Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-04-21

CONSTITUTION SGCuFCu tue utCSoti - " -
berty, if we have not acquired the II
berty ofthinking freely, upon all sub
jects connected with our happiness
and acting upon the opinions thus form
ed with decency towards others, with
out being exposed to prescription and
Acknowledgement, we have acquired
nothing, and are to this day slaves. -
But this liberty | hold we have secured
and that no Chief Magistrate ought to
interfere with it, and were he capable
of doing so, he would be in my opinion
"unfit TO be the ruler OF free people. I"
A Chief Magistrate of a state, and
especially Of the Union, should look to
far nobler objects and consider himself
called to a much higher destiny. |
would have him rouse his spirit and
expand his mind TO the elevation and
grandeurof hisimportant trust; would
have him to realize that he is the Co
vernon of a great, free and prosperous
people various in their habits, opln-
ions and occupations, but all pursuing
the general end of human action, the
happiness Of themselves and their pos
terity, and all equally entitled to the
protection and favor Of their Govern
ment. | would have him to purify
himselffrom all temptation to proscrip.
ton or intolerance and all vindictive
or personal suggestions, and to MAN.
tain himself at sightless distance
above the low intrigues and bitterness
of faction. | would have him thorough.
ly to understand the spirit and import
ofthe Constitution Of our country; to
consider all its functions entitled to
equal respect with himself !; to preserve
sacred the just balance and appoint
ment of power among the various de-
and in all cases Of diversity
between the heads
Of departments or among the people at
large, to maintain Il wise moderation
and forbearance, and to endeavor to
lead the Earring parties to entertain re-
spect for each other, and to cooperate
for the common good. / would have
him to think of fame as well as of APP
plause, and prefer that which to be en-
ioyed must be given, to that which may
be bought; to consider his adminlstra-
ton rs a single day in the great year
of government, but as day that IS al.
fected by those which went before,
and that must affect those which fol-
low ! would have him to consider
the constitution and the laws rs the
sole rule of his conduct, neither stretch
ing nor warping them eitherto enlarge
his own power or to abridge that OF the
coordinate departments, or OF the peo-
pie. TO usurp no authority inconslst-
ent with their spirit, nor to abuse that
which they confer. would have him
diligently to inform himself Of all the
great and diversified interests of this
vast and growing country, and SO to
succor the various branches of enter
prise as to crown the whole with pros
perity. | would have him to reflect
that amidst the diversity of interests
and multifarious concerns, both foreign
and domestic, of the nation, questions
will constantly arise necessarily elicit
ing various opinions among his coun-
trymen. These | would have him to
treat with respect and indulgence, even
when they differ from his own, but by
no means to make them objects OF an
ger and punishment. would have
him not only to tolerate, but to encour-
age all decent and respectful examlna.
zion into his public policy and official
conduct. | would have him to keep
the officers of the Government above
the reach ofthe 1atterer and the DEM
agogue, and never to bestow them as
rewards for mere party services; to
bring TO his aid in the other trusts OF
the Government the soundest patriot
ism. the most elevated and various in
teIlect, the most enlarged capacity,
that his country affords: and lest in
seeking for such qualities his range of
observation might be too circumscrlbed
| would have him to maintain such re-
lations with all classes and portions OF
his countrymen, that the scope OF his
selection might have no other limit
than the welfare ofthe commonwealth.
Such is my idea Of virtuous, en-
liehtened, and patriotic chief magls-
trate, fit to administer the Government
of free and united people. Such a
one it may be dillicnlt, perhaps impos.
siblc to find, though it is presumed no
one will deny that it is desirable and
even duty TO approach as near as pos
sible to perfect Government, and So
cial happiness under it. The only
question is, how near it may be prac-
ticable for us to come /? and all must
admit that we shall approach the near
er as the efforts of the people and the
Government shall concur for that OBJ