Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-02
To the People of Virginia.

ported to the wing State convention, Dy
the Committee on Business, and adopted by
that body, and ordered to be published
This Convention, by original appointment,
was to have assembled on the l4th day Of
December last, but il was deemed advisable,
in consequence Of subsequent events, 70
postpone It's meeting. Those events were of
n character 50 unexpected, and accompanied
by developments 90 startling as to make II,
at once, the dictate OF prudence and 81 pa
triotism to defer our action until further
time should be given to discern the issue to
which they conducted.
Pursuant to the postponement, We met to-
gether at the Capitol Of the State, on the
22d Of February, and rs the day itself =
hallowed in the annals of our history, we
would, ourselves, catch from it IN insplra-
ton Of the moderation, wisdom, and virtue
of the patriot To whom it gave birth.
Al our appointment We were commission
ed to deal with the party politics u the day,
and on behalf Of the Opposition Of Virginia,
to initiate measures looking to concerted nc
ton on the part Of the Opposition Of all the
States, in the approaching election q PreSl-
dent
The public considerations involved in the
attempt, we'll justified tile action, although
the condition OF affairs had been less anSPl-
cous of success The Democratic party Tor
long succession 1T terms, with Slight eX-
ception, had controlled the Federal Govern
ment, and ruled the policy Of the country
The expenses Of the Government from about
$ under the second Adams, and
$ under Mr.. Fillmore, bad increased
MI pa
pidlv swelling To more than SlOO 100000
under Mr. Buchanan. The principle that
10 the yictors belong the spolls borrowed
from degenerate days, but at one time IN
dignautly repudiutcd By all parties had Tor
long period of time, under successive
Democratic administrations, been ayowed rs
their rule Of action; and the public Offices
created for the public benefit, had been IN
bIushingly bestowed is rewards on partI-
Fans, and tools, and minions Of executive
pleasure The public press was penSioned,
and the freedom OF elections constrained Try
executive patronage. In the shape 81 iedc-
raj contracts, political layortes fraudncntiy
obtained the rewards OF party service and
OF party apostacy, and in every ramlicauon
Of executive action, eXtrayaganccs corrup-
tons and frauds marked the rule 81 the
men in authority, until the public mind
infatuated to these abuses, had become, IL y
great degree to experience the same icmur-
alzation. Under its influence, patriotism
has given place to partylsm, considerations
Of the public veal have been abandoned by
those that belong to party success, and our
Presidential elections have degencratcd into
mere contests for place.
Every recurrence Of these il marked hy
some issue originating il the interests u y
few, and continued iorspecal effect. What
soeyer i calculated to excite the public
mind 10 niame passion 10 produce dlScord
and engender sectional animoslty, i habit
ualIy seized upon by aspirants for place, and
industriously pressed forward by politicians
and the presses IN their interests. no con
sideration Of the public peace: no con3ldera-
ton of fraterna concord OF our Union, Of
its blessings no consideration of the happl-
ness and prosperity Of the country; ia con-
sideration Of the obligations, which! As ma
ton, We owe To other nations, intcrposcS re-
straint. In the lust for Office, and il tie
greed for spoil, an Of these are truddcn down,
and the dearest interests Of all are gambird
with for the gain n i few. In the very MA
mre Of things it was not possible Tor tile
question Of slavery to remain unapproprla-
tel. it was BY far TOO inviting T. the ends vt
party
Existing in part only Of tie States, the
Institution Of slavery i necessarily section
al, and claiming 70 extend itself into the
unoccupied territory ct the public domain,
it was Of itself calculated u excite t. Sec
tonal jealousy This was first seen when
the thirteen colonies, pressed IN the pro
gress Of the revolution settled tie articles II
confederation When Independence was
achieved, it was more strongly manifested
in the Convention that framed the Consti-
tuition. 1t again exhibited its influence
when Missouri applied for admission INTO
the sisterhood at States. But greatly as
the public mind was excited on these occa-
sons, and important rs were the measures
involved. parties forcbore t. form upon i,
and the patriotism Of the country rose to
equality with the cXigencics of the day.
After 1920, for i long series Of years the
country reposcd III the settlements, and pro-
crossed undisturbed ~ the baneful excite
ment Certain societies oil the Friends,
contriyed % forward to each Congress me-
MORALS against slavery, but these disturbed
no mans composure, and excited 70 ~ COM
plant. 4 few fanatics in the Eastern
States. combined into Abolition Societies,
sent also their petitions 70 Congress, but
these were disposed Of like those 81 the
Quakers, and the currents q National AMI
State politics, flowed smoothly on, without
a ripple proceeding from that cause.
In the progress Of events the abolition
lists, increasing in numbers, associated them
selves into a party organization and in the
States, especially u Ohio, New York, and
Massachusetts put forward candidates Tor
political Office But, deSpsod by both ot
the great parties into which the politics q
the country bad divided the people, they
would assiniate with neither. In Massa-
chusctts, for many years, Marcus Morton,
was their standing candidate for the Office u
Governor and for succession "a Prcsidrn
tial terms they voted in all the States, fen
Mr.. Binuy. A. their candidate lur the Pres
idency. Engrossed with the idea II gene
raj emancipation. they addressed themselves
to measures, wholly without the jurisdiction
Of Federal authority, and they could find,
therefore, no foundation, Oh which to rear
the super-structure If an enduring political
organization, and unasSisted hy eEtraneous
influences, their idiosincracy was certain, IN
the end to exhaust it, energy. But, untor-
tunately these influences were not withheld.
Tie old Federal party, under whose aus