Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-03-12
MARTINsBURG, VA THURSDAY. MARCH IL, 1929.

'"S PeVpie nave riSht IN an orderly and
oeaeeaoie manner 10 assemble to consnlt upon
Tue common goodi' and to Request Of heir 70.
'srs 'oy the way Of addresses, petit oRs or re
mons.rs ICES. redress 81 the wrongs done them,
and OF the grievances they suffer- This IS q.
| numerated IN the Constitution Of Massachu.
sets among our natural, essential and unsliena
| bic rights; and it Is recognized in the Const
tuition OF the United States; and who then shall
dare TO set limits TO It's exercise, or TO pre-
scribe TO us the manner in which il shall be
exeFsed! We have already spoken of the state
OF Puoiic affairs and the measures n The gene
raj government, IN the year 1914, and OF
the degree OF excitement, amounting nearly 10
desperation, to which they had brought the
minds OF the people ia this and the adjoining
States. Their sufferings sud spprehensions
could no longer be silently endurs d, and nu
merous meetings OF the citizens had been held
on the OCCASION in various parts o. The country
! 1t Was then though, thar the measures called
for 10 slch an emergency world be more pru
DENLY and safely matured and promoted by the
government OF the State, than by unorganlzed
bodies OF individuals, strongly excited by whs,
they considered 10 be the unjust oppressive
measures OF The general government. u all the
citizens had the right. jointly and severally. to
consult Tor the common good. and TO seek for
redress ottaeir grievances, no reason can be
given why al may not exercise the same right
10 their behalf We no where find any const
tu,i0nal prohibition or restraint of the exer
else of this power by the State, and if not
prohibited, il is reserved the State. We
maintain then that the people had an unques
tlonable right, IN this as vel as in other modes,
TO express their opinions of the measures of the
general government, and to seek, 'by add ress.
90 NET ut tn IN
dress OF their grievances and relief from their
sufii risgs.
II here was no constitutional objection 10
this mod oil proceeding, il Will be resd,i, adj.
mitted that il was IN all respects the most ell
gible. In the state of d'str SIS end danger
Which then oppressed all hearts I was 90 be
apprebe nded before Suggested, that large
and frequent asse mhIies OF the pc pie might
lead TO measures inconsistent with the peace
and order of the community. ifan appeal was
to be made 10 the government n the United
States i; was likely 10, be more effectual, il
procee ding from he whole State collectively,
than from insulated assemblies of ci'lzens,
and the application IN that form would tend also
to repress The public excitement, & prevent any
saddep and unatvlsed proceedings of the PEG.
pie by holding out TO hen the prospect oi
rehef through the Influence o. the State 80.
versment. This after consideration had great
weigh, with the legislature, and Is be !rsred to
! have been the only motive that couid have in.
| duced some ofthe delegates, 10 tina, convention,
| to quit the seciusion 10 which they bad volun-
| iaSily retired, TO expose themselves anew to
! all the fatigue and anxiety, the odium, the
( mlsrcp resentaton, calumnles and unjust re.
! proaches, which so frequently accompany and
/ folIow the best exeftious for the public s God.
If.each one Oft States had the right tbus
| TO seek redress Of grievances, it is clear thai
! two or more States might consult together foS
! the same puapose, and the only mode in which
! they could consul, each other WAS by mususi
appointment of delegates for that purpose.
But this is not the only ground, nor is 1t the
strongest. on which 90 rest the Justification OF
toe proceedings in Question. IT the govern
| T0eni of the United States in time OF sush
/ distress and danger should be unalie nabe OF
should neglect. to afford protection and relief
! to the people, the legislature OF the State would
not only have right but it would be their
| duty, 10 consult together, and il practicable,
| 10 furnish those f.om their own resources -
This would be in aid ofthe general government
| How severely the people of Massachusetts ex'
| perienced at that tims the want of this ability
OF deposition, IN the general government, we
need not repeat II the Legislature of single
/ u a'C uiSht uuUCF SuCl CtECuWsNdHIEs CbHra'
| vor TO provide for is defence, without infing
ing the national compact, M reason IS perceived
| why they might not appoint a committee or
| delegates to confer with the delegates OF
neighhoring States, who were exposed TO like
dangers and sufferings, 10 devise and suggest
TO their respective legislatures, measures hy
which their own resources might be employed
| IN manner not repus nant 10 their obligations
! as members to the Union. 4 part Oh New
| Englsnd had been invaded, and was then held
| by the enemy, without an effort by the gener.
al government to regain 1t; aud i. another in
vssion VIII oh was then threatened and general.
/ iy expected had taken place, and The New
England ates had been siIl deserted by the
] government and left 10 rely on heir own re.
sources. it is obvious thst the best mode OF pro-
ding Tor their common defence would have
been simultaneous and combined operation
| OF all their forces. The states originally pos
sessed this ,igh', and we hold that il never bss
been surrendered, nor taken from them by the
| people.
The argument on this point might be easily
| extended; but We may confidently rely on the
| two grounds above mentioned to Wit. the right
OF the people, through their State egs'slures
or otherwise, 10 petition and demonstrate tor .
redress of their grievances; and the right Of
| the State IN lime OF war and threatened inva
sion to make che necessary provisions for then
own defence. To these objects was confined
the whole au hoFity conferred by our leg islsture
on the delegates whom they appointed. ihes
were directed TO meet and confer with oihei
| delegates, and to advise and sugge measures
OF relief tor the adoption of the respective
States; but not TO represent or act for theiI
| commitments by agreeing TO, or adopting any
suoh measures the mselyes, or in behalf oil the
Ststes.