Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-01-20

ceived more than twenty years ago.
The Editor is startled with the cDmpat-
ison between the poorest American SOL
dier, aud the King upon bis throne. I
own was not a little stastled with II
myself-but il was purely spontaneous
- the growth Of the occasion-for who.
until this moment. ever beheld nation
Of freemen, Legislature as well as Peo-
pie, at the feet of the human being, and
not able 10 find sufficient of verslty in
the means, and richness in the expense,
with which they do honour to himi 1
car and do devoutly appreciate the no
bleness OF the motive, and will not pre-
tend to restrain the excess of It's testi>
monies. will not condemn the princi-
pie. except as ii relates to the National
Legislature.-but then it is precisely in
Itself what the slaves of Europe are do
ing to their Kings, and professedly from
the same motive. 1t is precisely what
we are daily and continually ridiculing
and condemning in them. 1t is national
vanity in appearance, and national graz
tltude BY the name only. We are free
men: we W to God alone the devotion
of our bending knees-to Freedom and
God fhe homage of proud hearts.
When we give them TO MORALS, it's Idol
airy, call it by whatever name we may.
But the Ilea intended 10 be illustra-
ted by the expression, and which, % q
mind of ordinary acu.cness, should have
been quite obvious, is not that a king
was the subject Of the bill, but that he
was entitled to no other rule OF justice
than the professionalism soldier. That
equal Justice and equal impartial respect
become the Congress of q free people
in other words, Mr.. Editor, it was a fl
CURE of speech, and you have, in tie heat
ofyour imaginaiion,a and for want Of time,
translated il literally. And does the ed
itor of the Gazette really believe that,if
an American soldier of the first rank,
had been the petitioner, that we should
have dispensed with all the common
rules Of the legislation thu. accounts,
the vouchers, and the ordinary accom-
~plishments of decent elaboration! In
such a case, would it have been crimi-
nal to ask a moments time for inquiry,
TO move an amendment The facts
are greatly against such a superstition;
I therefore trust that there was some
room for the figure. But, says the ed
itor Of the Gazette, "there is no affinity
between the instance of Lafayette and
any American soldier whatever and
because there is affinity, the American
Congress is thereby discharged from its
rules, its justice, and its deliberation.
The word'ah nifty must possess a truly
magical power to accomplish what the
editor asserts the bare want OF II does.
Itmust imply, as used, a bare difference
In the state of facts, or a preference.
Tfthe former, it effects nothing but the
extent or degree, not the rule OF justice.
If the meaning be what | suppose, viz.
That case Of Lafayette is so far prefera-
Bile TO that Of any American soldier, that
the Congress can prescribe no rules Tor
it, and are not bound by any, this ! must
beg leave to deny. The American sol
der fought by the side Of Laiayette-he
toiled with him as ardently The shed his
blood as freely--his spirit was as proud
his deeds were as noble-his soul was
as eleyated-and yet this editor says
that there is no affinity between the two.
I perceive that there is no affinity, but
it is in the manner of the two. NoAmer-
lean soldier has asked Of his country
bounty or gratitude, through the prostra-
ton Of its legislative character through
its humility. None, hope, but what
would refuse both, or either, on such
terms; nor does Lafayette ask or wish
it. No, the man who was the youthful
| champion of equal rights-who refused
| disL. o terms at 0lmutz, eve at
the risque fife, win disdain to receive
the bounty of any country at the expense
of all that gives merit and honor to that
bounty.
opposed the bill, because | believed
| the amount not warranted, & not calcu-
lated to produce the effect conte mpiated
by its advocates "a less amount might
have produced a union of sentiment and
opinion in the House, without which, the
measure must lose half its grace, and
the bounty more than hall its supposed
dignity. The amount must be JUSTIFIED
on one Of the two principles, either that
it was Justly due or that i was a lit and
suitable gratuity, fit both for the Civ
! er and the receiver. III it were justly
due, and owing, why take from justice
the most noble and bueatifni OF all
principles, the merit of weighing and
measuring, with her usual impartiali-