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

4 protest against the euEc,ai systen, and to use all
/ honorable and practicable means within our pow
| err, to prevent its continuance. =.
We readily admit that the reasons on which
| we rely for rejecting and denouncinB the caucus
| system will not bear US out IN our opposition to
| the individuals nominated by the late Richmond
| Caucus For that opposition however We will
also endeayor to assign good and sufficient rea-
| sons. q.
| We have not been careless observers OF the
events of our time. We have contemplated
with proper national pride the rising greatness
OF the several distinguished individuals who now
| stand before the nation as Candidates tor the
| highest office IN our government, lhey are
| men whose high honor, patriotism, moral worth
| and splendid talents, would she'd ustre on any
age or country. They are men whose public
ssrvices enttlc them TO their country's gratitude
and whom she delights to honor. but the Office
of President requires qualifications which can.
| not be possessed by all in an equal degree, and
which indeed will seldom be found united in the
same individual. Ii calls for talents of the first
orrer united to long experience in the affairs
| OF nations. OF all the candidates, although each
| is in many respects highly meritorious, John
| Quincy Adams, in our opinion, possesses more
| of the requisite qualifications for that exalted
slsti, than any other. and is by longer probs
/ ton in the various subordinate posts of the 60
vernfnent, best entitled to claim this honorable
| reward. He was born and educated among a
people who stood foremost in the work of the
evolution, and who have always been, except
on one dark and mysterious day of their history
distinguished for their patriotism and attach
pent to our free institutions. Nearly thirty years
| OF his life have been devoted, with short inter
yals, to the service of his country. either in EN-
ploymen's abroad in the NEST difficult and deli.
cate trtis which he has discharged with the ut.
| most fidelity; or at home in the high councils OF
| the nation, where his wisdom and efficiency
have been acknowledged b. all bis co ,djutors
he early received the most fiattering and salts.
factory testimonials Of his merit, in the patron
age and confidence of that profound Judge of
character, Washington. 1t il well known that
he was held in high estimation by both Jefferson
and Madison; the latter II whom charged him
with some OF our most important foreign nego-
CATIONS, wherein lie rendered essential service,
to his country and added much 10 his own alrea-
dy great reputation. So high was his standing
At that time as dipIomalist and statesman, that
Mr.. Monroe, when about to form his cabinet
the .judicious selection of which has so greatly,
added TO his own and his country's glory, called
him E ON an honorable station abroad to fill'the
Office which he now holds That Office is Justly
considered in point Of importance the second in
the government Its close connection with the
first as it regards foreign relations is such as al
| most to identify them; and an experience of
eight years in the subordinate office is the best
| possible preparation for assuming the more re,
| sponslble, but not more arduous duties of the
higher one. How Mr. Adams has acquitted
himself in his present station, the whole nation
| is ready 10 answer with an approving voice. II
is sufficient to say that the office OF Secretary Of
State has been filled by a Jefferson, Madison,
and Monroe; and that in Mr.. Adanss hands
| its dignity has not been diminished.
When we contemplate the political state OF
Europe, and consider the doctrines advanced by
| that league of crowned heads, biasphemously
| styled the holy Alliance. and witness the detes
| table means by which those doctrines are en-
forced-"e cannot look forward without serious
concern to the part this country may he called
upon to take for the preservation OF its liberty
and independence.-And in the crisis which the
inauspicious aspect of Europe warns US to APP
prehend, it becomes doubly necessary that our
destinies should be entrusted TO man well
skilled in the political relations and practices OF
foreign states, as vel! as devotedly attached to
our own free goyernment-Andi III looking for
these qualifications, we find them in none SO
emf nenty united as in John Quincy Adams.
1t is admitted that Mr.. Adams literary attain
| ments. and his talents as an orator and a writer
are of the highest order His speeches and re-
ports in the Senate-hs diplomatic correspon-
dence with our own government and with tor.
eign Mlnisters-and his reports as Secretary of
State are before the world; and are universally
admired as specimens OF profound and accurate
investigation, logical reasoning and fine style.
But it is not for the Qualities that constitute
him an accomplished scholar, orator and states
man, that Mr.. Adams claims our regard. In all
the relations OF domestic life his conduct is moNt
exemplary. His worst enemies have never E.
ven attempted to fix stigma upon his private
| character. ..-..
But it is urged by the opponents of Mr.. A.
| that he was once a FederaIst & ought not there.
fore, to receive the confidence OF republicans
| That he is from .Noraie,7, S.cts, and ought
| not therefore to receive the support of the
Southern people. We view these arguments
as altogether unworthy OF consideration, and
as rejecting discredit on the cause that. EN-.
true that he was once. a Federslist the objec.
ton applies with equal if not-stronger force.
to one at least of his prominent competitors.
But the federal party has ceased to exist, as a
| party. The partition walls have beenremoyed
and it may now be said with much more
truth than first spoken by Mr.. Jefferson, eve
are all feGeralists, we are all republicans. We
view Mr.. Adams only as an AMERICAN. In
all his prominent political acts, we have seen
him resting firms on the broad basis Of the
constitution, and this we take to be the truest
test of Republcanism. From statesman whose
principles are thus well founded, and whose
adherence to those principles, is tested by thir
ty years in public service, the. peoples of the
south have no good reason to fear danger to
| their rights or Interests. The selection Of
! chief Magistrate OF the Union Is altogether
national affair in which we ought to know no
| ~ h,t o.,