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

'S "LshSsscu lne DltleT fruits of
tins new and formidable influence. but
inc system is yet in its infancy, and the
evils we have seen are but a prelude
TO the ruin which must follow, if the
people in their offended majesty, do not
crush and annihilate it. An eminent
and venerable citizen, who was lately
the object ofhis adulation, has incurred
the dlspleasure Of the President. For
WHAT for nothing, mark the answer, but
that in a conflict between will Of the
president and the people, he yielded to
the latter. Another citizen, whose ad.
mlration of the high officer was pre-.
cisely coeval with his induction into
power, and whose judgment is as due
tile as he is said to be risky and pleas.
ant, has won the fond attachment of
the President, to the exclusion of early
friends g. the stedfast champions of the
constitution and laws. Howhas he man
aged! How avoided the fate of the nu.
merous illustrious men whom the Pre-
sident has banished from his councils
Do you ask how? Pray, if Judge White
so remarkable for his purity, a neigh
Dor, and always a friend, by u single
act OF independence which ran counter
to the views of the President, forfeited
his good will, how has Mr.. Van Buren,
retained It? Your sagacity has anti.
cipated the answer. He had his eve
on the Presidential nomination-that
he counted of more value .han any
movement of the people in his behalf,
which had not the Presidents sanction;
and in return for that boon, was 100
polite to hesitate at any surrender.
There is abroad in the land a fearful
spirit ofturbulence and Innovation
Witness the refusal Of the Maryland
electors to go into the election-there
by leaving the State without a Cover
nor and Legislature, nay, without a
government. Men who would not have
ventured upon an act Of such hazard,
so repugnant to every sentiment Of re-
gard for the public safety, but for some
strange, widespread misrepresentation
and evil influence. Many instances
have occurred of the substitution by the
President of his own will for the autho-
rity of the laws; and such was his over
%shadowing popularity, the judgment of
the nation was mild and indulgent.-
Last comes the o%ffesive effort to FORE
stall popular choice, and to prescribe
a future Chief magistrate to a sovereign
people. The exigency of the case adj
mits of nothing short of united and in
dignant resistance. Intrigue, corrup-
ton, and the worst favoritism, will pre-.
vail the elective franchise lose its val.
ue-nay, the people will be no longer
sovereign or supreme, if they fail to
demolish at the threshold, any effort,
covert or open, to interfere in their ell
e%ctions.
Upon the ground, then, that the e.
lection Of Mr.. Van Buren,, would be a
triumph of the Executive over the
people-an instance of successful die
~tation, in the exercise of their most i'm
portant and incontestible right, it ought
to be the primary concern Of every in
telligent and independent citizen topre-
vent it. Will 1t be objected that in
Justice is done Mr.. Van Buren, in char
cling upon him that he is the executive
favorite, and that the patronage of the
government has been lavishly employ.
ed in his behalf? How then has it hap.
pened, that Of the tens of thousands
who hold their places at the pleasure Of
the President, there are but few, and
they mostly mutes, who are not his par
tizaps2 By what magic has so numer-
Gus a host, dispersed throughout our
wide country, and exhibiting endless d.
versities in other respects been blend
ed in an harmonious unit" upon this
one point? None can affect to answer
by alleging his illustrious services
and elevated character. Even party
bigotry must confess that in character
and service he is not before many, ma
ny that may be mentioned in any
Of the States. His name is connected
with no leading event, which he con-
trolled by conspicuous exertion, and
until he reached the beau ideal of his
ambition, as the subaltern Of a man
whom cit was glory enough to serve"
his fame, if fame he had, rested alone
on the places he had held. We repeat
and submit the question to you for your
solemn consideration, how does it hap
pen, that the Missouri restrictionist, and
the anti Missouri restrictionist, the
Bank, and the anti Bank, the Tariff,
and the anti Tariff, the Abolitionist,
and the anti. Abolitionist, republicans
and federalists, provided they agree in
the single particular o~fholding office a:
the pleasure ofthe President, are uni
ted as earnest and intolerant confede-
rates in the support of Mr.. Van Buren,?
To us it would seem better to admit the
existence of the alleged influence, and
tamely to surrender, than against such
stringent proofs TO deny Its existence.