Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-03-17
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.


Republican party have presented to you their candi
dates for the Executive offices which are be edby
your election, the fourth Thursday in May next.
Those candidates have been selected by usual
ganzation, faithful representatives of the prnci
pies OF our party, and as men eminenty qualified to
perform all the duties of the high places for which
they proposed. Recognizing, the italnportance
OF the result ol the approaching elections to
ty and to our country, the g State Democratic Ex
ecut.yo Committee make an earnest appeal fer your
cooperation in the contest which now engages the
attention OF the whole Union.
Our party had its Origin in the earliest days OF the
present Confederacy. When the Constitution was
first put in operation, two antagonastie partiesstrug
glcd ior ascendancy. One sought to contnc the fe-
deral Government within the strict and defined limits
of the Constitutions avoiding the exercise OF all
doubtful powers, and aiming only at those objects
which the trainers OF the Constitution had des
gnated in unequrocal terms as legitimate to the Cen
trail Government. This party exaeted an unhesitatng
homage to the wisdom of the august authors of that
instrument, and sought to administer the Government
in rigid conformity with the written provisions OF the
Constitution. The other party sought, by latitude
the actual administration OF the Federal Government
ali the-power Which, in the Judgment OF those in
thority, it might be erpedeat to exercise. This char
acterstic division has continued to separate the De-
mocraiio party from the old Federalparty and, since
its overthrow, from thevarious parties been
in opposition to the Democracy.
That the Democratic party is organized upon the
true principles OF tho Constitutions sgnally demon
strated by the fact that it is the only party which has
maintained permanent existence coeva with our
present Constitutional system. The history of our
party is so fortunately identified with the history OF
country that the prosperity and glory OF the
have been coincident with the success OF the other
The fact that its leading measures are now i'll full OPP
Grafton, and have been sanctioned repeatedly by the
approval OF the country, and that no open organza
ton NOW opposes tem stamps 1t tue Constitution
apnty Of the Union, aud renders it unnecessary to
out here in detail its principles, already so familiar
to the people OF Virginia. tzs
In the career Of its history, the Democratic party
has had Ia encounter the opposition organized III dit
fcrent forms, and bearing different designations. So
far, il has overpowered all resistance, and annihila-
ted the national organizations that have opposed it.
The big party which for some years past has COM
bned the elements Of antagonism TO Democracy, has
apparently succambed. The opposition seems once
more to be arraying itself In new forms and under
new names. Taught by past experience, those who
oppose the Democratic party dare not risk themselves
any longer upon fair comparison OF principle and
policy before an enlightened popular Judgment. W.
have to meet m Incorporating canvass party which
avoids an open encounter, and withdraws from pub
lie observation its discussions of political topics aud
its deliberations upon ublic AFFAIRS This new party
artuy adapts its appeals for yotaries to the nation
al and religious prejudices OF the country, while it
proposes to retain, by the most rigid and imposing
party discipline, those who may be enticed into its
ranks II it succeeds in the effort to obtain control
over the Federal Goycrncnt, il must use its powers
for purposes not now disc0sed-pelhaps not contem,
plated by many OF its adherents. 1t mnst have its
measures upon the great subjects which are 50 fire.
ces, the Public Lands Internal improvements and
the Constitutional rights OF the Shareholders 1T can
have measures of material Importance relating To
the avowed objects of its organizaton-;he inim-
grant and Catholic population. Ii it goes into pow
or, i. goes with purposes unavowed and unknown on
those great subjects concerning which its action
be OF the last consequence while il iatters the public
prejudiccs respecting subjects upon which it can
ally accomplish little or nothing. -, Is a4
The Federal Government, with all its departments
combined, can apply no affective remedy for the al
legged evils incident to eresldence OF the Immigrant
population within our limits. The naturalization
laws may be amended or repealed. But irrespective
OF those laws the most valuable privileges may still
be granted to the alien by the State Governments.
The right of residence, the right to acquire and hold
lands, and the right OF suffrage, may all be bestowed
upon the alien By the State authorities, without
gard being had to Decentralization laws. The power
to refuse residence to the Immigrant population APP
propriately belongs to the State governments. The
power OF the Federal Government to expe any por-
ton Of the alien population, whose residence is per-
mitted by the State Government, was Indignantly
repealed by the Republican party in l19S. The cee-
brated alien law provided for the expulsion of por
ton OF the resident aliens. Both Virginia and Ken
lucky denounced the law as an unconstitutional usur
PATTON In the address to the people OF Virginia ac-
complaining the resolutions of 179s, it is emphatcal
ly declared that 'sthere is nothing in the Constitu-
ton Distinguishing between the power OF State to
permit the residence OF natives and Aliens 1t is,
therefore, right originally possessed and never
= nd by the respective States, and which is rem
dered dear and valuable to Virginia, because it is
sailed through ebosom OF the Constitution, and be-
cause her peculiar situation renders the easy admis
sion OF partzans and aborers interest oil vast i'm
portauee to her. The fourth Kentucky resolution
Of l73S-drawn by Mr.. Jeilersonasserts that alien
friends are under the jurisdiction and protection of
the laws OF the State wherein they are that no pow
e over them has been delegated tothe United States
nor prohibited to the individual States distinct from
their power over citizens" Mr.. Madison's Report
of 1893 maintains similar positions. 1t is presumed
that this exposition ofthe Constitutional powers of
the State and Federal Governments, over this sub.
ect, will not be questioned in Virginia at this day