Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-09-04

national policy about winch We diiter-ne mea-
sure of national importance upon which we
clash. II it be not so, why this excitement and
dsnsy among the aged and the venerabie-,he
rejecting and the gravel why the deep tote
rest and awful soiicitude which pervades that
portion OF our community which seldom min.
giles in scenes Of political strifei See your re-
volutionary veterans, who. for half q century,
have reposed tFanquiliy upon their lsuFels-do
they yet slumber Ia silencel Do hey yet regard
with indifference the passing signs Of the politi-
cal tempest No; They are aroused by the por-
tentoUs eharaeteP of the times-they feel an
spprehsnsisn that that csuntry for which they
bled, IS fast approaching TO her fate; aud as men
claiming a right TO lnterpese. they again min
gle among their fellow-citizcns, TO avert the
threatened calamity. Hear the language ef
ths lsmentsd Sage Of Monticello. Whs: thought
he of this contest this faith in the self gov.
eminent OF the people had never been so com
pletaly shaken, as by the efforts made to place
over their heads a man who, IN every station he
ever flied, either military or civil, made 1t =
point to violate every order and instruction, and
to take his own arbitrary will as the guide OF
his conduct
He felt fully persuaded, that a more import
ant question had never before been submitted
TO the American people-a question more con-
clus,yeiy calculated TO test how far they were
capable OF exercising with discretion, the bigh
and delicate functions of self government. DIS
qualified by nature and habit, as Gen Jackson
PROFESSIONALLY WAS for civil occupation Of higa
acknowledgements by a faction IN OPPOSE
uon 10 men pre-eminenily qualified for tho trust
sustained, too, upon an utter contempt oil ev
cry qualification heretofore deemed essential TO
ne Chief Magistrscy OF the nation--with the
ayowed object Of prestratlng an administrator
winch had pursued the uniform policy at the
Fathers OF the Repablic-restlng lis claims ex-
clusively upon the equivocsI pretensiohs OF
military seTyioes-ap experiment was fairly 10
progress to ascertain how far they we're pos
sessed of that sound discrimination 50 requisite
in the choice of puslsc agents. DISCRIMINATION
which can allsi to military merit. military re-
ward-to civil talents, and political experience,
civil and Political preferment-s discrimination
which can hufl the dsDagogue from the SCAT
ct assumed patriotism, and sustain a faithful
public fuuctionary, while pursuing that policy
dictated by the interests of tha nation
II wss no ordinary cause of excitement, he
conceived. which could have brought back the
aged and the venerable Of tue land, from the
shades of their retire ment, 10 crowd again up.
On the theatre of political bitterness and strife,
Whist was shat exciting oausel What was that
danger, of whish their experience admeaisasd
| us to bewarei The calamities Of q foreign war;
No. They would a)ess their God ii il was no
thing worse: Cheerfully could they again see
he Capitol OF their country IN hames-chesr.
fully could they see her thousand warriors ex
posed to the slaughter of an invading foe. be-
cause they would thsre perceive assurance that
that country, IN whose defence patriotism and
yalour thus rallied. was still cherished in the
| recoiiecuon Of her sons. But not 80. No sush
| aaa,,r.uea "a ntrao vrbap lIa xniea nf 2ai,t.o~
and Disunion - abroad--when this league of
Confederate Republics is threatened with dis
sslution-whea the fundamental principle upon
which the structure and Constitution Of this go
ysrsment rests, bids fair TO be tramplad under
foot, aud crushed under the triumphs Oh Factioa.
The cbsraeisr OF this CONFESSIONAL not be mis-
~taken-the dangers OF this struggle could net De
! disguised, Whenever they cast their ayes, they
| might perseive evidence of it. II might be
seen in the daring and tepocious combination
which now oyeeskadows the government-in
the temper and unfsiness Of that individual upon
whom tins combination has concentrated its
| power-in the array and complexion of parties
in every state in the Union: II might be seen in
thSse solemn and forebsding admonitions with
which the yet lingering reiicts of revolutionary
virtue and wisdom-thc Conscrips Fathers of
our Land-the remains of an age of heroism,
49, I'm ~ khG IoOaO 0Aha
| gers OF this contest. Is there not virtue enough
in this land to profit by such admonitionsl
In selecting between the prescn, Chief Ma
gistrste and his competitor, however unequal
their experience in civil affairs might bet was
no, SO much in the diff renee Ut their l~ntellec-
tusl qualifications as in tbs danger Of The preee-
uent, that the true importsace OF the question
became most manifest. In the one instance, you
give a sanction 10 principles hostile to the
stability of your institutions-priuciples that
must ultimately lead 10 the destruction OF any
Republic on the face Of the earth. You not
only confer the highest distinction upon a man
who has habiiuaily violated the most sacred
maxims of your gcvernnent-but you sanction
the idea that your most important offices are no
longer 10 be considered as d, usts for tue benefit
OF The peeple-but as rerrGrds TO be conferred
as the result of success IN the 6eld-or popu.
iarity with a party. To this error may most
clearly be traced the destruction of the Athe-
man Republic. From the moment that any PEG.
pie bestsw their responsible offices rather as
tokens of their gratitude, than with a view to
the appropriate duties to be performed by the
incumbent, be did not hesitate TO affirm that
they ceased to merit the high privilege Of self.
government; and gave an awful indication of
the result Of their folly.
tie confessed that no question more forcibly
pressed itself upon his mind, than what posi-
bic corresponding benefit, for all the danger to
be incurred, could be expected to result TO the
Republic from the election of Andrew Jackson?
He knew OF no change of policy that vas con.
tempssted by a change OF administration Ger
family none has baen-nons dare be ayowed by