Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-08-24
McKso.v CIRCULAR.
To JONATHAN ROBERTS, EsG.
Err,Cx.y frr,zrNr-


this inncture, so closely blended with
the political elevation OF General Az
DREW Jackson, that watchtul and
vigorous efforts to promote the latter,
must receive the aid aud appreciation of
all sincerely attached to The former.
Our government is based upon the
peoples will. II this foundation be re-
moved, orif, as in Europe, it be disre-
garded. the structure of our civil liber-
tes must fall, or be ultimately over
thrown. Unless we are willing to change
our system; to sink into the condition
whence we are bat just emancipated;
and to entail upon our descendants all
the degradation and wretchedness from
which our ancestors, at the hazard of
life and fortune, rescued themselves and
us: we should vigilantly and fearlessly
enforce our rights against the encrosch-
nents of power and the subtle arts of
ambition.
Until the period made memorable by
the election of the present President Of
the United States, the principles of the
revolution Of 10 especially 10 reference
TO the duty of public agents and the So
vereignty of the peoples will, had been
sacredly pursued and most happily ex
emplified On that occasion. however,
they were openly violated. and their vi
olation accompanied by indications of
corruption truly appropriated to the
event, and well calculated to alarm our
patriotism. Although the election was
by the provisions OF the Constitution,
Iightfully within the power Of the house
OF representatives., who could expect
that the people would be spurned by
their delegates, Who could expect that
the public servant would unblushinglv
deny his master. Who anticipated that
the Representative, known, existing in
no other character, should defy, repel,
and insult his constituents. And who,
in the land of Washington and Jeffer-
son; while the first was yet fresh in inn
mortality, and the second still mortal;
could expect to find political promotion
to follow upon political infdelity, and
the peoples Offices showered upon him
who BETRAYED and Knocked the people.
1t will be remembered that in the
house of representatives., the presiden-
tial election is conducted BY states that
Gen. JACKSON, though far ahead of
his competitors on the return of the cleo.
torai ballots, there received but eight
votes; that the representatives of Ken
tucky gave their state vote to Mr. Adj
ans ia favor of whom not single man
of their constituents had, by suffrage
declared himself: that the representa-
i've of Illinois, unmindful of a public
pledge, acted in the same manner, that
the representative from Missouri fol-
lowed in his wake, even after the re-
peated and protractea struggles of con-
scious sense Of duty: and that Loulsian-
ma, whose soil had been redeemed, and
whose matrons had been shielded by the
transcendent heroism of JACKSON
from the barbarous pursuit of beauty
and booty abused by two of her re-
representatives., turned upon her preser.
yer, and against the viii of her citizens,
pierced him with tha fang of unparalleled
ed insratitude. Nor can we forget, that
the master spirit, by the power Of whose
influence, mysteriously exerted, these
effects so opposite to republicanism,
were produced, was himself instantly
rewarded with the office of Secretary of
State, long an object of his ambition.
Such examples warn us to be wary
in time, unless speedily and emphatcal
ly condemned. they win rpen into pre-
cedents, and afford conspicuous apollo.
gees for fortune misconduct. 1t merits
remark, that Mr.. Adams, elated perhaps
to indscretion by his triumph over the
people, in bis very first message to con-
gress, insinuates that our representa-
tives should not be 'palsied by the will
of their constituents" in other words,
that they should disregard that will how
ever clearly ascertained, when incon-
sistent with their own personal views or
opinions. Such is the inevitable tenden-
cy, as it constituted the ground work of
the principles upon which his election
was accomplished.
In the fall of this year, we shall be
called upon TO select members of con-
gress; and they whom we select, will con-
finue TO act as such until after the choice
of another chief magistrate. II is with
in the range of possible contingencies,
that they may elect the President for the
ensuing four years. is it not, then, our
It, - avart mara than common clr-