Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-02-02

50 far at least. as those rights ought upoi
an occasion of this sort, to be legitimatel,
recognized But still LEI the enquiry go on
The people demand it. Their safety require,
IT. Mystery in State affairs, | have alwsy.
considered impohtic and unwise IL 10 un
suited TO the genius Of this government
which is based upon the rights of the people
to free and full examination Of whatever
concerns their interest and happiness. Sir,
! they pay you for your counsel--they have a
right tot. If there be danger, let us know
IT. and prepare ior the worst II slavery can
be eradicated, in Gods name, let Us ret rid
Of it. IL itcannot, let that melancholy fac,
he distinctly ascertained; and let those whe
we have been told, are now awaiting VITA
painful solicitude, the result of your deter.
mination, pack up their household goods, and
find among the luxuriant forests and nrar;as
OF the West. that,sccurlty and repsys ,yb;rh
their native lanu does not afford.
Sir, after the decisive vote which IVA. q,
ken upon this subject some GAYS since-tbat
vote justly then called a TEST osest;on~-J
must confess, | am more disposed 10 admire
the vALoUR than the DISCRETION OF the gen
tleman from Mecklenburg, in bringing this
question IN its present shape, again before Us
Did net the debate upon the Hanover nett
ton, present the very question now snbr,it
ted to the consideration Of this Heuse? And
did we MOI, then, by large and orerwhelm
ing vote, declare that the public safety de
| ,nanded full and fearless Investigation nj
this whole question? What new event has
transpired. to change The discrimination Of
this bodyP What. indeed, ought TO chance
1t, but some manifestation of public senti
ment adverse to the former course of This
Housep tias public sentiment so snokeno I
boioly declare, sir, tina, 1T has not. Where
yer the voice OF your people has been heard
since the agitation of this question. il has
sustained your determination and called for
the enquiry have heard of county meet
InSs, county petitions, and ccanty mcmori
ais. have heard from the North. the East
and the South They are all, with one voice
against the continuance of slavery. None
for 1t. The press too-that mirror of public
sentiment--that concentrated will of \ whole
community, has been heard from one extre
nifty of the State to the other. Its power is
with us--lts moral force is united deficient
and encouraging In this city.-the capitol
of the Old Dominion the heart Of the Com
moDwealth, which, by one eenricle receives.
and through The other, discharges the life
blood Of intelligence, and public spirit, thro'-
out your empire-aye. and from u quarter,
and, from many quarters. where such a voice
was least expected, its tones have been firm,
manly. and intrepid. Honor. sir, to thos,
who dare speak the truthin The orst of fines.
Thrice honored they, who, in declaring that
truth, have to
Beard the Lion in his Den,
The Douglas IN his Hall
Again, sir, ask, what new fact has occur
rcd--what new light has dawned upon the
gentleman from Mecklenburg, lbat we should
be caRed upon to retrace our course. and
disappoint the hopes which our first manly
decision gavep Does not the same evil exist?
Is it not increasingP Does not every day give
it permanency and forceP Is it not banging
over us like heavy and portentous cloud -
every moment growing darker and darker,
and gathering in its folds the materials of
elemental WARP And yet, shall we be re
quested to close our eyes to the danger, and
without an effort, without even an enquiry,
TO yield to the impulses of dark aud with
ering despair? Sir, is this manly legislation?
Is it correct? Is il HONEST legislaiionp Is it
acting with that fidelity TO our constituents,
which their sacred interests require?
Sir. if this evil, great. AS it is, was sta
tionary-if the worthy gentlemen from Neck
lcnburg and Brunswick. Mr.. Gholson) could
give us any ASSURANCE tHdt | W0ulO not IN
crease until it reaches point which il is hor-
ribie to contemplate, might he induced to
acGuiesce in the course which their pathetic
appeals suggest. But when they know it is
otherwise they know that each sue
ccssive billow Is detracting from the small
space Of ground left between US and the an
CRY ocean chatting at our feet, how can they
advise us-how can they advise their own
constituents TO remain STILL when the next
advancing wave uiay overwhem them and
us, in hopeless ruin and desolutonp
Sir, if the gentleman of Mecklenburg was
mol satisfied when he Submitted his resolution
he must rso,c be convinced that this is one o.
those questions Of which no parliamentary a.
droitness can smother The spirit et Free
Enquiry is abroad upon the earth, and gov
ernments and all the institutions connected
with them, must be sustained. not by an,
+ mystical and superstitious reverence for them
as existing Institutions. bat as they are ascer
. tanned after severe and rigid scrutiny Il
subserve the great ends OF POPULAR tseai.
$ The same question which is now c0nvuisin;
!. Europe TO It's centre-which is purifying tina
/. most gifted country from the despotism whcl
e for so many centuries has hung over IT. Is II
n a somewhat modified shape operating upo
the present enquiry AS with them, ii
n asked, why have we so long tolerated th
4 UNEQUAL and oppressive institutions Of OH
!. country?-why have we suffered ourselves
+ be ground into dust, that others might b
IF pampered in luxury and ease?-of what US
n are crowns, and hereditary aristocracies! u