Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-10-30
First Principles.

the free States, has sufficiently demon
strated to our minds, that this Union cab
only be preserved, and The efficiency and
purity Of our institutions maintained, by
The formation of strict construction.
State Rights party--one which will EN-.
brace the lovers Of the Constitution in its
spirit and letter. 1t is useless to attempt
to conceal the fact, for 1t stands out as
clear as the MONDAY sun, that the land
grabbing system, supported by the West
and North west, has nourished and brought
up patty whose only aim-whose great
main-spfing to action-is public plundsT.
We do not mean to venture an opinion as
to the comparative proportion Of. Demo-
Gratis and Wings who make up this party.
Suffice that such party exists. That its
leading purpose is to bleed the public
Treasury. regardless of constitutional bar
riers and hindrances. That it stands ready
TO rush, booted and spurred. over the Rights
OF the States, as defined in our magma
charta, and to crush beneath its reckless
power every constitutional protection
Held together BY the cohesive power of
public plumber, it is deaf 10 the appeals Of
reason and justice, rushing onward under
the guidance only Of sensual instincts.
No one will deny that such party exists.
Then it behooYes every man who loves
his county and his country's laws. to
come at once 10 the rescue, and recon
struct the old State Rights party, that the
efficiency of its ever glorious principles
may be practically felt. and its wholesome
doctrines control the affairs Of our country,
We believe a majority OF the voters Of The
United States are in favor of strict con-
struction Of the Constitution-that they
are opposed to the reckless spirit which
controls the political action Of the North
west and Vest, and are willing to centre
on men who will carry out their views
and principles. When Mr.. Clays great
American system was first brought to
light in opposition to it, sprung up sis-
orous and formidable State Rights PARTY,
which finally overthrow the bantling of
the great Western Statesman and placed
in power strict constructioast. Here
was test Of the sentiment Of the people.
But not even under the administration II
Mr.. Jefferson, was rigid adherence to
the principle observed. The leading act
of his presidential term, was a compro.
mise. if not an abandonment, for the time,
Of the very principle upon which he came
into power. We must consider, however,
our condition at tina, tlme-,he insuf-
mountable necessity Of obtaining posses
sion Of the territory sought, and the te-
licitous circumstances which favored our
commissioners at the French Court. Moth
ing but the vastness Of the necessity, aud
the peculiar and favorable condition Of
the affairs Of lst Emperor Tor our interests
could have induced MIR. Jefferson to have
purchased the Louisiana Territory at that
time. All now will admit that the end
justified the means. The departure from
a fixed principle, was the result Of an en-
larged patriotism and master Statesman
ship. 1t was not founded in corruption,
as is the present disregard of the policy Of
constitutional limitations, and hence the
inconsistency Of practice with profession,
could be well excused, because the press.
ing necessity o: the times. and the inter.
est Of the county demanded it.
II, then, the people of this country saw
the necessity of banding together on the
principle Of strict limitation Of constitu.
tional power, to break down the federal
tendency Of the policy OF the American
system, whose father, though now gather
cred to his eternal home, ranks with the
purest patriots our country has ever pro.
duced-if the people saw the necessity of
combating an honest. straightforward, and
distinctly enunciated federal policy, and
the organization Of State Rights party,
then, how much more is the necessity
now. that our enemies fight upon the
gueriella principle, and stand together
with no defined policy. but plumber of the
Treasury and the government. We can
expect nothing from the great mass OF the
Northwest and North, There are some
good men and true, who devoted to State
Rights. stand up for the Constitution, in
the face Of political death itself. But the
great majority aye corrupt. The great
majority are ready to sacrifice the Constr
tuition. that sectional interests may be sub
served. They have no love for the Union
as it is-for equal rights and equal Justice
to all If brute force and trckery can
accomplish their ends, they will Ibid to
the Winds" the rights of the States, and
constitutional restrictions. Hence the
friends Of the constitution-the lovers Of
equal laws and equal rights-the inheritors
OF the principles of revolutionary purity
and patriotism, should rally to their own
ssandard-should band together under
their own folds, and strike for the Rights
nj the States cfr th.. Oh r. fl,., TJn;on