Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-04-22

Ddrt, -. L UTdHt, Esq. M. H VII. Jel-
frey, and several other distinguished
public characters, were present In
the course of the evening, Mr.. Jeffrey
proposed the following toast, which was
received and drank with the utmost
enthusiasm:-"Ihe President of the
q. States, and may there BE- speedy
Unidn Of all free countries against the
.associatiorl Of Despots." In prefacing
this toast, Mr. Jeffrey remarked: -
"Tbat while the meeting was very
naturally and properly occupied with
the champions of freedom in Europe,
and the interests of their own country,
he had to entreat their attention, and
bring under their notice, country and
people, which, however identified
with ourselves, at one period, was now,
he thanked God, a foreign community.
He alluded to the United States of A.
merica; an Independent state, which
has never crouched TO the wishes of
despots, and never could be subdued
by the violence of invasion, and was
certainly destined to exhibit in the flu
ture history of the civilized world,
prominent instance of what a State
can accomplish, when the people in
diyidually and collectively, co-operated
to maintain the birth-right of freedom,
and preserve the interest of freemen
(Cheers.) But it was MOTHS province
TO occupy the attention of the meeting
with detail of their growing influ-
ence. To that futrrity we all looked
forward with pleasure; and all present,
lie doubted not, looked TO the measures
which they had employed, and the hap
py effect Of the operation of those mea-
snres, which of itself afforded most
powerful and triumphant argument, of
what well regulated liberty could pro-
duce; that form of liberty, and that
form Of government, which the new
world SO strikingly displayed. What
were the topics continually resorted to,
what were the objections perpetually
thrown upon those who advocated liber-
al principles-that they were calculated
to pr6luce disorder and tumult In the
face OF the world, he would appeal to
the history of the United States, as af-
iording complete refutation OF those
most unjust and ungenerous calumnies
In what nation was there so little tu-
multi; IN what country was liberty more
tourlshing, and party spirit less violent'
and whose laws and constitution were
SO happily productive of the best inter-
ests OF the community. Lei us only
reduce to practice those principles as
the test of their intrinsic merit, and
their public utility principles which
the energy of freedom can alone be-
stow, and which invariably lead to tram
guilty, happiness and peace: The
Southern part of America had been
civilized long before the United States
Their soil was more genial-their eli |
mates more fruitful, and their oppor-
tunities and sources of wealth were
more sure, and yet with all these adj |
vantages they were trodden down by
the bigotry OF monks, they were in a /
state of the most abject slavery, and
from the ruins the first escot of glorious
liberty lad arisen. Without any ad-
vantage but the energy of freedom they
had built for themselves ON the solid
foundation of liberty. 1t was no exag-
gerated account he gave when he said,
that withouta single exception, America
possessed in her present situation, more
energy, more force, and more decorum
and dignity, than any other nation in
the civilized world. Great benefits had
been conferred by America without
much exertfon on her own part, but
solely by her great and vigorous exam
pie, by which liberty has been encourage
ed and despotism COMPOUNDED. Much !
Cheering) The time may perhaps
come when we may look forward to |
that free dom for more active and glori-
Gus services: but it was too much to
expect that herinfant hand could stretch |
across the Atlantic to interfere between |
any contending powers in this quarter
of the world; but now so soon as her
shoreswer menaceG by a band of Eu-
Iopean Eespots, we have heard the |
first sound of that avenging thunder,
from which those who had reason to- |
fear it, turned away both their hearts |
andtheir ears. when bad men league |
together, good men must join.) He |
trusted the toast would be acceptable to |
all; but it could not be complete if he |
did not couple with the name of the
elective Chief, whose open, candid, and |
decided addre IS gave indications of