Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-07-11
- re MHIGs oE YlRGINIA.

themselves at home, and concert also between
them and their political friends ia The other States
Of the Union.
A. We now address ourselves only 10 those who
concur in the opinion that Mr.. VAS BUREs is Who'll
Nv unworthy TO MI the office OF Chief Magistrate OF
this great People, it is therefore No part oi our pre-
sent purpose to enter into an examination of bis
official character and conduct, or those OF his I'M
mediate predecessor, whose principles Of govern
ment and yolicy he processes TO follow, wlth a
view 10 expuse the dangerous faults and equally
pernicious fOliies they have committed. Inc hoE-
lowness Of all their professionalism dishonest arts
they have practIsed OF countenanced-iheir via
and misclievous northumberland daring pre-
tensions to powers never before claimed or heard
of-iheir corrupt and corrupting abuse oil the TX
~ecutive patronBge-the bsleiul principles they have
introduced into the administration, and the yet
more baneful principles. absolutely incom patible
win a government Of laws, which they have propa-
gated, or encouraged others in propagsting and
the fearful change which, by all these means, they
have wrought in the character, the morals, and
even the manners Of the Federal Government, and,
by consequence, in its probable de~stinies-these
are topics which may be the theme of future
discussions addressed TO the good men OF all PAT
ties.
Neither is il our purpose here to the
nomination Of any particular citizen to be supper
ted by tho Wing party as their candidate ir II G
Presidency. Our own strong and decided prefer
ence, indeed, points TO the statesman to whose be-
nignant influence this nation stands already indebt-
ed for the healing Of the two most fearful dissen-
sion. that have ever distracted its councils; from
whose practical wisdom, the result OF great expe-
nence in public affairs, ability and virtue, We may
expect a prudent and prosperous, as well as just
administration whose large and liberal views will
dispose him, whose generous ambition VIII prompt
him, whose patriotism will impel him, and whose
6rmness will enable him, to be the President Of a
nation, and not the President oil a faction; and
from whose moderation anG magnanimity we may
hope that the Executive patronage, In hrs hands,
will no longer be an instrument oftavOr, OF revenge,
or of ambition-no longer be deg raded to the vile
purposes of rewarding the selfish zeal OF furious
partisans and furnishing the independence OF hon
est opponents-of continuing power IN the hands
that hold it and perPetuating the dominion OF a
party. But the great object we have at heart, far
more than the nomination oil tie gentleman whom
We prefer, is that concert ami cooperation Ia e-
lecting a nomination which will SECURE an undlvi-
ded and strenuous support TO the candidate VINO
shall be selected, being ready to forego our indi-
vidusl preferences, If il shall he required OF us, IN
Difference 10 the opinions and wishes OF The party
with whom we must act IN order TO make OIL
strength efficient.
The nropriety, or rather the indispensable me-
cessitv, of such concert, seems so obvious, that IL
IS boped hardly any thing but the suggestion can
be wanting to produces general, hearty, and prompt
co.oneration IN any measures fair IN themselves,
and adapted to the accomplishment OF the ent,
without embarrassing the cause with inquiries
,sbethe other measures might not be devised equal
", ard even perhaps more convenient than those
proposed.
Ii is right, in this cage, to learn prudence from
our political adversaries. They have been indsbt-
ed for the successes they have hitherto achieved,
we are convinced, not 50 much to their strength as
TO their unity of design, combination OF means, and
concentration OF all their energies to the execution
of their plans. They resort to a regular party or
ganization upon all occasions on winch 1t can pro-
mise them any advantage. We have seen them
holding "a general Convention in this City during
the last spring, and organizing their whole party
in Virginia, with the avOwcd purpose Of affecting
and controlling our then approaching elections by
force of party managemenl-uniIiEg, directing, and
stimulating their exertoDs. No attempt Of the
same kind was ever before made IN this State
Strong as the temptation was TO follow the exam
pie, and fair as would have been our excuse 1t we
had followed it, We rejoice that it was not follow
ed for we think, contrary to the opinion OF the
exclusive Democratic Republicans, Us they pre-
sumo to call themselves, that it is but a poor mani
festation Of respect for the intelligence OF virtue oil
the people 20 suppose them incapable OF choosing
then immediate Representatives, without the aid
of Convention and Committee Of Vigilance to in
cite, instruct, and direct them. Bot the election
of President and Vice President, IN It's very nature.
iequres The agency Of some assembly Tor he pur-
pose Of nomination and concert; and such assem-
bncs have accordingly always been held. and,
while the election shall be conducted IN Il manner
1t now il, always must be held for the purpose.
We ate sens Bile that the paGtisans OF the Adj
ministration have peculiar facilities for party orea-
niz,tion in the numerous regular army OF othce-
holders enlisted IN their service, and dispersed
throughout the land, and in the party discipline
they have established, winch tolerates no lndlVldu-
ality of churacter-no dependence OF thought OF
action; discipline founded in, and upheld by, a re-
gular System Of reward and pu%nishments, which
the President, in the exercise OF the Executive
patronage, administers without scruple, without
shame. and without moderation. OF these advau-
tases they will doubtless avail themselves to the
utmost; nor can we deprive them OF them. But,
as they themselves avow, they rest their hopes Of
success net so much on their own strength, or the
ludicious combination and direction otthelrstrength
as upon the divisions and dissensions which they
fondiy believe to exist among us, their opponents,
and which they labor by all means to
This ground OF hope it is in our power to take
away from them, il we are only tue to om selves
and our cause. If the mainiaIners of Presidential
domination are right in the opinion they entertain;
f nothing short of the Executive patronage, active
" and steadily employed, is of sufficient force to
combine and hold together any party in this coun
try in reference to the Presidential election, then
t is obvious that the President will always have
the power OF debating his own re-appointment, and
of appointing his successor, SO long us the appoint
ment to the Office shall continue to be made in the
form Of an election.
We recommend, /. That a Convention Of the
Wing party of Virginia be held at Staunton on the
Both day Of September next; TO form which Com
vention, the people of each County, Town, and
election District . fthe State entitled TO represen-
tation in the House of Delegates. shall appoint
twice as many Delegates as tbs have "a right TO
elect 10 that House. .. That The People empower
their Delegates in the said Convention, or such OF
them as shall attend, to determine, among o;her
things, whether a separate State nomination Of
President and Vice President should be made. or
! Lh-LLnL D.IaGaLaa shuuLl he aAnniuied IN Lhe N.