Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-04-30
WHAT is REpUBncANIsM }

The time has arrived, when every man
should pause and re1ecti When we see
politicians OF every hue & cast, claiming TO
be real Simon Pures' of republican ortho
doxy, and denouncing as anti republican,
all who do not precisely go with them, we
should pause and ask ourselves, what ia
republIcanism and who are the true re-
puolcans Is republicanism that creed
which teaches US TO look upon portion of
our fellow citizens as aliens. aud to endea-
vor to wrest fromthem all participation 10
me sacred privileges of our free institu-
ions or is II that which tells us we are
all " by nature free aud equal" that we
are all endowed with " certain inheritent,
and inaienable rights and that these
rights should be secured to us at the hax.
ard oil Z" our lives, our fortunes, and our
sacred honor" Is republicauisni that
which teaches us TO lay aside, as useless
lumber, the Constitution and Government
approved by the people ? or is il that
which admonishes us to abide by, and nut
our trust ia that sacred instrument which
secures to US aud our posterity the incom.
parable blessings Of civil libertyp Who
will not answer that The latter is republ.
canism, and that he who advances il 10 The
true Republican!
What Is the language of the party sus.
tanning Mr.. Van Buren, Why, +" Judge
WHITE" say they, " should submit his |
claims 10 the Baltimore Conveniion."-
/" The only chance he ever had. or can
have OF reaching the Presidency, is thro'
the National Convention I"
Let Us. for a moment, with that deliber-
alton which becomes nation Of ireemen,
examine into thisnew and unprecedented
mode OF eecting the first officer Of a great !
Republican Government What does il !
In the first instance propose ? To cut of |
from the freedom Of the elective franchise |
a large portion Of the people Of these Uni |
ted States Is not this startling feature +? |
Would Il not appear strange in the eyes |
OF a civilized world. were one portion of |
the American people TO rise ap, and in
moment OF unrestrained lust Of power. by |
solemn edct or otherwise, under pretcnce
OF repubiicanisnI, positively disfranchise q
large minority Of the people OF their dear.
est rights and privileges! Yet il must and
will resolve itself into this. We Of the re-
publican party hold the reins Of power. IL
we determine within ourselves to meet at |
Baltimore, or any place else, and make a
President, this President will, notwith-
standing large minority ofthe people are
not permitted to take any part in it, and
although large majority may be opposed
to his election, become 10 fact the Presi-
dent of the Nation The will Of the PEG.
pie will thus be misrcpresented, and por
ton OF the people themselves virtually |
DISTINGUISHED in our elections! We have
the power to crush, but should we wan
tonly use il !? We may say 10 them, you
are aliens. and shall not have a voice in
our elections, but would it be polite. would
il be republican. would it be safe. thus TO
trample on the feelings of American citi.
zens?
Such sysiem Of making Presidents is
wholly foreign to the Constitution, and in
our opinion subveYsive Of the first prnci
pies Of republicanism In all free govern
ments, the governed choose their govern
prs and whenever this is not the ease,
whenever the people. the whole people.
and nothing hut the people, are debarrcd
the privileges Of elections, the fatal blow
has been struck at the root Of Republican
Institutions!