Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-09-12

N0iSafC ga att lts bOdtAh@S "HN $3.50 ~
cies--and what may not at first strike
YOU there never was one, at the same
time, better calculated in the long run
TO lay the power OF this body, the Lee
gislature of the country, and all the
precious principles OF our Government
oflaws, at the foot of the Executive
and disciplined corps of managers
under lis influence. | shall not stop
TO develope this important branch oI
the subject, on which have had occa-
sion to mediate much; but | give II to
you as my deliberate conviction, that
the constitution is subveried that tsro'
the external Influences so constantly
brought to bear upon ii, the federal
Legislature IS shorn Of almost all Dig
nifty and authority; that the freedom
Of thought and action essential to the
very idea Of Representative Assem-.
bly,, charged with the conduct of "a linz
tied government, IS asssiled ON all sides,
AM has been seriously impaired; and
that our rcpublic is beginning to take
the shape Of an elective monarchy,
tempered ia some degree by two liou-
ses OF Parliament, whose occasional
opposition TO the will Of the Executive
is treated as revolt agains, the people,
in TIE person oi their only trnc Repre-
sentative. | do not speak of this or
that Administration of what the actn-
al President is doing, or what the late
President has done. | speak Of sys-
tenn becoming more and more cstab.
lished every day; and OF what all iu-
ture Presidents Will d. as a matter OF
course, because systems are too strong
for men and overdue the best inten.
tons. ! speak Of what is the lneviia.
bic consequence Of the discipline OF
party," us ii is so expressivtiy called
here, by which all freedom Of private
judgement is sacrificed 10 the magma
~ will oi'the minority, and pub &c opin-
ion is shaped, with view TO future
elections, by few leaders diet ting,
20 one kHows how, TO mu''iudes OF
discerning, dissatisfied, and yet com.
plvlng ioilowers--the whole body do
ing what almost every member OF II
disapproves. This is the mystery OF
great masses, the arcanum 'mperif, OF
a vast body polite, which every day
of our future experience will tend more
and more to reveal, II things go on as
ts,ey now do.
do not, Of course, mean TO deny,
that the opinions OF his constituents are
entitled to great weight with the Rep.
respntatlvc. Unquesiionably they are
and where they differ from bis they
ought "to give him pause" and ava
ken in him deep sense Of the rcspon-
sibility he ncurs IN declining 10 con-
ply with them. will even coucede,
that in cases OF much doubt and dlth-
Guilty, it is safe course To conform TO
them, and that there are some ques-
tons, of very rare occurrence and very
peculiar character, where 1t woulo do
more harm than good to resist them
But the truth is, there is not the least
reason for apprchending that they will
not generally have their full effect.
On the contrary, the danger is all The
other way. 1t is, unfortunately, but
too rare thing every where, TO see
public man resist the passion or pre- lu-
dee ofthe day, al the risk Of his own
popularity and success, though he be
sure it viii pass away with the dny.
Even if ambition did not tempt, or ba-
ser motives dispose him TO yield, that
which has been well described as +" The
orea, master vice ofmen OF business,
degenerate and inglorIons sioih, mere
Incidence. the dread of strife and cen.
sure, would be enough 10 make The
duty of resistance an Irksome and
even an odious one. With such pre-
text TO cover "lhe cowarilce OF dong
wrong" the people have nothing to
dread from the irowardness or indocili-
ty Of their Representatives. Their
riH, their humors, however peiulant
and capricious, will be crossed by very
few; they VIII always have courtiers
enough 10 persuade them they can 40
no wrong, Tor power never wants ihem'
and of all sovereigns the "People-
king" is surrounded with the most dam
gerous, because the best disguised par
asltes and sycophanis. But me r"e
friend, The toiihfui counsellor, the ser
rant rho yiH dare 10 disobey commands
mhich his master wiH soon repent OF
haring gipcn, the Representative ~ho
riR mol sacrifice The deliberate sense OF
his constituents, expressed, az The erer-
else of high and calm reason, IN me
lams and constitution, 10 the false mn
PRECISION or fleeing excitement o. an
hour. the statesman who looks 10 .tufure
consequences, and pre- ers 10 a transient,
partial, or imaginary advantage, me re-
al and permanent good Of The country
srch men miH retire in despair from
The public service, and cease 70 e1er ,.,
oou influence ouer public opinion. The