Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-02-28
TO THE PUBLIC.

proprietor OF tins journal has commenced
his editorial career with the issue of this
number.
An approved and time honored custom
has prescribed to every man who under
takes the conduct of public journal, the
duty of presenting generally, to the pub
lie the principles which he designs to adj
vocate. In compliance with this usage,
approach the task; task rendered ex-
ceedingly delicate and difficult by the con-
fusion into which recent events have
thrown political parties in the U. States.
From the formation of the Government
up to the year 1924, parties and princi-
Piles distinctly marked each other. The
elements of confusion wero at that time
widely sown, and in the succeeding strug-
giles for office, many public men have be-
come the advocates of principles which
they had spent their lives in attempting
to repudiate, and c c0nrerSo, the repudia-
tors ofsystems and principles, which they
aided in building and sustaining. 1t is
little more than four years since the states
of Pennsylvania and South Carolina,
stood shoulder to shoulder in support of
the present incumbent OF the Presidential
chair, and at this day, the same indiyi-
dual is lauded by the majority in the first
named state. for his consistency, patri-
otism and strict adhesion to democratic
principles, while the ruling party in the
latter cannotf find in the English vocabnl-
airy, terms Of denunciation and reproach
sufficiently strong for him. While it is
insisted in the one State that he has full
filled to the letter, the princi pies upon
which he was elected, the same tongues
in the other which sang hosaanas to the
hero, the patriot and the sage, are utter
ing the bitterest curses upon the traitor,
the tyrant and the usurper. Fellow-citi-
zens, could enumerate hundreds of such
instances Of the tergiversations of the
times. Let this, the most prominent suf-
fee. 1t will furnish you with a reason.
for my considering, this exposition of the
future course Of the Gazette, task de-
licate and difficult. 1t is impossible more
over, to enlighten you on this point by
professions of attachment to any promi-
nent leader. He who blindly follows
great men whithersoever they go, with
out scanning their motives and principles,
may find himself turning endless soner-
sets, and occasionally, swamped in poll
teal quagmires, from which neither his
own wit nor that of his patron saint can
extricate him, while the man who ad-
heres to principles, although he may &C.
casionally have the terms of apostate and
renegade, rung in his ears, by those who
have an indubitable title to the epithets
with which they salute him, will in the
end receive the appreciation of the re-
fleeing and intelligent portion of the
community.
1t shall be my constant aim, to diff'use
through the columns of the "GaZ9tte, -
the principles of truth and justice, to sup
port all measures which tend to the pros
perity and glory of the country, and to
condemn all which are calculated to de-
grade the nation, or weaken the bond of
Union, let them come, in either case,
from whatever source they may. The
Gazette will be found at all times, an
earnest and steady advocate of protect
ing tariff. The confiction of interests
and feelings of different portions of the
country, harrassing the minds Of the peo-
pie, producing party strife and jealousies,
and at last threatening the very existence
of this happy Union, is matter of deep
regret to every man in whose breast the
flame of patriotism is kindled. At time
like this, it is desirable, except by an
unreasonable sacrifice, to reconcile those
who are discontinued with the policy of
the Government, to assuage the Earring
elements of turmoil, strife and contention,
and to effect these ends, all parties should
meet in the spirit of compromise. The
minute details of tariff for the protec-
ton of domestic industry, are matters
for complicated and elaborate enquiry,
and after all no certainty can be attained,
until experience has tested the Justice and
utility Of every item. If monopolies are
created in manufacturing districts and
capitalists Unfortunately enriched by sys-
tenn which taxes for this purpose the mass
OF the people, the scale of duties pro-
ducing such result should be reduced.
unless such measure would produce e.
wills greater than those sought to be coun.
teracted. Experience however confirms
one truth-that where gains are inordi-
nate, competition will soon reduce them
to their proper level. But the principle
of adequate protection to the industry of
the country, against foreign rivalry is
one that should never be abandoned. The
working classes in the United States are
the bone and sinew Of the nations in En-