Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-06-23

Extract from the speech of Mr.. PICK.
EMS of South Carolina on the Forti.
fcation Bill.
Mr.. Chairman, we cannot shut our
eyes to what we see passing around
US. The Government is virtually
changed, and the people seem to be
sinking in acquiesence. The dismissal
of the first Cabinet, upon the notori-
GUS principles involved, was an open
ayowal that arbitrary will should gov
ern even in private circles. The war
ragged upon all the constituted author.
tiles Of the land-Upon the Supreme
Court, upon the Senate, and even at
flrstupon this house, because they were
favorable to re-charter Of the United
States Bank-and then the appeals
constantly made to the people as one
aggregate mass, all, all pronounced
IN language not to be mistaken, that
the constitional Republic Of States was
to be broken down, and that a simple
democracy OF brutal members, with an
elective and unlimited monarch, was to
be raised over the ruins.
Let US now look to more recent G..
vent as distinctly marking this great
change in our government and on
this point will take the facts as stated
with so much spirit by the gallant gen.
tleman from Va. (Mr Wise) and which
/ have never seen the slightest pretcnce
TO deny-l allude to the last night of
the last Congress, when scenes occur.
red of the deepest Importance to the
liberties of the country. 1t was then
that the President, with the first officer
of his cabinet, and the second officer
OF the government, came into the dark
recesses of this capitol, and through
his vile minions and miserable tools
defeated measure of vast importance
before this House, for the notorious
purpose of waging a popular war upon
the Senate. Cromwell went into the
House of Commons at the head of ar.
med men and ordered its dissolution.
But here, sir. we have President who
comes not like a soldier but al the head
of his servile courters and sychophants
and practically asserts his ascendancv
over both branches Of our Legislature
by management and duplicity. Is this
our independence under the Constitu.
ton Is this the check that we were
designed to exercise by the provisions
of that noble instrument ? Where is
the spirit Of our FORE fathers? Better,
far better, for us to be "dogs and bay
the moon," or "toads and feed on the
vapor Of a dungeon" than to hold our
seats here only to disgrace the memo.
ry ofthose who have gone before us.
| know that we are apt to become in.
different and callous under the habtuaI
CONCENTRATIONS Of evils which seem al.
most to forbid a remedy. And it is
from this that liberty is lost. We sit
here and see things which we have not
the courage or manliness TO resist.
What is now passing before this
country in the history of the day .
An attemp is now openly being made
to expunge the Constitution, and drag
down the Senate in humble penitence
before master, for having dared to
express an independent sentiment. If
this succeeds, it will be the consumma.
tion of our downfall.
Mr.. Chairman, | am aware that un.
der certain circumstances an indvidu.
al may desire that his crimes should be
expunged from the memory of man. |
am aware that there are those who
would desire to convert the whole
earth into one universal pandemonum
only that they might become promin.
ent from their iniquity, and reign tri.
umphant from their very guilt. But
am totally at loss to understand the
feelings that could prompt any human
beng to desire to see a whole body of
men, intended by our ancestors to be
exalted and independent, bowling a.
round the throne of lawless q reck.
less man, bearing in their hands the
Constitution to be burned, that the
smoke thereof may rise to satiate his
vengeance or appease his wrath. Sir
At IS, At IS, the reign of Caesar; and we
are towards, dastards, slaves, if we
submit to this state Of things, and shall
deserve to have our children raise be.
fore us their little hands and shake
their manacles, saying-thou did 1t,
thou did it.
a duel has lately taken place near
Tallahassee, between George Ward,