Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-12-30

aud willing to oppose the approaches of ar.
bitrary power and corruption, whenever they
may take place; aud to be the continual sup
porter OF the rights of the people. and not Of
any partis ular set OF men whe may seek to
! invade them; and by the purity OF elections,
mean the tight 10 vote according to the die
tates OF q mans own judgment and conscience
without restraint from the government and
Tree from any Apprehension OF being punished
Tor has vote; and from any Improper bias
from the hope being rewarded Tor il by The
government IL we fail TO preserve the free.
dom OF the press and The purity Of elections,
thus understood, our boasied liberties are
not worth rush, and our constitution has
become a shadow. We have recently wit
messed in Fsance revolution that has been
thus far extraordinary and glorious. Ii is the
commencement of torrent that will find its
course throughout the continent OF Europe
II has shewn itself in Belgium, and the skirts
OF the tempest are sweeping over the sur.
rounding nations. Although there may be
reasons to fear that the sgitatioHs OF the
storm, have not fully subsidized, vet II il be ov-
er II IS we'll. II is a matter peculiarly their
own, and whilst. like skilfnl mariners we dis.
Germ the signs. and violence and character Of
the conlmotion, let us look al home, and ex
cit every nerve 10 bring our ship in safety 10
IFS destined port. Or rather like our ancestors
~ The wilderness, now our fruitful fields when
they heard the savage yell, Rugged theirchil-,
dTen STAT closer To their bosoms. so let il he
our choice, as il is our duty, ia hug the con.
shtutlon stu closer to our hearts, as its safe
ty is assailed.
In the spirit of these suggestions ask is all
safe at home? The revolution in France was
brought abont by an attempt 10 destroy the
(rppHan, of "A
government dare not undertake to accomplish
such a decd by torce--but what cannot be
done by force may be done by Corruption
Again ! repeat that there 10 no danger to our
constitution from open force Ten thousand
arms would instantly be extended TO repelthe
assault. But il may be undermined. lnsid,-
Gus friends protesting 10 he the friends Of
the people exclusive republicans may. by
pensloning and prosti'uting the press, drive
every man from public confidence who de-
serves TO enjoy it Let it be remembered
that the Saviour Of the world was betrayed
with Kiss; and although the people cannot
We forced TO surrender this safeguard of their
liberty, they may IN an unguafded hour be
betrayed out oil 1t. Open force may he met
but who can secure himself against secret poi
sona-He may have been drinking il for
months, and his constitution be broken and
i'"|y W pStioh, eiS TIC - oNdfI vi ito siiIbt
approach.
Fellow citizens, The present executive OF
the United States came into power under
circumstances that had occurred TO none
who had preceded him. He attained pop
ulaiity which il is diihcnlt to account for, but
which elel aied him TO the presidency by an
overwhelming majority. Happened TO 10 at
Washington at the time, and before General
Jackson was sworn into office, Ill swarmed
with printers who were office seekers, and
who boldly ayowed they came there 10 re-
ceive their reward Tor advancing The preten
siois OF the successful chief Never before
did blush so deeply for my countrymen. |
| was not and am not the advocate Of Gen
jackson, but | did think him an honest and
independent enough to have s,surned the VI
from him. But was mistaken, They bet
ter knew their man. They understood their
reteerd, express or implied and they GO. ii
Is not this corruption? IL the source is cor
rnpied, what purity can we expect from the
flowing of tie waicrsp Where is the safety
OF our country, and where is our security, if
an individual aspres to power can gain tile
press by bringing bis conductors uy the lure
OF Office and what is worse than all brbe
them with your own money 10 betlay your
interests. | do in the sincerity Of my heart,
believe that stab has been given TO the gre at
principle Of freedom of the press. from which
it viii not readily recover After few more
elections, unless the evil is arrested, il will be
destroyed Tor ever.
The next great object TO which have adj
verted is the purity of elections Unless this
is maintained, both in prieciple and in prac
lice, our freedom is at an end. And in what
way has it been promoted by the present adj
mnistrationp They have gone on and reno
we'd from office almost every man subject TO
their control who has dared to vote arc ording
TO what be thought right. And this has been
done from pure love to the people Unless
You vote for US, or for men that viii support
US, we hull you from office. This has virtu-
ally been the language held forth: and isit
rot idle to talk ofthe freedom of election az
ter this? II is but mockery; for at the
price, perhaps, of the subsistence of them
selves and their families. they are compelled
to vote according to the will and pleasure of
the administration.
consider the invasion of these two prin-
cipes by the present executive as mere slar-
ming TO the friends of the constitution than
any thing that has ever occurred in the histo
nv of our government II undefmines the
very Foundations of cur system, aud enables
an ambitious aspirant to secure bis election
TO the presidential chair, not by the free, un-
biased voice of tie people. bat by the agen
CIV of corrupt hirelings scattered through the
nation, melted sy the fear Of losing, Or the
H. sf.xikx NH