Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-02-28
From the Independont Republican.
Col. Beals's Address.
/ pr. PLrAsANr, Mason Co. Va.

~ UtC VOsCs9 ~ 49,!
district ef Virginia.
GENTLEMEN: i propose TO represent you
in the next Congress-. ! have mao your
confidence heretofore and | am uncon-
sious Of ever having betrayed your inter
est, or Of having sweryed from those poll
teal principles, that had declared 70 you
asconstituting my guide II the i discharge
iof duty!
i Some Of the old issues OF party have
died away-some are still subsisting, ana
others in the progress Of . new position
have been sprung upon us-more dange-
rous in their possible consequences, De,
cause they are sectional and geographical
In their character. Ofthess, is the ques-
ton Of slavery; the disposition Of the pub
lie lands, and the acquisition VI new TER
#ritory. What course more likely g lead
Jus fortunately through those trials that
confront us in the immediate future, than
a recurrence to those cardinal principles,
laid down in our early history, by Mr..
Madison in his disquisitions on the true
character and powers Of the Federal and
State governments, and the admirable ex-
ample set us by Mr.. jefferson, in carrying.
those principles into d practical admistra-.
ton OF our Affairs. HE..#M
What are tSele principles? N ..s Bib
The preservation Of the 3Union, Sas the
sheet anchor Of our safety. A non inter-
ference In the affairs Of other nationsz7-
To look upon the Federal Government 'ss
one Of limited powers. 10 deny to 1.-THE
exercise of all incidental powers, except
those NECESSARY to carry the specific grants
into execution. To cherish the reserved
rights I'd the States, as q bar to the concen-
trating tendencies Of the Federal Govern
ment, and as absolutely necessary 70 the
perpetuity Of the Union itself. To ref:ain
from alltlegislatlon upon doubtful powers
in government Of law and written char
ter as ours is. And to .frown upon all as
sumption of a beneficiary Legislation as
Inconsistent with the character Of our
Fedasal institutions and lending y a cor
rupt usa Of the public funds. anl the pub:
lie property.
y ThetS principles have guided my con
duct, heretofore, and will hereafter II p!a-
ced in b position to call them into ac.
A new party has sprusg up called Know
Nothings. | do not belong to- Or my
other secret organization. Shall deny
truths which they enunciate, or shall get
stride. Of his wave Of popular sentiment,
\ with view of floating successfully into
office. II will do neither. II ! have q
/. single virtue asa public man, it is that I
thinkfor myself, and act accordingly. !
accept of truth, let it come from what
source Iitmay, and reject error, though
consecrated by use and by time. The
new party announce sentiments that ! en-
tertained long before I ever heard Of it. -
4 To-wit: First, their hostility to tile facili-
ty with which foreigners acquire naturali-
zation, and exercise the right Of suffrage.
In this Il agree with them. Already, IN
| our large cities, they determine the result
Of elections, BY throwing their weight on
!, ono or the other side, without that dis
elimination which belong to those who
have been brought up and schooled in the
, midst Of our free institutions. After oui
country has acquired las ithas, apopula.
ton sufficient to securs US against all feal
Of the interference ofForeign Nations, We
ought TO be satisfied to have our excess b
4 territory occupied, and our Institution.
administered by our own people, in thu
. gradual expansion Of our native popula.
+ ton. 70 hold out Incentives to the for
eigrl movements by bounties Of the public
lands, and the direct sovereignty Of thu
elective franchies, in the territories, is sui
, cidal. II. Il ii.
How happy and different from the con
dition Of Others mas been the peculiar po
sition of our countrymen in this, that
when die pursuits and ayocations Of li6
have been crowded in the old and eastern
States, 1.-THE west was left open, with itsnev
and fertile lands, as d field for the dispa,
Of the energy and industry of'our people
/ and to afford to them happy homes. VIII
J would put hasty termination to this stat,
: ofthings, by encouraging a foreign emf
4 grafton, and if encouraged as heretofore
Fl will not its food continue to flow until I'll,
: rate Of population is equalized between
! this country and Europe. What will thel
D be the spectacle in our country? Povert,
: misery, crime, the beggary Of England.
Ct the Lezaroni Of Naples.
: Secondly: As far as religion ID involve,
5 in the opinions Of the new party, l &C
: knowledge my predictions are on tn
4 Protestant side. Ilook upon the reform
Q alton Of Luther. Melancthon and Zwyn
5 guilus as one Of the greatest and most ben
efcial events Of modern times; becaus
( religion under their construction, Is NOR
+ rational and philosophical in its character
3 but principally because that the frcedor
it assumed, ofthought in religious matter
\ was Immediately extended to freedom d
!, thought and action in relation to the civ
!. and political rights Of the human famil,
J, That struggle extended through the day
: Of Hampden and Sidney, to the preser
J, time, and one Of tsmost signal achieve
= ments Is the bill Of religious liberty. 81 Al
/ Jefferson, now part Of the Virginia Cor
!, stitution, and aconsequent separation
/ Church from State.
! Our political institutions are born
Protestant tbought--of reason and Of 4,
+ gument, Of the collision Of large and fre
], minds, Of Protestant achievement in Ii
III Senate and the field. I m, oua of tho,