Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-02-23


transmits tito his favotl,e, What more
does he want: Must We blot. deface.
ard mu;,la,e the records Of the country
20 punish the presumptuouSneSS Of eX-
pressing an opinion contrary 10 his
own,
what patriotic purpose IS 10 be nc
complI>hed ~ this cNpunging Te>Olu.
tom Can YOU make that not to be
hich has been Can YOU eradicate
from memory and from history the fact
that IN March. 1884. a majority OF the
Senate OF the United States passed the
resolution which excl,es your cnmity
is 1t YOUR vain aud wicked object TO ar
rogate 10 yourselves, that power Of an
initiating the past which has been de-
MED 10 Omnipotence itself? Do YOU
intend to thrust Your hands into our
hearts, and 10 pluck out the deeply
rooted convictions which are there -
Or is your design merely 10 stigma,ize
us1 YOU cannot s,igna,Ize Us.
Meier yet did base di,honor blur our name.
Standing securely upon our conscious
rcctltudc, and bearing aloft the shield
OF the Constitution OF our country YOUR
puny efforts are impotent, and Ne defy
all your power. Put the majority Of
1884 IN one scale. and that by which
this expunging resolution is 10 be car
rled IN the other, and let truth and
justice, III Heaven above, and on Earth
below. and liberty and patriotism. de-
eide the prcpondcrance.
What patriotic purpose is 10 be ac-
comPlished by this exPunging resolu-
lion Is it TO appease the wrath and
10 heal the wounded pride, of the Chief
Magistrate Ii he be really the hero
that his friends represent him. he must
despIse all mean condesccnSlon. all
grovelling sycophancy. all self-degra-
ds,ion and seli-abascment. He would
reject with scorn and contempt. as un-
worthy OF his fame. your black scratch
es and your baby lines IN the fair re-
cords OF his country. Black lines -
Black lines! Sir, hope the Sccre,a-
~ OF the Senate will preserve the pen
with which he may inscrbe them. and
present II 20 iha, Senator of the m1iori-
" whom he may select, as proud
trophy 10 be transmitted 10 his descend
ants. And hereafter, when we shall
lose the forms OF free institutions, all
that now remain to We, some future a.
merican monarch. in gratitude 10 those
by whose means he has been enabled.
upon the runs OF civil liberty, TO erect
athrone, and TO commemorate especial
ly this expnnging resolution. may in
sh,ute new order OF knigh,hood. and
confer on IT the appropriate name Of
The knigh, of the Black Lines.
But why shoald | detain the Senate.
or needleSNly waste my breath IN fruit
less exertions. The decree has gone
forth. /, is one OF urgency, too. The
deed Is to be done-that foul deed
which, like the blood stained hands of
the guilty Macbeth, all Oceans waters
will never wash out. Proceed then. TO
the noble work A,ch lies before YOU.
and Ike other skllltul cxccu,ionerS. do
II quickly. And when YOU have per-
petra'eI II, - home 20 the Peorle. and
tell them What glorious honors YOU
have achieved for our common country.
Tell them that you have cXiinguished
one OF the brightest and purcSt lights
that ever burnt at the altar of civil IL
- hixu Tell them that YOU have 81.
fenced one Of the no5iest batterie, 80,
ever Numbered ia defence Of the Con-
s'iiuiion and braycly spiked the can.
non. Tell them that, henceforward. /
no matter what daring or outrageous
act any President may perform. YOU
have forever Theoretically sealed the
mouth of the Senate Tell them tina,
he may fearles>ly assume what powers
he pleases. snatch from its lawful Gus.
tody the public purse, command a mi
litary detachment to enter the Halls OF
the Capitol oyerawe Congress. trample
down the Constitution, aud raze .very
bulwark OF freedom; but that the Senate
must stand mute, IN silent submission /
and not dare 10 raise ITS opposing voice. |
That II must wait until House Of Re- !
presentatves, humbled and subdued |
like itself and a majority oft conpos.
ed OF the pariizans Of the President. /
shall prefer articles Of Impeachment
Tell them, finally, that YOU have re. !
stored the GLORIOUS doctrine OF passive I
obedience and non-reIstance. And # /.
the People do not pour out their indig. |
nation and Imprecations, I have yet TO (
learn the character of 4 uerirao fraa,na, I