Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-11-08

verscd the principles Ut public conduct, upon
which they had, up to that time, acted. They
cannot approve OF the personal and vindictive
spirit 10 which the Opposition has been con-
Quoted. and they distrust the souudness of a
cause which relies for success upon disgracing
the characters of its prominent adyersaries.
They discredit the charges OF bargain and cor
ruption, preferred against the President and
Secretary Of State, and deprecate the existence
Of q spirit in the country, which. IN derelic
ton OF benevoIence and Christian charity. as.
cribes an action to the worst and most dishon.
orabl. motive, which could produce il. Ia the
vote Of VIZ. Clay for Mr. Adams. they see no.
thing but his selection of one or two ~aIterna.
tives, from which he was compelled, by his
public duty. to select, and the choice was that
universally approved in Virginia at the ti'ae,
and most Comfortable to the principles OF bis
public life, to his previous sentiments, in rela
ton 10 the two individuals, and to the general
fitness OF things,
In the selection Of Mr.. Clay as Secretary of
State. they recognize the Presidents concur.
renee with that general sentiment which as.
signed Mr.. Clay a distinguished. if not the
first rank among American Statesmen 10 active
lite. In his acceptance of the appointment,
they plainly perceive the advantage he has CAV.
en- his enemies in bringing his motives under
suspicion, but no indication whatever of the
reality of the alleged bargain and corruption.
They cannot consent for character to be held
by so frail a tenure, that regulations, idenuf
ed for twenty years with the history Of the
country, shall be over,hrown by insidious de
dlctions from actions applicable upon honest
and patriotic grounds, or by the passionate de.
nuncisticas ofdisappo,p,ed men-in these char
ges, rejecting upon the character of the c0un.
try as much as upon the distinguished indiyid
uals themselves, they repeat their utter disbe-
let a disbelief corrobora,ed by every success
slve attempt to esta5ishthem.
Of the People OF Virginia. the citizens here
ssembled inquire, what benefit they expect to
derive, what triumph Of principle they expect
to achieve, by the election Of General Jacksohf
What sympathy exist between them and him
on those great conslituti onal questions for which
they have 80 long and so nob'y contend d'
They are oppr.e I'd to enlarged constructions Of
tue Federal compact: General Jackson has sup
ported such constructions by his votes in the Sc
nate ofthe United States. They are inImlcal
to a protecting Tariff: he, having sanctioned
that OF 1924, now shroudS his opinions IN i'm
penetrable mystery They esteem the Corstl
tutlon as a holy thing. not TO be proclaimed by
violence, or altered but by the will OF the PEG.
pie; he has broken into its sanctuary with arms
IN NSAN1'h Nv VIZ ~ I8dDCbS
Corpus The great safeguard of individual liberty,
NOT to be suspended but by law: he has suspen.
ded i, upon his individual authority. They
consider the freedom of the citizen a. the end
of The Constitution, and not TO be invaded but
~ judgment OF his peers, and the law Of the
iand; General Jackson has thrown them into
PRISON at his arbitrary will and pleasure. They
nave entrusted the power Of peace and war to
'heIr Representatives IN Congress assembled:
General Jackson has invaded neutral country.
IN defiance of orders, and in violation Of the
constitutional provision. They have guaranteed
the freedom OF the Press as essential to public
liberty. Gen Jackson has punished its exer.
clse by imprisonment. Where, then, is the
cause for sympathy in his behalf
The citizens here assembled recur "a these
examples OF Unconstitutional violence. with re.
luctsace- They would gladly draw a veil over
transactions so painful from The dlshonor they
inflicted on the Constitution, If i, were posi-.
BILE. But the time has arrived when silence
would be ireachery. Nothing less i, now at
tempted, than the elevation Of the agent of SO
many illegal enoTmitles, TO the office of the
greatest responsibility, and The greatest pow.
er III the country. Win no other passport but
MS military reputation, General Jackson Laws
clam to rule n Republic founded in the supre.
macy OF law, and thousands OF his ie How citi.
zens, forget'ul OF The fate Of other Republics,
and worshlpP'ng in his person that miilar,
pr'nc'Pie, which successfully lad Greece.
Rome, England and France, in chains. at the
feet OF 8 master, are found to ,ott his pre-.
1t 10 this admiration Of the military
character. and this disposition to ele vste it over
the less splendid ard unot trusive, but more
safe pretenslons OF civil merit, that we deplore
AS The alarming characteristic which has but
now display ed Itseifi IN our country. From Gen.
Jackson we apprehend no attack upon public
ibeTty-It would be valueiess. indeed. and not
worth toe defence if it fell before the frst ex
ample ola military ruler. States do no, rash AZ
once from liberty to despo,ism- the seeds Of
the latter are sown in long anteceden, events.
II IS against sowing them, even in the gratifca
t'on or feeling OF patriotism and gratitude-it
is against taxing the first step, which is SO of
zen iatai, that we respectfully caution our fel-
low clhzehs In the general constitution Of
thlngs' the military principle seemed designed
oy late To De the Irreconcilable foe and the DIES
troyer OF liberty. The liberties Of Greece fell
before Alexander; those OF Rome, before Syl.
Ia and Csssi! ofEnglsnd, before Cromwell; of
france, before Bonspsrte. Why, fellow. citi.
zens. should we not profit by the example of
'hose celebrated and unfortunate States? WHY
should we, by the election of q citizen rs our
ruler Whose claims are derived exclusively
from the sword, sanction the principle thai
military is greater han civil merritt Why should
we establish a precedent which, although it may
prove harmless in its own casei may prove fatal
lnIts next fepetition' Why should we hold out
the idea to the turbulent and ambitious, that
the sIrest and speedIest road to the first honors,
is through blood and carnage and that the
Presidency of the United States may be con.
quered on the field Of battlel These are the
views which an impartial consideration Of this