Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-06-08


During the existence of the paroxysm,
his hands are so firmly clenched toge-
Their az deeply to indent them with his
fingers, and cause the blood to stagnatts
under his nails. Miss Bakers hands
used to be motionless by her side, yet
she, like Mr. Watson, used to move her
head on the pillow as if addressing an
audience. In the midst of an exhorta-
ton, Rachel would pause to answer a
question, and then correctly proceed5
but Mr.. Watson cannot be diverted from
his subject. In short, this state OF the
human body, and mind, must be deem
ed one OF great singularity and interest,
and one which, as If has never been full
ly investigated and explained, opens a
wide field for the religious and philoso-
phical enquirer.
The late William P'nkncy-The com
pensation of the higher offices under this
government, says the New York Ame-
Iican, which, as is well known, lasts on
ly while the services are performed,
without any reversion for old age or
misfortune, is, generally speaking, mad
equate. Ut has been the fate of almost
all those who have been much in the
public employment, to leave it in their
age. impaired in fortune, or absolutely
in debt, and with families around them
unprovided for. We have been particu-
lafly struck with this fact, in reading the
sketch by Mr.. Wheaton, of the Lille Of
pinkney. That highly gifted man, who,
by the application of his fine faculties
to his professional career, had the most
certain assurance before him OF fortune
and honor, was, by accepting foreign
embassies, not only shut out from his
opportunity, but actually compelled by
the inadequacy of his salary, TO spend
for the public the little accumulation of
former exertions. Of the hardship and
injustice Of thus stinting the remunera-
ton of faithful servants, Mr.. Pinkney
with great feeling speaks in the private
letters which from time to time, while in
Europe, he wrote to his lends at home,
and which, by the bye, constitute not the
least interesting part of Mr.. Wheaton's
publication He felt the more acutely
the hardships of this misplaced econo-
my, from the circumstance that while
he was thus lavishing his means and
time for his country, there were those in
that country who charged him with mer~
cenary and ambitious views, and aban-
donment of principle in seeking the sta
tons to which, however, 1t appears ne
was, without any solicitations on his
part, called To his sensitive mind, con-.
scious of its own integrity, il was Bit
ter reflection that, while he was actually
robbing his children Of their Inheritance
by devoting 1t to his country, the time
and talents that would have ensured ease
and competence to them, he was to be
held up as an adyenturer, specializing
with mercenary motives, in the chances
of the political lottery. If the injustice
of party feeling, or the malignancy of
party violence could be neutralized or
by reason, the pecuniary sacri-
fees made by Mr. Pinkney, as recorded
in some Of his letters, when contrasted
with the imputations cast at the time
upon the motives for accepting public
stations, might produce this salutary re-
suit But such is not the nature OF man,
or rather of party. The same SANDER,
The same virulence, the same injustice,
no matter how often detected and ex-
posed, viii be again and again resorted
10, whenever an adversary is TO be in
iured, or political advocate to be adj
vanced. There are in politics, as in war,
ever ready TO DO the bid
ngs of their superiors; and who without
remorse or compunction, stab life or
as the case may be, by con-
tract To revert to the idea by which
we began these remarks, we know Of
no revision that would be more really
honorable to the character of the United
States, or creditable 10 the individual
Who should have the boldness to under
AXE and urge Il, than one that shonId
eek To establish more Just appor-
ionment of public reward to public
service. This once done, we should
lear no more of Jefferson funds" or
IF the claims of Elk Presidents on Com
,ress.
Having referredto Wheaton's sketch
If the Life of Pinkney, we take the OPP
of saying, that il is publics-
ion of great interest.
1t is in truth only sketch, but a
lxo.,.,, h. s1,.lC,,l bop1 apH