Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-05-17

OuuS, III q NNbtCol Win tiiC iiIOSL POnCA"
full and popular Executive which ever
ruled in this nation, and the only Ex-
ecutlve which ever did attempt to rule
the nation. The House, however, and
its committees, tamely yielded and as
sisted the Executive in subduing it TO
his will and to the lowly standard Of
respect to which he aimed to reduce it
in public opinion. What else, what
other check or balance has he left un-
broken I? The Judiciary was his own,
of his own appointment, OF his own mind
of his own party. For the first time in
our history have we the most rancor-
Gus pdrtiSanS on the Supreme Bench.
But, not only has General JACKSON
broken down all the barriers of the
Constitution, merged all power and all
departments ofthe Government in the
Executive, he has attacked and pros
trated almost every free principle con.
tanned in the Bill Of Rights Of every
State Constitution in the Union. The
party of Virginia, who supported him
and now support his successor, claim
to be the only Simon Pure Republicans
in the land. Verify, they are the dem.
ocrats, and republicanism shall die with
them. They there claim to support
Jackson and Van Buren, as '9s Repub-
leans '9s Republicans What are
'9S Republicans Without detailing
a history, or drawing nice distinctions,
we, who claim to be the same school
unquestionably, may at least say that
'9s Republicans may always be known
by common attachment to certain
free principles upon which free gov.
eminent is founded, and to certain
strict principles upon which govern.
ment is or should be administered
What are those principles upon which
free Government is founded? One of
the first is, "that all power is vested in,
and consequently derived from, the Peo-
pie; that Magistrates are their trustees
and servants, and at all times amenable
to them !" that government is, or ought
to be, Instituted for the common benefit,
protection, and security of the people,
nation or community; "oI all the va
rious modes and forms Of government,
that is best which is capable of produ-
cling the greatest degree Of happiness
and safety, and is mos: efectually Sc
cured against the danger Of mai-admin.
iStration." Did not General Jackson
openly deny this principle last winter
in his letter to the committee of inves.
vestigation, oil which had the honor
to be chairman. Here Mr.. WISE
commented upon that letter and these
Of Kendall and Forsyth, &c. as clear
ly denying the amenability ofthe Pres
ident and heads of Departments to the
People through their representatives.
Another free principle is, "no men,
Der of either House of Congress shall
be questioned IN any other place for
words spoken in debate" Did not the
President boldly cause members of both
Houses to be sworn before the commit
tee Of investigation to the truth Of their
speeches made in Congress 5? Did he
not say that "By the eternal God,
Hickory Clubs should be formed, to
stand with hickory clubs in their hands
at the doors ofthe two Houses, to club
the id scoundrels as they passed the
doors from their seats 2" Did he not
say that the Hon. Bale Peyton and
myself ought TO be "Houstonized."
that is, "kpocked down and beaten
with clubs on the Streets" for daring
to touch one of his friends, one of his
little ones ? Yes, my fellow. citizens,
you may have heard much ofthe boas-
ted freedom of debate, and much Of the
outrageous abuses ofthat glorious free.
dom by the two turbulent fellows in the
House-Peyton and Wise. To value
that freedom, and estimate the conduct
of my friend and myself, | will inform
you ofthe fact that Peyton and Wise
spoke in the House, and walked to and
from it, nth their HreS in their hands.
Armed Yes, we were armed-armed
to the teeth--obliged to be armed
necessarily doubly armed-in the
House, in the committee. room, on the
street. AS representatives of the PEG.
pie, determined TO do our duty, we da-
red not go unarmed. But for the full
knowledge that, if either or both were
attacked, our lives would be sold as
dearly as two lives were ever sold in
blood, we would have been bludgeon.
ed in the streets when passing and re.
passing at all hours of the day and
night, or our paths Of duty to the com.
mittee. rooms where we were lerretting
out the moths ofthe Government. The
Kings tears, the Kings honors and of.
fees, would have prevailed TO set some
Williams on us if we had not been armed
-buckled about with leathern belts,
with pistols Of all calibres and bores,
and knives of every edge. This was
Our craodOYo- tho frnednpo of an arse