Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-07-28
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF
VIRGINIA

Gus parts of Virginia. having assembled IN
Stanton on the 4th inst. for the purpose
OF adopting such measures as, IN their o.
pinion, were best calculated to promote
the election Of Gen VIM. I'll. Harrison Of
Ohio, TO the Presidency of the u. States,
feeling OF respect for the universal usage
of the country on such occasions, no less
than thorough conviction Of its intrinsic
proprlety. has induced them TO adopt an
address 10 the people of Virginia, expires.
slye Of the sentiments by which their con
duct has been influenced.
There is no candid observer Of the
course OF public affArs for the last twelve
years, who is not constrained TO acknowl
edge, that its tendency has been uniform.
iy downwards, and With velocity, al ev-
cry stage OF IFS progress accelerated. The
reelection is painful to the heart Of every
patriot, but ii is not therefore the less true
and there are many persons, and those
not men given TO dependency or uDmanIy
fears, who have been induced thereby, 10
entertain doubts as TO The stability of our
glorious Institutions. They have seen
Constitution, founded in the most perfect
wisdom and virtue, framed with the most
scrupulous regard 10 the rights oil every
class of society, adopted by the unbiased
suhrages Of free people, and commen-
cling its operations under The most auspi
cious circumstances : they have seen this
government administered under the gui.
dance of the father of bis country, and
succession of ilustrious patriots in the spi.
rit in which il was framed, as a sacred
trust. created not for the benefit Of the RI
iets, but of the people. They have Wit
messed great nation, under its genial
influences with rapidly unparalleled in
the history OF mankind, advancing from
the condition of obscure colonies into the
very front rank of the nations Of the earth
ITS flag unlurled in every sea, and its name
respected and honored throughout the
world, aud they had INDUCED the belief
that favorable solution TO the great pro
blem as TO the capacity Of man for self
government, had at length been attained.
But in the midst of these siiuring visions,
and animating hopes. circumstances have
occurred, TO fill their minds with the
most gloomy forebodines Of evil Within
the last few years. they have seen the
purity and simplicity of the early days of
the Republic not merely disregarded, but
almost openly derided. They have seen
the first principle of the constitution com.
pletcly inverted, and those powers and
prerogatives which were conferred on the
SoyeEQment as sacred trusts to be admin.
Isl ktrictly and exclusively for the ben
ehV Ne public, boldly claimed and ex
efcNE as The property of the chief execu
tive officer. i hose Offices which were ne
lIxya fl,a Of
ta,ing the correct administration of public
atfdirs, and which should never be desired
Tor the sake Of emolument. are now pro
TO be the legitimate spoils of vic
tory, and the champions Of the political
arena are stimulated TO increased ferocity
IN their assaults upon their opponents by
HE ailurlng perspective of official promo
ion, with nominal duties and extravagant
salaries. The manly independence of |
public sentiment, which was once the |
BOAST Of the republic, and at the same
inc the secret guaranty Of the correct
of the government has been
ucceeded by slayish subservieucy to
he powers that be, and that freedom Of
Iiscussion, and universal feeling of tolera.
ion. which was once the glory of our in.
has given place to an arbitrary
.u!ilcal inqnisiuon, which denounces and
with the rack and screws all who
are TO differ from the established stand
rd OF orthodoxy, as revealed through the
olumns of the official gazette. They
ave seen the treasure Of the people sci
zed upon without the warrant Of law, and !
mployed for the purpose Of arraying an
immense chain Of moneyed corpots lions
On the side Of the government, and against |
The liberties Of the people-and finally, in |
A government which Processes to be foun
ded on the principle that the people are
capable OF self government, and competent
to elect their own officers, they have seen
the President Of the United States, in op.
position to both these fundamental doc
tnnes, openly debating TO the people who
Shall he his successor in office, procuring
bis nomination 10y self constituted con.
vention, & bringing all the power s. pat
ronagc OF the government into requislliun
for the purpose of efectiDg his iavorite
object. These are lew, and but few
OF the circumstances which have excited
in the minds of the most confident feelings
of apprehension and alarm as TO the per
maneGce of our civil institutions. Can
we undertake TO say that these fears are
not well founded ? Let a reference 10
few prominent events of the last session of
Congress answer the question. We have
seen the Congress of the United States.
unmindfuI OF the high purposes for which
1t was 1t was instituted, as tie guardian Of
the treasure, and the rights and liberties
OF the people, prosiltuung itself to the vi
lest purposes party. We have seen the
dominant party egislating for eectionee-
flns purposes alone, and treating every
subject exclusively with reference to the
ehect which It was calculated TO produce
on ITS particular interests; we have seep
public interests sacrificed, and all the de
cencIes OF social Intercourse outraged by
the evaporation of party excitement and
the hall, intended for calm elaboration
and candid discussion. converted into
scene OF constant vituperation and almost
OF personal violence.
Upon the eve, too, of the presidential
election, we have seen the expenditures of