Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-09-07


greatest men are sent To Congress They
! love power and God forbid that il should
be said that, SO long as they retained It,
the nation did no, prosper. But having
retained II long they have lost it. They
ought to have submitted without a muir.
mrr. They ought willing TO have con
ceGed 10 Others, what others have SO
long conceded to them. They ought to
have reflected, that there is spirit ia
other men, ar honorable spirit, and sim-
liar to that by which they are actuated,
which wiil not permit one however wor-
thy forever to retain privilege to which
others, who are equally worthy, have an
equal right. They ought to have re
membered and acted upon the repubii.
can principle Of rotation. But il is not
surprising that the possession of power
Should have acted upon them, as il does
upon all other men; that the long posses
sion should make them love il more:
that the loss OF il should excite unpleas-
ant sensations, and impel them 70 pursue
course which they would condemn
others for pursuing.
| j do not make these remarks for the
purpose OF exciting hostile feelings a
| galnst our southern brethren. make
them TO account for the singular opposi-
ton which is arrsyed against the present
administration. And should The effect
be to produce in our bosoms sufficient
degree OF the same spirit to counterbal.
lance that which animates them--a great
er degree should sincerely depl ecate
the patriot will not say that | have
made them unprotitably. Certain am
in that case, we should obtain, as we
should deserve, much higher degree of
their respect.
Does any one doubt this, or require
proof Of these remarlxsS Let him recol-
lect the csustic and contemptuousex
pressions applied to the seceders on the
| Missouri Question. Let HIN remember
the sneers of Mr.. Randolph, at our ''pn-
ritan" President Let him read the iol-
lowing remarks, boldly, but one would
think incautiously, made, by the same
prominent member. ave know what
we are doing. We of the south are u
nited from the Ohio to Florda-and we
can unite; but you of the north are be-
ginning TO divide, and you will DIVIDE
We have conquered you once, and we
can and will conquer you again. Aye,
Sir, we will drive you to the wall, and
when we have you there once more, we
mean to keep you there, and will nail
| you down like base money"
| And what are tAe charges which this
opposition make against oui puritan Pre-
sident, and what are the measures which
they have opposed? Aware OF the hon
est prejudices which exist, they have
given him the bad nameo of federaliat.
Let us, not my fellow citizens, be de-
piived Of our reasoning faculties by this
appeal to our predjudices. Let us not
ike a Salem jury return a verdict of
guilty, the instant, and for the sole rea-
son that the charge is made. Let US de-
mand proof of the fact.
Mr. Adams, as well as we know, was
once considered as member of the
federal party While his father was
President, he did not place himself in
opposition TO his administration; but he
did not like Mr.. Craw ford, take an act
i've part in supporting it. Ii the error
of Mr.. Crawford, upon whom iilial re.
spect imposed no restraint can be for
given, shall that of Mr.. Adams be re-
membered and visited upon him to this
day,
But in the long course of bis political
life, he has never advocated those prtn-
cipies, which were characteristic of the
federal party. His scrupulous reverence
of the constitution is not surpassed by
that ofany republican. II is wellknown
that the journals of the Senate, OF which
he was long member, have been search
ed by his enemies, and that the most
henious crime which has been brought
against him was, that he voted against
the law which oibade the importation
of slaves after the year 1907. The
reason which he has assigned for that
vote eyinces the regard he entertans
for that sacred instrument. Ii was taat,
although the law was net to take effect
until the time permitted by The eonztltu-
ton, 1t was yet on its passage before
Congress had power TO act on the SUBJ
ject. With many, this reason would be
considered conclusive; il must convince
all that the constitution may be entrust-
ed to bis care without the least hazard
of violation.
Not single vote of his can BE brought
A.. L. e A. 80