Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-02-15

PARTY SLANG.-One of the many
means used by the dominant party in
this country for the purpose ofenllsting
the unthinking and unwary in support
of their cause, is the pretended respect
paid to the supremacy Of the people,
and the off-repeated affirmation, that
the popular voice, in every case, was
superior to any and all other authority
that it was, in fact, the voice Of the
Almighty. "Vox populi vox del" has
been, Notwithstanding It's manifest inn.
propriety and profanity, reiterated and
declared by the organs of that party
which, self. constituted, claims to be the
especial guardian of the rights Of the
dear people," until it has become n
of the cardinal principles of their poli-
teal creed !; and all who do not join
the cry, or subscribe to the sentiment,
are stigmatized as monarchists, tyrants,
or a~ristocrats. To those whose ears
have been filled with the disgusting ut
terings of political demagogues, until
they were almost p%ursuaded that the
doctrines recited in their hearing were
founded in truth, we recommend a dis.
passionate perusal and consideration OF
the following extract. 1t is from a
speech delivered in the House ofDele.
gates of Virginia, by Mr.. Moore Of
Rockbridge county, upon the report Of
the Committee TO whom was referred
the letter of Mr.. Leigh, resigning his
scat in the Senate Of the U. States:
Mr.. NJ. read from the report these
words -" The roice of the People is
the rojce of Godi" Sat what time,
or with whom this expression origina-
ted, Mr.. NJ. said he would not under
take to determine. The expression OF
i" Vox populi, Vox Del" was common
with demagogues among the Romans.
1t did not appear so inappropriate or
shocking in the mouths of a people
whose ideas Of tho Deity scarcely ele-
| waited Him above themselves; but twas
| one calculated to shock the feelings OF
every man who could form an idea of
| the real nature Of the Divinity, and
| which ought TO call forth the most un-
qualified apprehension Of all men living
in a civilized, Christian community
" The voice OF the people was the voice
| of God 7" is an expression, which, II
true at all, must be so as TO the people
| of all countries and yet OF what mon
| s.rous atrocities would it make God
| guilty. When Socrates was condein-
ned TO drink the hemloek by the voice
| ofthe people Of Athens, they were gull
ty of a foul murder; and yet, being
the voice Of the people it was the voice
of Godl When the Jewish people
were asked what should be done with
| the Saviour of the world, they shouted
"Crucify him., cruelty him cruelty
him!" and yet, it was the voice Of the
people, and, consequently, the voice OF
God! The French nation, through
their National Assembly, declared that
| there was no God (; yet, that, too, was
the voice ofthe people +; and your com.
mittee declare that "the voice of the
| people is the voice Of God !" They do
not hesitate t. fatter the people at the
expense of God himself. This expires.
| sion makes God little else than a liar
| and a murderer, and deserves the exc
| Grafton of all good men. 1t had no
doubt found its way into the report
like many others which the authors
seemed to have picked up and strung
together without ever having taken the
trouble to ascertain what was their
meaning, or whether or no. they had
any at ALL"