Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-05-08
MR.. M'DUFFIE's SPEECH.

MR.. M'DUFFIE'S SPEECH.
The following paragraphs, embra-
cling views of vital interest to the PEG.
pie, are extracts from the great speech
of this gentleman, delivered in the
House of Representatives, on the De-
poste question:
"And after surveying the whole
field which history presents, covered
with monumental beacons, inscribed
with Lessons of wisdom-if nations
would even learn wisdom from expe-
rience, | venture to make the assertion
that there is no instance in the history
of any civilized government of modern
times in which the progress of usurpa.
ton has been more rapid, bold, ingeni-
Gus, and successful than it has been in
these United States for the last fifteen
months. Sir, the last ofthe Tarquins
was hurled from the throne of his an
cestors; the first Of Caesars was slain
in the Roman Senate; Charles the first
of England, and Louis the sixteenth of
France, were severally condemned and
executed; all under the charge, with
different specifications, Of having sub.
verted the fundamental laws, and con.
spired to usurp the supreme power of
the state. And although the sentence
! by which these enemies of human Ii.
berty were doomed to expiate their de-
| linquencies, some of them in their own
blood, has been solemnly ratified by
the impartial judgment ofposterity; yet,
sir, strange as it may sound to loyal
ears, it is my deliberate conviction,
that the proofs by which :he charge of
usurpation was established in these
! memorable instances, were not more
! fell and conclusive than the proofs
which can be now produced to esta-
blish the same charge against repub-
lican President; who came into power
under the most solemn pledges to re-
strain the usurping tendencies Of the
/ Government; TO reclaim the lost rights
of the sovereign States of this Union,
) and to bring back the institutions of
his country to the primitive standard
of republican economy, simplicity and
} purity. God forbid, sir, that should
insinuate, or be the means Of inducing
any one to suppose, that the President
; of the Unite d States should encounter
the fate of those whose pernicious ex.
ample he has but too closely followed |!
$ On the contrary, feel most profound
-'ly grateful to Providence for having
t cast my humble destiny under a mild
4 err and more suspicious dispensation,
| where even the awful Judgment of the
g people, pronounced in the last resort
against usurpation and tyranny, is nci
! Their conceived in veneence nor record
! ed in the blood of the usurper and the
: tyrant. No sir, no, Mr.. Speaker
whatever the President may have done
} and God knows no man living has
! done more to impair the sacred guar
; antees provided by the Constitution
r and the laws for the security of the
: life, liberty, character, and property
, of every citizen ofthis great republic
. from the highest functionary who
t wears the honors to the humblest midi.
vidual who breathes the air of his coun.
/ try; however, in the administration OF
his summary and vndictive justice to
others, he may have trampled on the
t consecrated forms of judicial proceed.
ing, and particularly that most conse.
Grated ofthem all, the trial by jury;
: trust that neither the people ofthe Unit
ed States nor their representatives, will
= for a moment indulge the idea of Civ.
ing countenance TO his violence and
outrage, by following his example.
| must here, Mr.. Speaker, be per-
mited to say few words on subject
which has giving me unaffected pain
allude, sir, TO the publication in the
official journal, and evidently by the
authority of the chief magistrate, of
certain anonymous letters, purport-
ing to convey to that distinguished of.
ticer threats of assassination. Mr..
Speaker, you are aware of the contri.
vance by which the first tyrant of A.
thens subverted the institutions of her
greatest lawgiver. He inflicted a
wound upon his own body, rushed into
the marketplace covered with blood, ex.
claiming to the populace whom he scdu.
lousy courted, "Behold the wounds |
have received in the cause of the peo.
pie, by the hands of assassins urged on
by the aristocracy." Upon this he SO.
!clted and obtained body guard, and
from that day tho throne Of Pisistratus