Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-03-03
lpsua inter rrcupss ,4s,a .ansle ,soven,ern.

band who surrounding linn in the den whittier
he had retired, flushed with the sweet and
intoxicating beverage Of success, by n well
aimed blow ~extinguished his haleful vision,
and left him to crepe bis way IN alter dark.
ness.
Bu, to drop all p~oetical a~llusion; do not the
Senate merit commendation tor the firm and IN
dependent course they have pursued For my
part I think we have reason to be grateful that
they have endeavored 10 preserve the people
from their own worst enesiies-them:lves
that at least they have not committed the SIN
OF lending their aid to so mischievous a mea.
sire as that Of asce' . aGing tie pu5hc sentiment
in regard TO the call OF a conyentien. Ought
1t 20 be expected OF them TO afford facilities
Tor doing that which they themselves aisap-
provef Our forefstlscrs had as much rishtto
suppose that their reronstrance against Brl.
tish oppression would have been regarded by
the British parliament, Matters Of govern
ment are too weighty and too mysterious for
the understanding of the common people, and
their clamors for reform ought to discauAte.
nanced when not approved by their rulers. ]
BAY this at the hazard of NOT being thought .
republican-i acknowledge the right Of the
people (mespx8 thereby the sfrechoide,s) 10
cTpfess their opinions; + an rather inclined 10
think they are competent to self government:
but TO confess the truth, | have an instructive
dread, i permitted to have their own way, they
viii destroy every thing that ought 10 be held
sacred, and do themselves irremediable mis-
chief Their notions Of amending the consti-
tuition are as various as their faces, and pre-,
posterous in the extreme They speak of our
rulers with as little ceremony as ifthey were in
reality what the bill Of rights denominates
them, thar srustees and servants. There is
scarcely any part of the constitution with
which they would not irreyerently intermediate:
as u they thought themselves as wise as their
ancestors, or as IL IL were conceivable, that a
constitution could be defective which was fra
med nearly fifty years ago Some of these IN
novators think the responsibility OF the jndlcia-
ry should be increased. that even judges
should not be trusted with absolute power;
that they should be required 20 administer Jus.
tee even when it may not comport with their
personal convenience, and il they neglect their
duty that there should be some practical COR
receive: not rejecting that the less RESPONSE
oliIty there is on a public officer, the more he
IS independent of the people and lett to the
exercise OF his own discretioS: the more GER
tain he is to act correctly; a principle of action
highly 1attering to human nature, on which
most OF the legitimate governments OF the
world are founded, and on which the execu.
tive and legislative departments of our own
ought to have been originally organized.
Some complain that the members of the exc
cutIve council are too numerous, not recollcct.
ing that in a multitude Of councillors there is
much wisdom.
They object too TO the mode of.heir rerio-
val, and would most unreasonable take from
their fellow citizens the amusing spectacle Of
a triennial scratch. Others contend that the
legislative body is too large; that reduced to
one hall its present size, it would transact bu-
siness with more facility and save annually to
the state some 80 or 10000 dollars. This is a
clear mistake, as is easily proved by an arg,-
ment q Jotrori. Thus: If one hundred men
can transact a given quantity 81 business, 10 a
gwen time, a Jorfiori two hundred men, in
the same time, can transact double tina, guam
tity. a mode of reasoning perhaps rather too
refined for vulgar capacities, though well un.
derstood by the Irish economist, who deter.
mined to burn wood in two stoves, made for
saving fuel; arguing very wisely that if one
stove saved during the year a certain quantity
OF wood. two would ncontestlbly save just
twice az much. AS to the expense Of our be.
gislature, il is needless 70 say any thing; look
TO the statute book: truly their labors are pearls
Of great price.
No. only the number Of Representatives, but
the mode of electing them, IS complained Of
The right of suffrage, IT - objected, is cOnir
ned to the owners Of the soil; as If It was no,
evident, that land not only produces food for
man, but endows its possessors with virtue.
intelligence and patriotism. This limitation.
say they, is anti-repubhcsn and uniust-be-
cause It dsfranehises a large portion, perhaps
q majority OF the citizens of tie state. But
they forget there must be a limit: upon their
own principles they " ould exclude slaves from
voting-and low is il. that men without land
ed property think themselves entitled to more
political rights than negroes Resides, do not
those who own the land s1rn tie country Most
surely. The man that has no land has no
country; and when told he should fight for his
country, the EXPRESSION is 10 be taken IN al
the glory of rhetorical bourish; commonly
called am al captdndum. che landhoiders, ii
cannot be denied. have a right to DIR " off all
trespas sers from their estates: and as this
right is inherent in the possessogs of the soil
in all other parts of the word as well a. in
Virginia, it follows, that these lsndiess ms.
creants may Earafuay be driven from Inc face OF
the earth, to seek a refuge in the sea- whieh
doubtless the God Of nature designed toe their
abode.
To this frivolous list of imaginary defect
aud grievances is TO be added the u.uruur 4.
gainst inequality of representation in different
parts OF the commonwealth. TAs Is the most
unreasonable of all Surely it isthe ms oFtane,
noe the fault of the smaller counties that they
are not better populated nor is there any good
reason why q small county should not be enti-
tied 10 equal privileges Silh a large onS-