Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-12-31


Ma. SPEAKER PoLK.-The election of this
gentleman to the spoakership of the II. OF Repre-
sentatives,i is, from the circumstances nnder which
IL took place, one of the most b~arcfaccd acts Of
prescription for opinio ms sake, with which tbo
jackson Van Barren party has of late attempted
70 sishai'ze lt'2ii; and Is, at the same time, the
best exponent Of the political independence of
those representatives Congress who wear the
livery Of the 'hIagiciau,' that has of late come
within The scope Of our observation. The votes
cast for Mr.. Polk, numbered the same as thoso
cast for the editors Of the Globe for Public Pyin.
tiers. For many years past. the election of a
speaker has seldom if ever terminated upon the
first trial, or been made to turn Upon exclusive.
iy party grounds, and, for the honor Of the bodv
over which he presides it is to be regretted thai
II shoaid in the present instance been made so to
'ofh' ihere is, however, one circumstance con
nectec with the election of Mr.. Polk. that as.
tonisiies US still more than does the REGULAR and
trained manner in which the members of :" the
party" supported the candidate Of the White
House. 1t is the object for which it is alleged
nc was elected, viz opunish Mr.. Bell, an allie
CATION, that from the signs of the tines bears
upon ITS front the stamp Of probability. And
what has MIR. Bell done that he should ,bue
draw upon himself the proscriptive vengeance Of
the supporters Of the administration He has
dared TO avow his preference for Judge White
over Martin Van Buren,, as a candidate for the
Presidency, and TO exercise one Of The dcsrcs,
rights oIfreemen--the right of being independent.
ror tins heresr, for this determination not IN
truckle Or bow the knee TO the usaecs of mar.
y. SO lar as to yield his support 10 a set of can
uiaa'es that have been forced upon the pconle
oy an edict from the Executive Mansion. he ;s
singled out for party os,racism by those yho
deem political independence one Of the fou,es,
sins of the age.
We have heard much within the Lost ,rolno
n'0"'n'' respecting the doctrine Of prescription
ioF opinion . sake from one who is, at present. ,he
Magnus Apollo Of the Van Buren, party !, Win
S'n'a' and who, about a year since was oustsd
from an Office that had been in his possession far
near twenty years-we have seen the depuncio
uohs that were hurled by him and his satellites.
al the 'as' Virginia Legislature, for what thew
were pleased to term an act Of prescription for
opinions sake, but which was not the fact. and
yet the prescription of Mr.. Bell, admitted N
nave been inflicted l. as a punishment, for opinions
sake has not drawn from them one word Of cam.
ment' Where is he, who had such an sbbor.
rent sense OF prescribing man for the exercise of
Nis own opinion Is he dead, or doth he but
Sieep' hthe former, then may we expec, that
Inc wrong that has been done will go unreproba
''d' out Al he be not dead, he but sleep, we
would cntreat of him TO awake, for while he
S'eepe'h one OF the most fragrant act. of pro.
scriptIon for opinions sake on record in the annals
o' Inc country, has been committed, and that too
by his own party.