Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-08-21
TlIn 9A1BTPIgs
uAaT1NssuEa, AUG. al, Iea4.

Turning over the pages of very old Maya
zine (Tite Gentleman's for July 1867 we find
aseyiew Of "Demostisenes Exhortation to public
spirit'' with copious quotations, one or two Of
which are applicable TO the state Of public az
fairs in this country at the present time, and can
not but be interesting 50 far as they prove that
men are the same in every age; and that with
all our boasted improvemtn in the science Of
government and public morals, we are little bet
ter than the ancients, while we have lost many
of the virtues they possessed, and enlarged upon
their vices.
One would really think the following passage
had been written in relation TO the administra-
ton Of General Jackson.
Cast now your eyes on Those to whose sur
prising Administration you stand indebted for
the present hopeful situation Of affairs; Of
schom have, in the space Of a few years, been
raised from beggsry to unbounded wealth; Others
from obscure and inglorious stations to the high
est posts Of honor. Some Of these upstairs have
built private seats, exceeding in magnilicence
own estates in proportion to the impov erishment
of the Commonwealth
We defy any one to read this passage without
being reminded of the corruptons of the Post
Office. Whether the favorites of that Depart
ment have 'fbuilt private seats" or not, we do
not but il is evident that if they have not,
they might have done out of their shares Of
the public spoil, if they had been so dispose d.
That Reside, Slaymaker, Stockton. Smith and
others of the same kidney, have augmented their
fortunes in proportion TO the Impeachment Of
the Department, who that has read the SeDatc's
report, can doubt, 1t may be some comfort TO
these leeches upon the public purse, to be com
pared with the Treasury sucklings of ancient
Greece.--And the people may congratulate them
selves that we have public men who. like De-
mosthenes, make il their business to ferret out
such abuses.
The following paragraph also, will in most
respects be recognized as directly applicable to
the present state Of political morals among Us.
We thank heaven that there is now prospect
Of improvement, and that the people about
to check the progress Of corruption. Demosthe
mes says:
"There must be some reason why the Gre
clans have been formerly so jealous in the de-
fence Of liberty, and thus prone to Slavery
There was then, o men of athens, a principle 7
fxd in the minds of our Ancestors which is now
no more. That principle overcamc the Persian
,ceaiM, preserved Greece free, and never faiPd a
10 make conquer both by sea and land; but !
now it is worn out, and every thing goes to ruin
amongst us. | shall be ask'd, perhaps, what
vas this principle? II was something very plain i
md simple; it was an implacable hatred against f
very person, who suffered himself to be corrupt fl
I'd by tcicked men an potcer, bg The enemies Of !.
lis country. To have been convicted of bride 81
y was then accounted the highest guilt; and it a.
was punished with the utmost severity. No u
mercy, no forgiveness was TO be expected No d
Gold could then impair our firm concord at home h
our adherence Of tyrants; or any other of our =
yirtuous dispositions But all these now |
bought and sold publicly, as in a market Cor q
ruption hath introduced manners quite opposite,
which have prov ed the bane and destruction of
country. If men are angry now, it is with
those who detect and reprove such Uillany Is
a man known to have received brides? People |
enuy him. Does he o,cn it They laugh, Is
? he convicted in form They forgive him.
Thus universally hath this contagion spread it
self amongst us.''