Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-04-07
Tte GasettE
M ar 1u re. VA
THURSDAY. APRIL I, 1886.

uoh VI DeieBstes 70 the next Oeneral Assembly
of Virginia, takes place in this county. and as
that event will tfanspirc before our humble sheet
will again make its appearance, few words up
on the subject, may not, perhaps, be deemed OBJ
trusive or impertinent. The privilege of being
permitted, BY the institutions of our blessed Re-
public, to have voice in choosing those who
are to make laws for the governance of our eoun
try, is the greatest that freemen can enjoy !;
and has been obtained, only by the flowing Of the
Patriots blood. i, is a privilege, which, if well
and considerably used, will secure to those who
exercise it, the blessings Of liberty and freedom,
but ii abused, or inconsid eratey applied, will,
ere he is aware Of the fact, deprive the freeman
OF that which TO him is dearer even than life it.
self How necessary. then, that every individ.
ual, enjoying that privilege, should consider well
Its important bearing, for good or for evil, upon
the destiny of his country! A single vote may !,
perhaps, cause effects that will be felt to the re.
hottest corner Of the Union, effects that will
have salutary bearing upon the welfare and
permanency OF our government, or that may
convulse and shake our beautiful fabric . from
turret to foundation stone" In view Of the i'm :
portance Of this subject, and OF the important,
principles involved in the coming contest, be.
tween the two opposing political parties in this
State, should men make up their minds as to
whom they will support, with care. dcliberation
and cancor; with view of endeavoring, SO far
as in them lies. to aid in the preserv alton of our
present system Of governments system the
NEST glorious that ever shed its blessings on the
human family in times past or present.
The elections now already begun, involve,
from the circumstances Of tho times, more i'm.
Portant principles, than any other election that
has taken place for many years. The Importance
oil these principles arise from their intimate con.
nection with, & evident bearing upon. the Senate
oil the United States-upon the permanence OF a
body on which the people of these States mus,
mainly depend, for the prcserva alton of their H.
berries, from the inroads of Executive power-
The term of service of Senator, is, by the con-
-titution of the United States fixed at six wears.
and any attempt TO shorten the period of a Seua.
tors service, W neither by direct or indirect means
must be looked upon as violating, obviously. the
express provisions of that instrument The Le.
gisia'ure OF Virginia, that has just passed into
aon-existence, or majority thereof, have, du.
ring the past winter, taken upon themselves the
right OF dtmanding-aye. peromptorily demand.
tng the resignation Of two Of the most distin.
guishcd and patriotic members of the U. States
Senate; and now appeal indirectly to the voters
In their State, for an approval of their conduct
One OF the Senators, whose place was intended
to have been wrested from him, needed not the
doings Of those whose aim was TO drive him from
MS seat aud still reia ms his place in the Senate
where he may be found battling for the best in.
terests OF his country The course of this Sena.
TOR with regard TO the unconstitutional reauisi-
lions made OF him, has furnished one Of the par
ties In the contest now going on. with a mantle
"herewith TO hide its winters misdeeds, and
instead of placing the true issue. of constitution
or no constitution before the people, II is la.
boring to deceive them into a support of an un.
constitutional and illegal measure, by crying ",n
struc'ions or no instructions -" Leigh or no
Leigh -" Bank or no Bank and dozen
other issues, that have no bearing whatever up
on the real end for which they are laboring-an
approval by the people, at the polls of the odious
and time serving Expunging Resolutions. -
Let this fact, then, be borne in mind, and let
every man who has vote TO give, remember
that by giving his vote to- or Withholding il from.
those who give countenance to the principles up.
held by the Expungers {" in the late General
Assembly OF Virginia, he is either silently as
senting TO, or opposing the doctrine that claim.
obedience to instructions plainly and paIpably Mt
variance with the constitution, or the right of
driving into resignation those who may not feel
1t to be any part OF their duty to obey such un.
lawful acquisitions.
The real issue, then, that will be decided at
The present election, will not be Leigh or no
Leigh, p" instructions or no Instruction..
Bank or no Bank"-"Flag or no Flag, but,
whether majority Of the Legislature, NAV, for
party Purposes-for purposes unconnected with
'he public good-impudently assume to them
selves the right of driving Senators in Congress
from their seats, by placing before them the al.
Tentative Of either complying with instructions
'loia've of the Constitution, or ofresigning the ir
seats to such as will act in acc ordauce 10 the
wishes oil those, who for the time being. have
the ascendency in that body. This is the issue,
that is TO be decided, and none other. The
friends OF the admnstiat alton may have as many
issues as they please; but, cloak the matter as
they will, the real issue is as we have stated il
to be; aud, should they by their chicanery and
management. have the good fortune to gain the
ascendency in this election, il will, after it is
over, be so stated by them. Let this matter
meet with the consideration, TO which its couse-
quence entities it; let the subject be viewed
calmly and dispassionately, without reference to
the interests ofparty, or any other interests, save
the preservation of the constitution, & the honor