Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-06-19
Mr.. Randolph's Address.
TO THE FREEHOLDERs OF

CtfSO Aht%CH
dedicate to you the following fragment.
That it appears in its present mutilated
shape is to be ascribed to the successful u
surpaticn which has reduced the Freedom of
speech in one Branch Of the American Con.
gress TO an empty name. 1t is now estab-
lished for fhe first time, and IN the person
ofyouy representative, that the House may.
and will refuse to hear a member IN his
place, or even to receive q motion from
him upon the most momentous subject that
can be presented for legislative dscision.-
A similar motion was brought forward bv
the republican minority in the year 1909
before these modern Inventions for sitting
freedom of debate had been discovered. 1t
was discussed as matter Of right until it was
abandoned by the mover ir consequence OF
additional information the correspondence
of our ENJOYS at Paris] laid before Con-
gress bv the President. In the reign of
terror" the fathers of the Sedi.ion Law had
not the hardihood to prescribe liberty OF
speech, muchless the right of free debate on
the Aoor of Congress. This invasion OF
the public liberties was reserved for self.
styled republicans, who hold your under.
standings in such contempt as to flatter
themselves that you will overlook their We
nv outrage upon the great first principles of
free government, in the consideration OF
their professions of tender regard for the
privileges of the people. 1t is for you to
decide whether they have undervalued your
intelligence and spirit, or whether they have
formed a just estimate of your character
You do not require to be told that the vic.
lasion of the rights of him whom you have
deputed to represent you is an invasion OF
the rights ofevery man among you, OF eve-
~ individual in socicty.-If this abuse be
suffered to pass unredressed-and the peo-
pie alone are competent to apply the rene.
dy-we must bid adieu to a free form of
government, forever.
Having learned from various sources that
a declaration of war would be attempted on
Monday next, Nth closed doors, / deemed
it my duty to endeayour, by an exercise of
my constitutional functions, to arrest this
heaviest of Ill possible calamities, and avert
it from our happy country. | accordingly
made the effort of which l now give you the
result, and of the success of which you will
already have been informed before these
phHCS a TCdIfl yohs piCkCu0 Outb W
give you the substance of my unfinished ar
gument. The glowing words-the language
of the hesrt-have passed away with the
occasion that called them forth. They are
no longer under my controul. My design
is simply to submit to you the views which
have induced me to consider a war with
England, under existing circumstances, as
COMFORTING neither with the INTEREST nor
the HONOUR of the American people, but as
an I%DoLATRoUs SACRIFICE 0fbofh, on the
alter of FRENCH RAPACITY, PER.
FlDY AND AMBITION!
France has for years past offered US terms
of underlined commercial arrangement at
the price of a war with England, which hi.
thcrto we have not wanted frmness and vir.
tue to reject. That price is now to be paid.
We are tired ofholding out-snd following
the example of the nations of continental
Europe; entaugled in the articles, or awed
BY the power of the destroyer of mankind
we are prepared to become instrumental to
his project of universal dominion. Before
these pages meet your eye, the last Repub-
lie of the earth will have enlisted under the
banners of the tvrant and become a party to
his cause. The blood of American free.
men must flow to cement his power, to aid
in sitting the last struggles of afflicted and
prosecuted man to deliver up into his
hands the patriots of Spain and Portugal, to
establish his empire over the ocean aud o..
yer the land that gave our fore-fathers birth:
to forge our own chains! And yet, my
friends, we are told, as we were told in the
days of the mad ambition of MIR. Adams, |
"THAT THE FINCER OF HEAVEN POINTS
TO WAR;" Yes the finger of Heaven does
point TO war. 1t points TO war, as it points
to the mansions of eternal misery and tor.