Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-10-01

From tho Alexandra Gazstte.
BENJAMIN WATKINS LEIGH.

Il
| We have had, occasion before. in an
estimate Of the character of Mr.. Leigh.
70 apply TO him the Justum ettenacin, PRO
poslts usrum, &c Of Horace nor do we
Know any public man who moro richly
deserves such praise. Indeed the more
ne IS known, aud the more his talents are
| displayed, the more firmly ara we lmpres
sea with conviction of the nobleness &
independence OF his mind and the strength
and vigor Of his intellect,
We have been led to these remarks
by reading a recent correspondence be.
tween committee Of the citizens of Brun,
| wick, Va. and MIR. Leigh. 10 which he ia
invited to partake of their hospitality.
out IS forced to decline the proiTered ho,
o.. 10 reply to his letter ofinyitation Mr..
Leigh thus speaks:
II beg you TO rest assured. that I am
| not to be deferred from pursuing the patL
which my sense of duty to my country
dictates, by The frown Of power; or by
any ciamor that tools OF men in power can
RAISE against me. | respect the deliberate
Judgment of the people as much as any
nlan. ihero are, make no doubt MANY
men' very many, who honestly differing
win me IN opinion and Disappearing nv
conduct, would therefore have me with
draw from the public councils the cen
sures oil such men have no right TO com.
PLAN, and never have presumed to com
pam; hear their opinions with unfeign
Gu respect; | weigh their objections with
care; but must, at least, follow iheIiehts
OF my own understanding and the dictates
| oil my own conscience, and the reasopabl,
the candid, and the just, of nv political
opponents, will, 10 the end. do Justice 10
my motives, however they may blame my
conduct; But as to the popularity which
u IS IN the power of Mr.. Richie TO de.
prive me OF, VIGOROUSLY prosGiuted as he
10 10 the worstpurposes OF faction, and now
intoxicated with the fumes of his own va
NIFTY, aud apparently mxddened with the
venom OIL personal mahgnity, such poou
iari'y were not worth the effort to preserve
1t. lie and his coniederates NAV EMMY
their stores OF lamp black upon mel
know that they may blacken me Cor a
Time, as the like means have blactened
Tar DETER men. Blu, defy them TO fix any
permanent stain on my character, Those
who' proclaiming that the voice of the
people Is The voice of God, presumptuous
| ~ take upon themselves 10 be the proub.
cts 10 announce that voice, and expect m.
10 De guided by their revelations, have mo
real respect for the digoity of the peopIe
no knowledge OF their own place. and M
knowledge of me- The tiaio must coma
"hen me people will rebuAe this presump-
uon. Inc time is coming when ptores
SONS will be dIsregarded AID real service
required; when the people ,fpirginia will
can upon every man, whom they Judge
capable, TO stand forth, to maintain and
defend their most sacred rights and dear
est interests.
The charge Of aristoc,acy ha. been
raised against me--(ounded, | am unite
sure, on no other ground than the part
TOOK IN the Conve n.ion of 1929 80. and
10 'he DISCUSSIONS preceding that assem-
oy' on The subject of the basis of repre
senta'ion and qualifications of the right of
suffrage. | expected that this CHARGE
would be made, and my language in the
convention proves that | did so, and tho
oy no means ambitious Of the honor Of
matrydom Of any kind, was prepared 70
SUMMIT 70 lhe extinction OF my existence
as puuhc man with resignation, But
mere were some who actually voted with
me on both points. and moro who earnest
y approved and supported me throughout
that trying contest These, at least. |
expected would be prompt to vindcate
me from the aspersion, which my jealous
support OF them, and my honest opinions
would bring upon me. In this have been
disappointed am, however, compensa.
ted with the candid federation of many Of
my opponents on that occasion.
"Gentlemen, | confidently hope and be
lleve, that the hearts of the great MAORI
! " oil Vrginians are in the RIG Int place, (&
though IN my opinion they are not vet a
wake to the dangers that jeopardize our
institutions. they will "cliug TO the cau,er
the cause of civil liberty, founded on
law and secured by law-the cause n
constitutional Republican Government, y
There is in this letter so much of the
calmness of virtue, the expression of hon
esty and the feryor Of patriotism, that Voc
have read it more thau once with increas
ed satisfaction. Would that all our pnbE.
men were as viriuous and highminded as
Mr.. Leigh! 90
UNITED STATES BANK-IMPoRrANr An.