Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-06-06

NH~e e'O ~SSttiAfSS uchoilunateu state
Rights, as lately contended for, if once
established dissolves the Union at once
though from courtesy, il might exist ii
form, for some time longer. And | be.
ieve, that what you call the federal.
ism, developed in the Proclamation. is
the only principle upon which this
Union can be legitimately preserved
and the genuine Republican Govern.
ment of these States guaranteed.
Let US look back to the origin of
parties in this country. When the
Government Of the United States was
framed, It was new thing under the
sun. There was nothing mentioned in
history; which resembled it, and if was
the most arduous effort of Thurman GEM.
US. The great and indispensable de-
slderatum to be attained, was to adjust
the power between the States, and the
General Government that it should
preponderate in neither. fit did, the
Government could not exist. There
were two parties then, and we NAV
deem both TO have been equally hon.
est. The one thought that the prepon.
derancc of power was, or would be in
favor OF the States against the General
Government, which would result in
dlsunion: and the other supposed it to
be IN favor OF the General Government.
aud against the States, and that this
would produce consolidation. The first
was called the Federal, and the latter
the Anii-Feieral Party. But the lat
ter not being pleased with the name,
afterwards assumed the more popular
and imposing name of Republican.
Ibis was sagacious and polite, for
there is much in mere name some
times, which was the case in this in
stance. The mutual opposition of these
two parties, soon became so warm and
active, that even General Washington,
who justly stood so high above all
other men, shared largely in the dis
like and obloquy Of those called Re-
|publlcans. At that time, the enthusi
asm or ma5ness Of the French Revolu.
ton, in active operation, reached this
country, and somehow became iden.
titled with the opposition to the Admin
lstration. 1t required all the wisdom
and firmness of that great and good
man, to withstand it, or maintain the
Government against II. But when he
retired from the helm. those who sue
ceeded him not possessing the same
weight, firmness and wisdom, were soon
driven to madness by the redoubled
efforts which were then made to over
throw them--in which many foreign.
ers of recent importation were conspic-
uous. They were goaded to the rash,
desperate and pernicious expedient, of
the Alien and Sedition laws. This
together with the direct tax, stamp
tax, &C., completed the triumph of the
These measures were from
thence considered as essentially be.
longing to the doctrine of Federalism,
and to any administration acting under
that name, though they had nomore to
do with it, than Jacobinism had to do
with Republicanism. 1t was put down
- ~ WIZ w uSIidtlidtiOl.
1t was not necessary to reason any
longer. Public passion usurped the
place of public opinion. The party
called Republican, was most adroit-
ly and skilfully managed for effect.
Ioasts, sentiments and resolutions of
public bodies, all assuming the popular
form, purportlng to be in favour Of Re-
publicanism, were constantly made and
issued to keep up the impression until
1t became hardened into AN inveterate
prejudice as it exists now. But some
OF those who gave the impulse to this
rolling ball, did not perceive how far
they were about to send it, and gladly
would have brought it back to its legit-
innate bounds. The pernicious doc.
trines called State Rights, have from
that time gone on strengthening them
selves from year to year, until their
baleful effects are now beginning to be
more fully disclosed. The advocates
for these doctrines, say that the natu-
raj tendency of this Government is TO
consolidation. Its history up TO the
present day, proves exactly and clear
ly the reverse. The tendency is evil
IDENTIFY to the opposite extreme, that is
to dis-union or dissolution of the Union,
from the resistance of the States. If
this latter point is established, the whole
State Right theory must fall. This
Government must stand or fall by the
strength of public opinion. 1t must
certainly be by the operation of public
opinion, that it ever can become con-
solidated. 1t is morally impossible for
lit to become so, otherwise, nor without
the consent not only of majority, but
of vastly preponderating majority.