Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-10-27

VlAt@A Z
likely to secure the triumph of the ia.
vorite. The open avowal of his prefe.
renee, the expression ofthat preference
by letter, which his correspondent pub.
llshes-the circulation under his frank
OF newspapers teeming with vitupera.
ton against an independent and faithful
public agent, whose only offence was
that ne consented to be placed by the
people in opposition to the official can
didate-the denunciation of those who
resist, and the admission to favor OF
those who acquiesce in his choice, dis
play the bigotted attachment Of the
President, and with what energy he is
employed in accomplishing his end.
Our object is not TO assail the Presi-
dent, or to invoke against him your g
sentment-his course is nearly finished
and too soon for his own peace he is
destined to experience how sadly he
had been betrayed to the injury of his
own fame. But while we would i'll
dulge in no unnecessary acrimony "a
gainst him, we cannot express too
strongly the impression which we have
of the dread consequences which must
ensue, if the attempt at dictation be not
met by indignant and overwhelming
resistance.
The day has been when an argu-
ment against the intrusion of official
interference, would have been regarded
as an idle, if not an impertinent war
ming. The bare suspicion of official
intermeddling would have aroused a
spirit of bold and determined defiance ;
and signal would have been the retri-
button which awaited the offender
found guilty Of such disloyalty to the
government and insolence to the peo-
pie. Sad, indeed, and ominous of ills,
is the change which has come over the
people, ifthey fail to detectthe attempt
at dlctation, under whatever insidious
disguise it may assume, and repel the
%faintest approach to it.
The exact neutrality and infexlble
reserve Of Washington, Jefferson, Ma
olson, 81 Monroe, was the result, not of
apathy and unconcern, but of compre.
hensive and patriotic views of,heir duty
to the public. 1t was n voluntary res
traint submitted to from conviction that
the officers ofthe government, and es.
pecially the first functionary, could not
mingle in the election without invading
the elective franchise, & that the prac-
tice was vicious, and would inevitably
lead to venality and corruption. Hear
what Mr.. Jefferson said, " the elective
principle becomes nothing fit may be
smothered By the enormou patronage Of
the general government" If the pro-
priety of their course rested alone on
the authority oftheir names, we humbly
trust that the people would not submit
to ar innovation upon it. But it is ap-
parent, on the least consideration, that
nothing short ofthe most exact neutral
ity is consistent with the freedom of
elections and the purity Of the govern
ment.
1t is not possible for the president to
engage in the contest without implica.
ting his high office, and bringing the
authority of that to bear upon the is
sue. He cannot ifhe would, confne his
voice within the limits which circum.
scribe that ofthe citizen. Heis a man Of
authority-by the exercise of his pre-
rogative, he may reduce to obscurity
and curtail the income ofofficial depend
ants-and advance to consequence d
emolument those who attract his notice
and obtain his favor. The declaration
of his preference is the signal for Goa
lition among the office holders, and of
all whose anxiety is to be found on the
strong side, and to be admitted to the
rewards of active and conspicuous re-
tanners. The executive patr onage
devoted to the cause of the execu-
tive favorite, becomes conneced with
questions Of State, and nothing is
decided without reference to its bear
ings on the election. There grows
up a party, formidable for numbers,
and vet more formidable for discipline,
eager for success, and expert at all the
arts by which advantage may be won,
that aims at power with an exclusive
view TO selfish and factlous ends. II
will call itself by any name which may
best serve to allay and divert popular
suspicions-democratic, republican JEFF
| fersonian, or By them all at once-but
bv whatever name it is called, it is q
party whose plans will reach their con-
summation in nothing short of the alb
solute overthrow of popular right, and
the accession Of Executive supremacy.
Again, the President cannot be per-
mitted to nominate his successor, but
at the expense Of the independence and
virtue of public men. Add that to the
already colossal power of the office,
and his influence in the halls of Con.
gress becomes irresistible. 1t would
be idle to think of resisting his name IN
tho olantiNn re raprasnptatIVpg when