Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-03-20

suit to the Governors deliberations. -
In addition to their intense individual
interest, in this great question, they
feel an interest, also, in the public works
of the State, which have come, or may
come, to a stop, in consequence of tho
pressure of the times;--althoug it is
true, perhaps, that they have not so d.
rect an interest as their fellow citizens
of Lancaster county, whose memorial
has just been presented, since the great
western railway is to penetrate that i'm
portant county from end to end. re-
fer to the proceedings of Governor
Wolf, sir, with entire respect, personal
and public; but | cannot help express
ing my deep regret at the views which
he seems TO have adopted. would
even hope that the subject has not yet
passed beyond his reconsideration, be-
cause | am fully aware of;he weight and
influence of Pennsylvania on this great
question. Yet, sir, see nothing in this
proceedingto alter my own view in the
slightest degree. The state of things
is not changed. The PRONUNCIATION Of
such opinions by the Chief Magistrate
of Pennsylvania, is, in my judgment,
unfortunate, because its only effect is
to prolong the sufferipgs ofthe country,
by postponing the only adequate reme-
dy.
Sir, the agitations of the country are
not to be hushed by authority. Opt.
Mons, from however high quarters, will
not quiet them. The condition Of the
Nation calls for action, for measures,
for the prompt interposition Of Con-
gress; and until Congress shall act, be
it sooner or be il later, there will be no
content, no repose, no restoration OF
former prosperity. Whoever suppo-
ses, sir, that he, or that any man, can
quiet the discontents, or hush the COM
plants of the people, by merely say
ing, "peace, be still" mistakes, shock
ingly mistakes, the real condition of
things. 1t is an agitation of interests,
Lot of opinions; severe pressure of
mems property aid their means of liv-
ing, not a.barren contest about abstract
sentiments. Even, sir, the voice of
party, often so sovereign, is not Of pow.
er to subdue discoutents and stifle com
plants. The Poople, sir, feel great in
terests to be at stake, and they are rcus-
ing themselves TO protect those interests.
They consider the question to be, whe-
Their the Government is made for the
People, or the People for the Govern
ment. They hold the former of these
two propositions, and they mean to
prove it.
Mr.. President, this measure of the
Secretary has produced degree of
evil that cannot be borne. Talk a
bout it as we will, it cannot be borne.
A lettering state Of credit, cramped
means, loss of property, and loss Of EN-.
ployment, doubts of the condition Of
others, doubts of their own condition
constant fear of failures and new ex.
plosions, an awful dread of the future
sir, when consciousness of all these
things accompanies man, at his break
fast, his dinner, and his supper; when il
attends him through his hours, both OF
labor and rest; when it even disturbs
and haunts his dreams, and when he
feels, too, that that which is thus gnaw-
ing upon him is the pure result of fool
ish and rash measures Of Government,
depend upon it he will not bear it. A
deranged and disordered currency. the
ruin of occupation, distress for present
means, the prostration of credit and
confidence, and all this without hope OF
improvement or change, is a state OF
things which no intelligent people can
long endure.
Mr.. CLAY rose and said: | have
been requested by the Committee from
Philadelphia, charged with presenting
the memorial to Congress, to say a
few words on the subject; and, although
after the ample and very satisfactory
exposition which it has received from
the Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr
Webster,) further observations are en-
tirely unnecessary, | cannot deny my
self the qualification of complying with
a request, proceeding from source SC
highly worthy of respectful considera-
ton.
The experiment which the President
of the United States Las thought pro-
per to institute, ON the currency Of the
country, has now been in operation
five months; and never, in so short a
time, has a great People been preeipi-
tated from the Hottest height of unex-
ampled prosperity to the lowest depth
of unmerited distress and misery. Its
calamitous effects are felt every where,
by every class, by every interest, in
every section of our widespread con.
federacy. And the evils nowexperien-
ced, great as they are, undoubtedly, are
|embittered by the reflection that no one
can discern the period of their termi-
nation, and tits to be apprehended that
still severer lie in advance before US.
If they had been a Providential infic-
ton, they would have been borne with
manly resignation and Christian forti-
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