Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-07-12

bOHs VI - u q lay HVdt tut NANSANtI OIbs
now visible in the Heavens,
Whose march is ever fatal, in whose train
Famine, and war aud pEsoLATINe PLAGUE,
Each On its pale horse rides, the ministers
OF angry Heaven TO scourge offending
worlds.
These are momentous enquiries and they
should appeal to each and all Of you with a
burning interest. 1t is time, we should know
the ground upon which we stand-And il this
Union is to be preserved. to let these prea
cheers Of Sed,tion-these prophets of Disuni
on be taught in the consuming indignation Of
the American people, a Just rebuke for that
profane levity which would dare to ,rifle
with the dearest interests Of a free and uni
ted people.
That there are defects in the administra-
ton of the powers Of this Union-inseperable
from the imperfection Of all human systems,
incident to the extended, delicate, and CON-
plicated character OF our own system. will be
very cheeriully admitted. Agents selected
with an exclusive view 10 the faithful dis.
charge of the public duties of their station,
may convert their little brief authority into
the means of private revenge or personal am-
bition.-Laws designed for the general bene-
tit OF all, may press with peculiar severity for
a time upon the interests of some. In all
such cases however, there Is a PLAIN, palpa-
BILE constitutional remedy prescribed by the
instrument itself. But TO those who pro
pose TO cure these detects by a prostratlon Of
the governmentitself-by a severance OF those
ties which bind aud connect the states toge
ther-by a remittance of this superb ia
brio back TO its original ehaos-it may
truly be said that they display a lamen-
table ignorance of the lights which expert
eDce has already shed upon these iupor
tant truths. We have no passed through all
the various stages OF a political formation
we have lived as separate aud distinct pro-
vinces-we have tested the infantine feeble
ness of the confederacy-we have realised
the blessings of a perfect Union, and we have
lived 10 little purpose as a nation, II we
have not gathered some wisdom from the
lessons which that experience was calculated
to afford. We have perceived with the first
approach of foreign. danger, a ominon senti-
ment TO pervade this entire people, that the
only safety of the states was to be found in a
Union of their strength-we have seen the
difficulties and embarrassments which result
ed from the weak and imbecile structure
which the eAegencies OF the revolution
caused Us TO cstablish-and we have seen
those difficulties and embarrassments vanish.
Confusion hide her head and wild uproar
Stand ruled
by the adoption of the existing government
under which we have attained an enviable
degree of power and Importance. Ii may be
well to rccur to the cpndiion II things which
preceded the immediate adoption Of this gov
Ii may teach US some instructive
lessons. 1t may at least expose the folly of
those political mechanists, who think that a
complicated government like a piece ofmachf-
merry, may be taken to pieces, and at any
moment rebuilt at the will of the operator.
The adoption of the presents government
Of the United States is not TO be traced to
any wild and restless desire of imaginary
good. 1t did not spring from the pruriency
OF political innovation, or result from that in
definable pursuit OF Utopian perfection which
marked the successive changes OF the several
constitutions of the French Republic. Ii was
the offspring of necessity. 1t was the result
of causes deeply laid ia the foundations Of our
history. 1t grew up amidst preJu-
dices of the rankest character; 1t trintnphed
over Opposition of the most pcrsevering ma
There was nothing in its theory capt.
waiting to the taste Of the American people.
It's several points of apparent simlhtude to the
mixed representative governments OF Eu-
rope; its seeming analogies TO many OF the
most odious features Of the British Constitu-
ton we're readily seized upon to excite and
inaame the deepest and most formidable
hostility 10 it. Fancy was prolific of facts
partizans were not deficient IN their wide
jealous propagation of them. 1t neverthe-
triumphed by the force of its own lntrin-
sic excellence-by the high and holy patriot
ism which ushered il into the world and more
all by the deep settled and solemn con
viction Of the American people resulting from
the then DISTRACTED condition OF The country,
that an efficient general government was essen
tial to the preservation pfnational peace. hey
saw that without such a government the fruits
of the seven years contest were 10 DC vast
ed in anarchy and disorder-and IN the
strong and impressive. Language OF Wash
That the revolution Instead OF De-
ing "a blessing, would prove a curse"
The termination Of the military contest
left the confederate states, heavily involved
in debt. They had embarked in their une-
quail struggle without adequate resources
relying solely upon the justice of their canse
and the couatenance of the Lord of Hosts.
That debt on the list Of January, 1888, was
estimated to amount to forty millions OF dol
iars-no very startling SUM at this period,
e,nce.,h. energies of the Union have been
brought into arlion, s. the sources OF national
wealth have been developed under the foster,
ing influence of the existing government, but
at that day deemed so serious a burden as 10
cause the most anxious alarm to every re
aeeting patriot. That debt besides was OF
no ordinary character. 1t was the price oil
our liberties, and we had bound ourselves ior
its redemption BY the most solemn and M
nosing oblieations. Ii was due to foreign