and influence both on The stump and
IN the press; and again your Judgment np.
proved aud your sutfrugcs trlumphantly
sustained The we'll known principles of the
wing party! In no ha'ionaI contest since
lS2l-nav, since the organization Of your
State government. havea ma lnrlty OF the
people of Tennessee voted adversely To those
who became, and have been known as, the
whig party of Tennessee. In support of Mr.
Jefferson, Mr.. Madison, Mr.. Monroe. und
the earlier administration Of Gen. Jackson.
we were all united Bat when. IN 1886,
New York puliilcs had ub'aiucd too great
! an n a.cenuancy. and were sought to be trans.
planted upon Tcnu"ssee SoII-when Martin
Van Buren, was presel,rd to us TN exponent
and persnnlicatlon of republican doctrines,
we divided, and ma joriiy Of the people OF
Tennessee stood firmly upon the doctrines
they had been taught TO vcneIa'e. Those
doctrines being identical with hose Of the
wings of the revolution, they became to be
known as part Of the great wing party O:
the country. From that day to this, in no
single presidenlal contest, have the princi-
plies ana opinions Of both political parties
ailcd to be thoroughly exposed and scru.
tlnlzcd. and IN no such contest have the
people Of Tennessee failed deliberately to
endorse ard support the principles Of the
wing party. The impu'aIion that you hnve
been deceived, and have voted for principles
which you did not understand. or hive sus.
,aincd party which habltualIy concealed its
real character, Gu nnot but imply want Of
confidence in the capacity Of the people, or
in ,helr political honesty, which is truly
unworthy of any political party. claiming to
support the principles Of popular govern
menl, and must DO legltilnaely regarded a~
insulting to free aud intelligent people. If
it IS shown, as every citizen OF Tennessee
will testify. that for sixteen years, in every
Presidential contest, majority of the peo'
pie Of the Stale have sided with the whig
party, and our opponents declare That during
that long period the wings have withheld M
open and manly avowal of their principles,
how can we resist the Conclusion that our
adversarics, who call themselves Democrats,
imply the charge against the people that
they are ignorant, and have been grossly
deceived. or are drbascd. and have know
lnnIy given heir coun'cnance 10 this gross
fra nd upon republican institutions!
Wings spurn and disc!aim such conclu-
sions. They believe IN the capacity of the
peupIe Tor self. government. They have
faith that the public judgment will correct
such false assumptions upon hearing 0f
bu,h parties.
Wings believe that majorities should rule
under the CohstitutIUn-that the Constltu'
,ion framed by the wisdom OF our snees
should be held inviulale-that the State
Governments should De su>taI IN all their
rights, as the most competent ndmlnistra-
tlOns for our local concerns, and The surest
ouIwarks inst anli.repubcan tendencies
-,hui The Genera Government should be
reserved in its whole constitutional vlgor.
as the sheet anchor Of our peace at hume
and safety abroad-'hnt the Union should
be rev.red and watched over as the palludl'
nm of our lIberlies-ihat nullIhcatIon, or
furclbIe resistance TO the constitution and
laws Of The land, InsanctIuned by patriotism
and lncum pa,ible with the preservation OF
the Union-that the extreme docliine Of
States Rights, which main'slns that the
General Government has no right To employ
iorce I, sustain The Fugitive Save Law,
should be steruly discoun' enanced, whether
advocates Ly Mr.. Rhett. or BY Mr.. Mics,
5y Southern or Northern fanailcal LEADERS,
nd that the open advocates Of Secesslon aud
Disunion, whether TO he found nmung the
Garrisons, the Hales and the Tappans OF
ha Nnrth Tho Ghev,sas The RhpltS md