The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-06-16
rFoR THE CHARLOTTE JOURNAL !
THE TIMES.


When a nation that has grown rich and power.
FIJI by the industry and enterprise of the people, is
suddenly struck down and rendered bankrupt, il
10 natural and proper 10 pause and reflect on the
consequences and the cure. IL is not to be sY
pected that those who have wrought the cali nifty
and whose private interests may DO advanced by
the public suffering, will alter their fatal policy
until driven TO do 80 by the indignant censure Of
The country. Thsy, iat,ening on the spoils and
wallowing in tho plundcr Of the goyernu ent care
nothing for the desolaiion that sweeps across the
surface of society, and feel no sympathy for the
ouirsges which their own vile act have committed.
The O6ies holder knows tina, hts salary is secure
as lsng as money enough can be wrung from tho
people To pay II; and knowing this, he sets about
10 make every Collar lac gets as valuable az posi-.
bic. II s nei therefore to be expected that an un.
principod ruler, with hungry clan Of lean and
degraded Ssrts around him, can feel for the dis.
irssses Of suffering nation, Wills, the very ca.
lanIty enhances the value wIthou, decreasing the
amount OF their compensation. What cares Mar.
TIN Van Buren,, If the neasures OF his unbalowed
administration do tend TO the CONTAMINATION Of
tina, RUN, 90 unrIghteously commenced by his
predecessor lie feels II not. His pay is fixed
aad has salary during his term of office, secure
and unsitsrsble. What cares his thickheaded
Sscrstary Woodbury., or bis craven sousd and
blaek-hssried Post Master General, that Infsmeus
headai, FOR all the injury which their late circu-
lars must produce Their salArie. too are fired
and secure, aud little odds is II 10 such patriots II
the whole community Is compelled 10 be. or stsrve,
50 thsy live sumptuously every day. ana Gao steal
enough from the public to flourish al the ltree
every llgbt Their ears are shut TO the com.
plants OF despairsng millions, ana their syes can
hehold nothing but their own seli.mportancc and
tia, glory" rejected on the nation from the mir.
ror Of their mimic mai esties
In every age and ooontry, Of which history has
gwen auY account thsrs las been found some
means 20 bring sacsi dreaming iytanis 10 their
senses. The PeoP'e, ~ moments OF tranquility
and high prosperity, are always 90 much engaged
IN lhelf private atiars as 10 give but little heed to
public concerns, and hence the immunity with
which tie sspper. Of liberty are SLOWED 10 play
their tricks before high Heaven That vigilance,
which is the only safeguard Of mans freedom IN.
der government Of laws, is forgotten, the despot
marches 81 first steallhiy, and then more boldly
forward, as be iuds the submissive temper Of The
People plant To A!s purposes. and finally when he
Discovers that Iis proi'gscy even bis barefsced
vlllany IS shielded from exposure and punishment,
By combination OF partlxans equally proEIgaie
and reckless himself, he throws off the mask
desplso- The restraints of Law, and ,ramplcs with
hondilke triumph on the sacred principles embo.
died IA the constitution. The rights of tbs pee.
pic are destroyed at such time, 10 gratify the
vanity and aid IN the gorlfeatou" oftbe destroy
ers, commerce, credit, and confidence, perish
together, dasrust and dissatisfaction, poverty and
bankruptcy take their place, and the hour comes
IN tins sad reverse, when ths people, or thsir ru.
los must yield. Ii the people triumph, their lib
eriy aud prosperity will revisit the land if their
raisrs maintain their asurped power, ,hs croak-
'rgs q desPoiIsns, the clanklng OF chains mus,
be a nations melancholy requiem.
The hour above alluded 10 has already come
the struggle has been commenced by those in
power, the servants Of the people, mis,akirg the
voice OF party for the sentiments OF the nation,
have sought TO become masters and lerd il over
heritage that WAS before deemed sacred from sac
fiicgous invasion. Are they blind enough 10 be.
hove ths, their high handed measures will be
borne BY nation OF men that once tcer. free -
Can they suppose that there is not honesty, sHd
patriotism enough even among their own follow.
ers, 10 drive them from their ranks, when the ten
dancy Of their measures may be traced in the de-
s,ructon OF every thing that constitutes free go
yernment Or what calculations in the name of
the country. Why is it that we see quiet and
orderly set Of citizens of Boston, refusing TO be
ruled, by our rulers. II has been from know.
ledge, gained by personal observations, that op-
preston, injury aud ruin TO thousands would fol.
low IN the train Of their compliance, Wills, no
particle Of good could by possibility result; il has
been from conviction I... tho rco2ls have borne
the unieslng insolsnce of their public servants, as
long as they were likely to do so that the cup Of
national and individual calamity was briufu, and
they were determined that not one other bitter
drop should be added, by ,hs hand Of 9udeksty, 10
the poisoned chalice.
] have always believed that many OF the inca.
sures of the present administration were persisted
IN from that prids which prompts men sometimes
TO rum themselves, and immediate the liberties of
their country rather than retrsct. Such motives
are unworthy OF a statesman, and should be melted
out OF his heart, II nothing else do it, in the
furnace Of popular indignation. The peace and
freedom of this country was purchased at too dear
price to bs sacrificed on the altar Of private NAL
ice or FILTERED away 10 crafty the vanity Of high
headed rulers. The people require an honest ad.
mlnistration OF the government strict observance
OF the constitution, that their prvats property and
individual enterprise shall be let alone; without
these things, there can be no prosperity, and
should be no submission. If public men wish 10
make private fortunes, let them not do il at The
expense OF the country, aud least Of all lie, them
not psrvert the laws TO such selfish purposes
ftesmen cannot bear II, and they ought not. l
ask ysu then, TO leok around on the prospect We
have constitution as good as the pario, could
wish; commerce which ii uncripped, would
whitsn every sea; country vast in extent, suited
10 the production of every valuable commodity,
and bearing on it's bosom millisns of industrious
and interesting citizens. Why then tho universal
cry Of dir,ress why the destruction Of eommercs,
the prostrs,ion Of the mercantile energies Of the