Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-05-16
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NARTINsBURG. MAr Is. ISIS
ASSAULT UPON TIE PRESIDENT.

In another column Of this days paper viii be
ound extracts from the National Intelligencer,
Globe, and Alexandria Gazette, bearing upon the
assault recently committed upon the person Of the
President of the United States by Robert B.
Randolph, late Lieutenant in the Navy.
Mr.. Randolph has been in the service of his
country for near twenty three years; he has borne
himself CALAMITY upon the blood stained deck,
during the late war, in defence Of his country's
honor and his country's rights, and during this
long term Of arduous service he has won the adj
.niration and esteem Of all with whom he has had
Intercourse. Upon the death Of Purser Timber
lake, on board the Frigate Constitution in 1928,
Lieut.. Randolph was appointed an acting purser
Upon his return to the United States he exhbi-
ted his account current at the Treasury Depart
ment, where balance audited in his favor.
A Glamour afterwards gotten up against him
by Major Eaton and Amos Kendall, upon which
he applied to the Department for an official nyes-
tgation of his conduct, and in compliance with
his request, court of enquiry was constituted-
Before this court a mass of conflicting evidence
was introduced and it was not proven that an in
ventory had ever been made of the money and
Stops left by Mr.. Undertake which came into
the hands Of Mr.. Randolph Under these cir
cumstances, the court found his account deficient
in proper and legal vouchers, to the amount of
more than $4,000, but expressly and distinctly
acquitted him of any thing impugning his conduct
or character. The President officially disapprov-
ed of this latter part of the courts decision, and
arbitrarily ordered his name to be stricken from
the Navy Roll, upon the ground that he was an
unfit associate for officers of the Navy. The per-
secutions of the administration againstthi officer
have called forth many voices in denunciation
which have hitherto sung paans to Jacksonism;
and at the last session of the General Assembly of
Virginia, a sword was voted him, in honor of
his gallant bearing during the war.
The above history of this transaction has been
given to our readers, not with a view of exciting
prejudice in his favor, Of justifying his assault
upon the chief magistrate of this nation His
treatment it is true must have excited his feelings
to an immoderate pitch of wrath and resentment.
But with sympathy in his favor greater than
any other victim of prescription, has been able
to enlist against the popularity Of the President;
he has damned his cause, dishonored his country,
and dsgraced himself 1t is the duty of every
patriot to hold up public scorn this insult to the
nation, in the person of her Executive. Let
kings, and princes and despots, who rule by
surped authority with iron rod, surround their
persons with armed guards; but in this land where
the people are sovereigns, let the constitution
and the laws be the shield of men in power.
There is perhaps class of Editors (f not
one political party) who might be excused for
noticing this transaction with indulgence. We
allude to those who have justified the of
''club law" when the boot was ON the other leg.
When the and Private Secretary of President
Adams was assaulted violently in the Rotunda OF
the Capital, while engaged in official duty, by
an Editor of the organ of the Jackson party,
jackson Congress refused to notice the transae-
tion, and jackson Press throughout the Union
held 1t up as rare sport. When member of
congress was assaulted and beaten by retainer
OF the palace for words spoken in debate, the
jackson party justified the measure, and lauded
the ruffian. Aye! it is believed that the pre-
scription of clubia,p as for injuries inflicted
palace. But when anti Jack son man attempts
to redress his wrongs by physical force, the old
advocates of club law are filled with holy horror
against the ruffian who dares profane the sacred
person of their lord and master.
We repeat our indignation at this insult TO the
government, and we gladly dismiss this subject
by urging as the only palliative, that the exam
pie came from the suffering party s'To us be-
longs shame and confusion of face" that any on
ponent of that party should have followed it,
Canal and Rail Road controversy settled.-It
gives us great pleasure to announce the adjust
ment Of the long standing controversy between
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and Baltimore s.
Ohio Rail Road Companies. By reference to
another column the proceedings of the Canal Com
pany will be found at length in which the arrange
ment proposed by the President and Directors
menf was made with the consent of the Rail Road
Company through the President and Directors to
whom full power had been given to raaify the
same.
We congratulate the rival companies, and all
the friends Of these splendid works, upon the
termination of their difficulties.
Washington County Bank AT an election,
held on Monday the 9th inst. at the Washington
County Rank, the following gentlemen were e.
ected Directors of the Institution for the ensuing
twelve months
Jacob r. 76,oson, Charles A. IVarfeId,
.Joseph Charles jr. Jacob IPolf,
INN Dieo 1 Ioeso Eub.a