Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-04-21
[vol. XXXVII---No. 9.

certainly was, and amid the labors oil
organizing and conducting new CO.
vcrnment, arduous as they were beset
also with the most dangerous of all jea.
lousies, he made and preserved uni.
| ted people, and finally retired from
| their service with greater character
and more durable renown than he car.
ried into it. During the administration
of General Washington most of the
great questions which have Subsequent
ly agitatcd the country and divided the
people into parties, took their rise, and
were freely and ardently discussed.
During his administration all the jeal-
ousy on the part of the State Govern
ments of the authority Of the General
Government, existed in its full yigor,
(for then the limitation between the
two was less defined than now,) and
gave rise to the distinction of federal
and ant. federal in our political diyiso
ion. During the same administration
many of the most important questions
regarding the positive and real powers
ofthe several departments took their
origin, and were variously treated, and
many points, in the agricultural, and
manufacturing, and commercial policy
of the Government were also agitated,
the general financial scheme of the GO
vernment were also agitated, the gene
raj question of the Bank, was a prom
inent and exciting subject ofdiscussion
and all the delicate and complex ques-
tons and collisions arising out of our
foreign relations, led to the freest dis
cussions and broadest divisions. A.
mong the latter the Proclamation of
Neutrality produced as much agitation
in this country as has prevailed at any
subsequent period. The agitation
spread through all parts Of the nation,
and clubs and societies were in many
places formed to denounce the foreign
policy ofthe Government, and to men,
ace the executive; nay, though that
executive was the Father of his Coun.
try. To such extremes was the spirit
Of party carried, that he was not only
opposed insAis cabinet, bat openly revi-
led andn1islepresented in his country,
and in some places burnt in efiigy. If
in that carly crisis of our history, that
great man had given way to his per-
sonal feelings, and been disposed to-
maintain his power at the risk of the
public tranqulity---had he been content
to enlist a party with bifn, or to enlist
himselfwith any party, had he prefer
red to rule by faction, and to have
appealed to the feelings to which his
brilliant military career had inspired
the great mass Of his countrymen, and
to have rewarded his supporters, and
prescribed his opponents, IN that event.
full period Of his life, no doubt he would
have been sustained by large MAORI
ty Of the people; but he would have
inflicted the greatest Of curses upon his
country, and never have acquired the
rich renown with which his memory
will be crowned throughout all future
time. Far different was his course
looking to the occasional agitations Of
party as inseperable from the enjoy
ment Of liberty, the stability ofthe Co.
vernment, and the union. and concord
Of the people as the great objects of his
care, he never once throughout the
whole Of this perllous period, INDUCED
in undignifed passions or unworthy re-
sentiment; but maintaining noble Sc.
verify he looked down with calmness
but circumspection on the tumultuous
agitation Of the people, and watched
the occasion 10 calm their discontents,
and appeal to their reason and patriot
ism proving by this exalted modera-
ton, the real strength and granduer Of
his soul, and more firmly established
his position as the real head OF his ma.
ton. His appointments to Office, were
made with a single view of capacity
and fidelity to the Constitution, and
their fitness has been universally ac-
knowledged. He was neither afraid
nor unwilling to call to public trust,
and to stations in his immediate council
some ofthe most active, intelligent and
powerful ofthe opponents Of his meass
ures and policy. 1t is the proud and
exalted merit of his civil career, and
which makes it an epoch in our history
that he conducted himself so clear in
his great Office, as on no occasion to
sacrifice his duty to the public to his
own purposes; and that not a single
instance ofparty appointment and pro.
.cription stained the purity or marred
the beauty and harmony of his admin
istration. This country has produced
no second Washington; and it may be
feared it will be long before it will
Nevertheless, it ought to be the fervent
prayer of every true patriot, that that
event may yet happen, and that its adj
vent may be FASTENED, and that until it
shaI II ,,Ieaea pravidenca to raise mn such