Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-09-29

thosc dt Wuou1 IL ~ lSNcftcu, IMAM III
discredits your understandings, il it be
supposed that you can be misled by an
artifice so shallow and insensate. The
times are rife with the Inventions OF
J cunning and effrontery, and the refu-
tation of an accusation, and the expo.
sure of the evil motive which prompt
ed 1t, afford no manner of security a.
galnst its reiteration upon the next con-
venient occasion. The accusation in
question, as we may infer from the fire..
quency of its repetition, has, in the es.
timation Of those who employ it, some
singular efficacy, not the less potent be.
cause utterly destitute of foundation in
in fact. After all il is but an impudcnt
attempt to decoy the people from the
exercise Of their undoubted rights un.
der the most simulated pretensos. That
they have.the right 10 select for them.
selves, and cast their votes upon the
men oftheir choice, it is not denied, but
but If the selection be not accordant 10
a certain caucus nomination, (of which
more hereafter,) g. acceptable to those
who would control the popular voice,
it is condemned as no less an offence
than design upon the freedom Of e.
lections--as the independent exercise
of the elective franchise, and the reiu.
sal TO submit to impairment intrusion
or dictation, implies hostility to the
right, and was the appropriate mode of
bringing it into disuse or subjecting it
to letters.
Fellow citizens, we feel the morti6-
cation of being compelled to notice
objections so insensate. We appeal
to the candor and justice Of thosc,of you
who dissent from us, in the choice ofa
candidate, to put the mark Of their re-
probation upon the disingenious attempt
to bring the elective franchise into dis.
respect, by the ascription Of unworthy
motives to those Of us who resist an ir.
regular Il precipitate nomination. Re-
fleet for moment upon the consequent.
ces of an advantage obtained by such
means. Unanimity cannot be expec-
ted nor is it to be desired, in respect to
presidential election. Those in a
majority at one election may at its next
recurrence be found in minority
Such changes must perpetually occur
among people accustomed to think,
act and decide for themselves, in whose
community, whilst there are many cit
liens of distinguished talents, expert.
ence, and tried public virtue, there is
no instance of such overbearing eleva-
ton of character, and magnitude and
variety of service, as to exclude CON-
petition or rivalry. Those who tri.
umph in the pending contest, may be
defeated in one which succeeds it. Do
not now, we beseech you, by your ex-
ample or acquiescence, sanction pro-
ceeding which would authorize the next
clamorous expectant of your votes, his
press, or his partisans, to denounce
you as foes to an election by the peo-
pie, and combining to devolve the cleo
ton upon the House, because Of your
refusal to submit to the arrogant sum.
mons of caucus.
, Fellow. citizens, we turn from the
address of the Van Buren, Correspond.
ing Committee, which our limits will
: not permit us to notice further at this
time, to speak to you OF Judge White
plainly, candidly, and without re.
i. serve. He has passed the largest por-
! ton Of his life in the public SER
vice, in conspicuous stations, marking
hiscareer by the exactest integrity, pc.
litical and personal, unaffected republi.
can simplicity-and an enterprise and
capacity equal to any emergency. As
politician, frank, direct, and unrescr-
we'd in the expression of his opinions /;
g. open, unequivocai, & manly in res.
pect to his plans and the means for their
omplshment-true to his friends
and Just to his adversaries--for the
most part rigid adherent Of the con.
stitutional and political principles which
Virginia has ever avowed. Until wi
, thin a short time past, no public man
, was the object Of more universal admi-
ration, or confided in with more impli-
cit confidence. His integrity, impli-
city and consistency, were admitted
, and extolled by those even who en-
countered his opposition, and whose
, plans were defeated by the power and
, dignity of his resistance. You remem'
Der, that il was claimed as high tes'
timonial Of the merit of Pres't Jack
son, that Judge White was his friend ;
and greater confidence avowed in his
administration from the circumstance
, of his having so able and virtuous an
advocate. That he would be plain
candid, and sincere, towards his friend
now that his friend was so highly eleva-
, ted, his honest & unyielding energy OF
, character was a sure guaranty; and his
, accurate knowledge of public matters,
, and habits of profound research, quaii-
, fed him to make valuable suggestions
, | in every time of need. For about SIX