Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-06-05

| ' hIdFtHtUH CTtbib W WHICH biC 81
q fairs ofthe country have been brought
by the corrupt aud laundering measures
oil the present administration, and the
rapid strides Of the EXECUTIVE towards
despotism founded on the ruins Of the
Constitution and the destruction Of public
virtue, should awaken every American TO
a sense Of the danger which now threatens
the very existence Of our INSTITUTIONS,
and, with them. the Liberties of this whole
1 people. 1--WE are TO use the impressive
language Of Mr.. Clay, in the midst of a
revolution;' and unless the timely interior
ence ofthe people, can arrest its progress.
but few years more win suffice to fasten
on US the most grinding and ferocious ty-
ranny. The shell ola Republican Govern
ment will not long remain, when its spirit
is no more LIT is time that every friend
Of the Union-that every friend TO human
liberty and the natural rights Of man,
should arouse himself Already has the
i great charter OF our freedom been violated
| in its most sacred pro pro
| perry sacrificed TO an extent unknown in the
history Of any free even
the personal liberty Of the citizen violated
by the unprincipled peryersioD ofthe law
to the base purposes Of personal revenge.
Two long and bloody wars with foreign
foe. have secured us but few years Of
national freedom. when already Congress
and the Judiciary are struggling againstthe
usurpations Of President land the people
themselves are threatened with universal
ruin by his mad and obstinate disregard Of
all the interests Of the nation.
10 the calm enjoyment of the good which
a well administered government insures,
men are reluctant to trouble themselves
with the distracting contests Of political
parties, But in times like these, when
public virtue ia undermined by the very
means which destroy all aatiouai and in
dividual prosperity, when the principles
of the constitution and the authority of the
laws are trampled under foot by executive
usurpation, and the gloomy anticipations
Of private ruin seem even less to be feared
than the loss Of public liberty, every man
however humble his situation, feels So
lemn and deep concern in all the measures
Of the government. He watches with keen
interest the conflict between liberty and
despotism, and rejoices or greives as the
one or the other partially triumphs 1t is
duty which every American owes to him
selfand his country, to guard with unsleep-
ing vigilance that liberty originally won by
the exertions of his ancestors, and which
can alone be preserved by bis own. From
is now at home. The popularity Of a sue
cessful soldier, in the hands Of an unprin-
cpled and irresponsible cabal: threatens
the subversion of the hottest principles of
the Constitution. The conflict is now be-
tween the will of one man and the laws s.
institutions Of the country.-The public
treasures are in the hands of the minions
Of the President; and Kendall and Van
Buren, and the politicians Of the New York
school. are at work to support him in bis
tyranny by the corruption Of the people,
and thus TO secure to themselves success
sion to his power. Is it not time that the
nation was aroused? Are not these fearful
signs of that end, which the enemies of
our Government have so long predicted
would soon or late come about? There is oft
en- but one step from freedom to despotism
Let US in time awake to a sense Of our pc
rilous condition. We may yet be safe, if
faithful TO ourselves.
Let the opponents of the existing ad.
ministra'ion organize themselves at once
and act together in defence Of the liberty
and safety ofthe country Let them come
forward in support Of some eae individual
by whose elevation to the Presidency, the
nation may rid itself Of men, whose meas
ures have brought ruin upon the country
and discredit upon the very principles Of
republican government. Let minor con
siderations not distract them from the great
end all have in view-that of preventing
the continuation Of the measures Of the
present administration, by defeating the
election Of the chosen successor Of the
President. And as there is but one indi-
vidual sufficiently known to the people oil
| the United States to unite in his behalf
an interest large enough TO render his e.
lection even probable, let the friends Of
the constitution and of public liberty unite
around him; and secure by his election
the preservation ofthe Union of the States
and the peace and prosperity ofthe PEG,
pie. This man is
HENRI CLAY;
a statesman, whose distinguished talent:
have illustrated the history Of his country
AN orator whose eloquence has Away:
been heard on the side Of popular rights s
constitutional hberty-and patriot of th,
most incorporating integrity.
Believing that it is in vain TO hope 70
auy thing from those who are now in pow
err; and that the nation can alone reliev,
itself, by driving from the government
men who have proved themselves as igno
rant as they are unpiincipled. the CoMPI-
LER will support the election Of Mr.. CLAY
with all the ability it can enlist in a
cause identified with that ofAmericanl 10
erty, and the Editor solcits all the aid
which the talents Of others and their indi