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

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mere pageant Of mimick sovereignty, with
no authority 10 collect the requisite funds ior
that or any other object. A mere phantom
Of political power it could pass resoives-bu
enjoyed no means Of enforcing obedience to
them. They were addressed to the rotnhta-
~ observance of the several states. Those
states exhausted by the efforts of the war
crippled in their resources--swayed IN some
instances by a dominant Of faction OF un
princlpled views, and not feeling very keenly
the force Of engagements, contracted by an'
other body 10 their name treated those re
commentators with intention and neglect.
They were repeated time alter Time, and in
various forms, with no better success. And
America during the entire existence of the old
confederate government subsequent 10 the
war. exhibited the humiliating spectacle of q
nation, unwilling or unable to make one SIN
gle decided effort towards the redemption OF
the most sacred of its national obligations, al
though the entire sum was the cost of our Ma
tional independence * although much II was
due TO those men who bad spent the last
remnant of their little fortunes and reduced
themselves TO absolute beggary and starva-
ton. lighting the battles of their country.
That this debt should, 10 the shame Of A.
merica, have remained so long unproYsded
for. must TO those acquainted with Che true
condition of the country, have appeared more
a matter of regret, than of surprise. For
Congress had no authority TO stimulate the
industry OF our citizens none TO replenish rs
Treasury by countervailing duties upon the
industry OF foreign citizens; and the states
controlled by partial and sectional views
could not be brought to unite upon any gen.
eral system of impost and tonnage. Our
enmmPrCp WAS fbnS axy0nt from the nrnap by
the restrictive policy of foreign nations--our
infant manufactures were crushed by the o.
vergrown capital of British enterprise. and
the soil, with no mart for the sale OF its su-
pertluous products, afforded no adequate pro-
lit for the labor and expense OF cultivation.
A scene OF universal moneyed distress per-
vadcd the nation. The precious metals we're
banlshed- currency became deprecated,
and even the sense of private and public
obligation became materially impaired.
la the eyes OF foreign owe we had sunk
TO the lowest ebb of national degradation;
and when in 1885, Mr.. Adams appeared at
the court of 81. james for the purpose OF
complaining OF some notorious ATTRACTIONS OF
our treaty with Great Britain, he was scora-
fully informed that as the American govern.
ment hal no authority to enforce the obser-
vance OF its owS treaties, II had no right to
complain of their iniraction by others, and
that II was unbecoming the dignity oil the
English government to hold Il negotiation
with a lew contendlng and auarehical states.
10 addiilonto tbs, faction aud seditson taxi
ing advantage OF the weak and distracted con.
dItion OF the country arrayed themselves IN
open hostility to the State governments.
Conventions were called, assuming the pow
er to CONTROL the regular action OF the State
la-.el .aaz .u.0... ,-a.a 49, echattoI anaInat
armies, and in one OF the northera states the
etfusion OF blood marked the commencement
OF an extended scene Of civil commotion.
s'The peace of America, observes a cotem-
posaDeous writer, hung by q thread, and
factions were already sharpening their tools
to cut 1T. The project OF three seperate empires
in America, was beginning to be preached,
and the progress OF lcentlousness would soon
have rendered her citizens unfit for liberty,
in either Of them. An age Of blood aud mi
sery would have punished our disuDion, bat
these were not the considerations to deter am
bition from its purpose, while there were so
many circumstances ia cur political situation
to favor it.n
IL is impossible within the limits assigned
to this address, to convey any adequate pic-
ture of the lamentable excuses into which,
in the absence of the salutary control oil an
efficient general government, the states were
rapidly Fastening. 1.-The system called JUS
tice, was, in some of the states, iniqualy re-
duced to elementary principles; and the pub
lc tranquility was such a portentous storm,
as rings the deep caverns before the ex-
plosion of an earth quake. Most Of the states
were then, IN fact, though not ~ form, IN
balanced democracies. Reason. it is true,
spoke audably in their constitutions; passion
and prejudice louder in their laws. IL was
scarcely possible that suchgoyernments should
not be ~agstated by parties, and That prevail
ing parties should not be vindictive ana I'M
lust. Accordingly, in som oil the states
creditors were treated as outlaws
were armed with legal authority to be perse,
cntors, and by the shock OF all confidence anu
faith. society was shaken 10 IT'S iounaatons9
IL may shed some light upon this PERIOD OF
our history, TO recur to the correspondence
of General Washington. Nothing escaped
his ~yiailant patriotism-and nothing can ema-
nate from that venerated source, without at
tracing its proper share of attention. HIS
clear and dispassionate Judgment; his cool
and rejecting character, forbid the idea oil
any high wrought or exaggerated picture oil
the situation of the country.
In a letter Of that period, addressed to Mr.
jay, he says;
.VVhat astonishing changes a lew years
are capable Of producing! am told that even
respectable characters, speak OF a H'onafshie@
form Of government, without horror. rom
thinking proceeds speaking. thence TO acting'
il hut ! single state. Bot how lrrevocable
and tremendous. What a triumph for our
enemies to verify their predictions What a
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