Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-09-17
THE VOICE OF HISTORY 7.


people haze Invariably persisted through ne
understandable assumptions Of potoer byseY
constituted and irresponsible bodies q men,
Let the reader cast his eye backward
through the mist OF time; let bin lIngerI
amidst the graves Of buried empires and
republics, so thickly strewn along the
shores OF dim antiquity let him view the
shadowy skeletons Of cities and govern
ments that have yet a miserable existence
| in the old world, whose names alone serve
to call up the remembrances Of their de
parted glory and magniGcence let him
trace out the cause by which they fell, and
| then say whether the same causes WHICH
FASTENED their dissolution. and preciptated
their downward course to the uDisihomeo
grave Of human liberty, are not al Work
within the very heart Of our Republic.
| The present Presidential contest IS not
a mere question Of individual preference
between men not a mere trial TO decide
whether Hugh Lawson White or hartin
| Van Buren, shall be president Of the Uni
ted States. Matters Of higher and lar
greater importance are at stake IN the
struggle. The real question is, whether a
conclaye OF corrupt politicians, under me
title of National Convention, assuming
powers not granted either by the Constr
luton or the people, shall appoint sue
cessor 60 the Presidency; or whether we
shall still continue in the exercise OF The
rights guaranteed US by the Constitution,
and elect President, according to the spi-
rit and usages Of our Republican Govern
ment, The appointment OF successor
has ever been a favorite right with despo's
exercising usurped authority. julius Ca
sar appointed his successor; Henry VIII.
appointed his; Cromwell appointed his !;
the Jacobin Clubs Of revolutionary France
aimed TO exercise the same power; Napo
leon did the same the Infamous Holy Al
lance claim like prerogatlve; and the
| American National Convention lmpudent
| ly declares TO thirteen millions OF Ireemen.
: We ore here to perform high and I'm
porlant duty. success
sor Ito the Presidency is TO be opPoiated."
When the Pratorian cohorts put up the
Roman empire at public auction. and sold
il to the highest bidder, appointed the pur.
chaser successor to the sovereignty. ana
defended bis right TO succession by the
strength Of their arms, what d,d they more
than the Baltimore Convention has done
! for US, the free born citizens OF the Ame.
rican Republicp The Baltimore Conven
Ii on, it is true, dare not yet use the sword
to maintain the power il has usurped; but
weapons scarcely less potent are made use
of to defend the right and title oil the man
it has appointed. The press, doubly char
ged with fa.ehood, defamation, and Sian
der-edited by hrelings and pensioners OF
the public tTeasury--is made to bear with
tremendous influence against all who
dare TO dissent from the appointment -
/" Brbcd, purchased by the Bank, bought
UNI are it. daily and reiterated charges,
brought against every individual who ven
lures TO speak. with regard 10 their iniqui-
tous proceedings, and vindictively made
use OF TO destroy his standing and moral
influence.
The existence Of body Of individuals
| constituted as the Baltimore Convention
is, setting themselves above the law, ard
beyond the law, and assuming The right oil
! appoin ting a successor TO the Presidency,
is a startling evidence OF the progress Of
principles adverse to the prosperity oil our,
| free institutions Their attempt to dictate
Mr.. Van Buren, to US, in direct opposition
10 our privilege of choice by the blood
bought right Of suffrage-their refusal to
acknowledge any limit to their usurped
prerogative but the extent OF party disci
plineSand their palpable determination to
extend that party discipline to the iarthest
corner of the Unioo, is undenlable proof
of design to render their authority and
influence over freedom Of speech, thought
and action, paramount and supreme. Does
any one doubt this ? Look TO the char
acier of the men who compose these con
yention.. Who aids 10 getting them up ?
Who urge them most earnestly upon the
people ? Not the farmer by his fireslde !;
not the mechanic in his workshop not the
merchant in his counting room nor the
professional man in his office; but set oil
vagabond politicians bankrupts in honor,
10 honesty, and patriotism who, to sub
Sc, their Own selfish and insatiate ambi-
ton, are endcavoring TO divide the coun
try into contending factions, and whose
only rule of action in the partizan strife
they are stirring up, is THAT To THE VIC
TORS BELONG THE sPoILs OF VICTORY
These are plain and undenisble truths
Listen to the warning voice OF history.
and let not lis multiplied and melancholy
examples be entirely lost upon us. Ii, as
10 years that are past and gone forever, an
irresponsible body of men shall succeed IN
securing the succession Of power. and the
right OF appointment in their own hands,
we can have no reasonable hope OF ex
emption from the recorded doom of the
nations that have gone before us. to the
returnless bourne of all created things
The tolls, the triumphs. and the solemn
offerings of our stern hearted fathers, will
all be unavailing to avert the rapid strides
S. certain contamination Of despotic power
The country which their generous patriot
ism redeemed from the sceptre of tyranny.
will exist but in name and the lava and
institutions which their wisdom framed,
will be but the "types and shadows" Of
what they once were, and what they were