Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-02-21


extraordinary replevin law, can we do less
than double the number aud strength OF our
custom house bolts and barsP When the
avenues 70 justice are poisoned or pellsaed
by test oaths, can we do less than devise
modes of reaching and entering her eternal
temple. through purer and safer channels?
: And when the sublime terrors Of the Blue
Cockade and the Palmetto Button are parad
ed before our eyes, may we not be excused,
II. IN mere effort TO keep our courage from
oozing out at our fingers ends, we permit
The Eagle to soar little--only litte-and
The stars and stripes to fan but gently our
tanning spirits? Sir, {said Mr.. d. Law is a.
IKE odIous and dangerous to those who wish
10 disobey It. Restraint is always arbitrary,
u,etorlai, despotic, in the vocabulary OF those
who desire to do as they please. Yet are
the People of this country strongly impressed
with the conviction, that without law there
can be no liberty, and most apt TO disregard
The other. There is something very oppres-
sive about the course OF control which this
bull sanctions. Obedience to the revenue
laws Is to be enforced first, through colec-
tors, surveyors, and tide, waters. Is not this,
SIR, quite unprecedented? Then, the inter-
ference OF marshals. bailitfs, and ,ipstayes, is
authorized Who can i'm agine greater ex-
tension OF arbitrary powefp Anon, imperial
teye. there's the rub judges aud jurors are
provided. lsnot this assuming most bel
iigerent and offensive atiitudep But il gets
worse and worse: if our laws are threatened
with prostratlon, our officers with violence,
and the community with riot, conflagration,
| and bloodshed, why then the bill, in pure,
unmlxed, unmitigated despotsm. arms the
President with overwhelming and extermina-
ting power OF lssuiDg---deaths warrantsp
No! bis Proclamation to dispeusel sir, the
Boston Port Bill, the Jersey Pison Ship, the
Imperial Ukase oil desolation against Poland,
was nothing to this; all their virtues concen-
t ated could not equal Presidential Procla
nation to enforce the payment of duties on
| a hogshead OF sugar! But enormity accumu-
lates upon enormity; and this dreadful bill,
denounced as declaration oi war, actually
anthoIlzes the officers of the customs, when
The property under their charge shall be en-
dangered by unruly combinations and force,
to back out of the scrape, run away. and
not TO stop until they have river between
themselves and their assaiants! 1t is too
much; the principal Of 9s. the holy cause of
humane freedom, the blood ofour ancestors,
the blue cockade and palmetto button, can
not sanction or endure it.
Sir, (said MIR. ID this is, in plain reality,
the outline Of the bill, until we reach point
at which, for the purpose of protecting the
lives. liberties, and properties. Of our fellow
citizens in South Carolina, it may become
necessary to quell refractory aud ueasona-
BILE disohedience with the vigor and prompt
ness of military or naval force. THE emer
gency be brought on by those who are bent
apon throwing off their allegiance to the
Constitution and Laws Of the land, we may
iieplore, but we cannot avoid II; we must
meet it with every possible frobearance, but
| with frmness Ours will not be the respon-
sibility for consequences, unless we faii ~
preparing adequately and effectively TO pre-
vent or ameliorate them. Nor have | the
dread which is entertained by others, oil u
sing, on special occasions, and by authority
OF law. the regularity armed energy of the
country. In its present reduced condition as
TO numbers, though admirable state as TO
discipline, more force could not be expected
to be any time, or on any, point. at the dis
position of the Executive. than Mr.. Jefferson
called out, under one of the precedents for
the present law, to carry into effect the EN-
barge.
Ia all such cases we shall probably find,
as that Chief Magistrate found. that there
was EEcdt silCdCy III uctuS pfCpdtCu--Nuus
the maxim is universally applicable, .'osten
dite beil,sn. pacem haLebitis" But. sir, |
have heard our army and navy strangely
characterized 10 the course of this discussion
they have been termed hired mercenariesf
Do fhey merit the inputasion? Are the
band of gallant officers who have shielded
you from invasion, or carried the national
| flag in triumph over every sea and under eve
! ry sun, hired mercenaries? We used no
such language during the war for free trade
and sailors rights; while our tars were humb
ling a naughty foe, and sending into our
ports, TO be greeted with our acclamations,
prize after prize-or while the scarlet trap
| pings of British enterprise and yslor glitter
ed on the heights of Baltimore, or the plains
of New Orleans, destined at both places
70 encounter relic of revolutionary worth.
We used no such words as hired mercena-
fies then-they we're unknown alike to our
hearts and our lips; and may they pass into
utter obleyion before times equally trying
shall again occurl
Our Union, (said Mr.. d. is an incalcula-
BILE blessing While it has lasted, what
have we not accomplished both 10 peace and
war; All the great objects of human asso-
Citations have been cultivated and attained
with almost unexampled rapidly and ease
| Liberty has been chastened and made FORE
lyer stable: science has been stormed IN her
hundred trenches, and mastered IN all her
iramparts: happiness has gently diffused IT.
self throughout an immence population. TAX