Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-06-06
Witness the State Of pennsvlvon;a |,

4
Convention. The State Of Massachu.
sets refusing to LET her troops march
in the general defence, in time Of war;
although required to do so, by proper
authority of the General Government.
The contemptuous refusal Of Georges
to regard decision of the United
States Court. The late reckless and
furious proceeding of South Carolina;
for which there was as little real cause,
or less perhaps, than in either of the
other cases. These all proceeded as
far as they pleased without restraint
and the principal actors in South Car.
DINA now boast that they have tri.
umPhed, that they have compelled the
General Government 10 yield; and they
have in fact so far prevailed; as to in.
duce, if not compel that Government
essentially TO alter her Tariff policy,
(Which was otherwise not to have been
altered for years to meet the views
of South Carolina, or compromise with
her the matters in dispute.
To which now will it be said, docs
the current of our affairs, carry our
vessel of State, TO the Scylla of dissolu.
tion, or Charybdis of consolidation.
Most undoubtedly to the former.
These are the considerations which
have always made me Federalist,
and must continue so to operate, Just
in proportion as | am devoted To the
preservation of our Republican Institu-
tons. If a Government is to be pre-
served by checks, and balances, what
dangerous mistake il must be, to take
from that part which is already too
hight, to add to that which now pre-
ponderates. And is not this what is
now attempted by those who contend
80 warmly, for what is denominated
State Rights? wish to speak of those
gentlemen with the greatest respect,
many of whom possess my high regard
and esteem; but surely they viii ad-
INIT, that with such impressions and
persuasions as these, could not, as
a true friend to the liberties Of my
country, (Which | take the liberty of
saying | always have been most SIN
cerely,) be any thing else than Fed.
eralist of the Washington school. That
| am Conscientious in tins, viii also be
admitted, when it is known that | have
always avowed, maintained, and de-
Tended these opinions, by which could
not profit personally, being in that mi
nority of the State which has been at
all times excluded from public favor.
And it might be thought to require
some fortitude to brave the opprobri-
um and reproach which have become
habitual with some, to connect with
tine name of FederalIst. But, for my
part, | have always utterly Disregard
ed that opprobriom. l am willing that
1t shall be engraven on my tomb stone,
If / should have one, that | was such
Fcderalist--ior future historian may
yet say, that the liberties Off tins coun-
try were lost by abandoning those
very principles comprehended within
that term, or that they were saved by
an adherence to them. But with due
Difference to them, | think my oppo-
nents refute themselves. They con-
tend that the tendency of the Govern
meht ofthe United States is to CONSOLE
dat'on--that IS, to the engulphing or
swallowing up Of the powers reserved
10 the States, in the powers of the
General Government. That was the
objection they had to the Federal Con-
stitution from the first. But how can
that be, if according to that Constitu-
ton, as they now contend, each State
has right to sccede from the Union
when she pleases, and for what cause
she pleasesi Can the General Govern
ment swallow up the State Govern
ments when they possess such powers
OF resistance as thisl lmpossible.--ln
this, then, our opponents are inconsist-
ent, and where there is inconsistency
there is error. believe their whole
system to be erroneous, and of high
ly dangerous tendency--that il leads
to anarchy, and of course, to despo-
tism, as late events in our country have
shewn. Yet, from the moral worth of
many of them, it would give me great
| pleasure TO act in concert with them, if
| could do ii from conviction. And if
! could believe that the danger was on
the other side, as they do, would be
as heartily opposed to the doctrines |
have embraced, as they are. But they
must afford me better evidence first.
Instead OF that, the evidence is every
day Strengthening against them, more
and more, if ! am not mistaken. /
leave the Proclamation TO ADLER hands
to vindicate it. This has been so COM
pletely. done, even by those who were
of the party called Republicans, as to