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

OF Representatives, and of the Stale LegislsturrS.
whc lave dared to oppose this fasorite measure OF
the President, and persons holding subordinate STA.
tons In the Government, supposed to be disinclined
to ia support. have been denied the freedom Of
opinion, and arbitrarily removed from their Offices.
Some, in a craven spirit, have already yielded to
his influence, and avawed the slavish determination
g to sink OF swim with the President"-whilst 9th.
ers, animated by q noble patriotism, have resolved
to peril all IN The fearful contest between the Peo-
pie and Prerugn,iye. The rcsult will decide the
important question whether the people and their
representatives, or the arbitrary will of ono man,
shall rule supreme in the government Of this grea,
nation.
But il 10 In our elections, State and Federal, that
the influence Of the executive has been most shame.
fully exercised. and is most extensively felt. State
Rights have, for years existed merely IN name bu,
under the ovesshadowing Influence Of the Federal
Executive, State iadscidaaisiy has been alnos, an
nihilsted. Elections Tor members Of the Lexisla
lures of Ohio or Virginia, Maine OF Georgia, are
conducted upon precisely the same principles
The peculiar qualifications Of the candidates to ad.
vance the local interests of their constituents, are
not for a moment considered. The election ON one
side, Is made TO turn entirely on the devotion Of the
candidates to the powers at Washington-and the
people, in self-defence, nre compelled to make OPP
position TO the Executive the test on their part
Thus, in effect, the State Legislatures have become
'fN'N UIfNHAaAfS w tIc " 1uNtFHtlfnt, ana
ceased in a great degree, To fulfil their original de-
sign of local representatives of State sovereignty.
Nor Is this all. The finger af the President, VI not
seen, is felt, in the election Of every member Of
Cong, ess throughout the Union. The candidates
Of The party are not only supported BY the whole
influence OF the Government, but are, in many ca
ses, nominated by the organs at Washington, with
the distinct understanding that the Executive will
repair the losses OF the campaign-and, IL defeated
| by the ufprle. will pfnvtdp ~ tho 1,aap,a,,taJ -.
pirants Offices more lucrative, If not more honora.
Bile. And in the election OF tho President himself.
Tins sinister influence Is still more controlling. SO
that 1T may almost be said with truth, that the time
has arrived when the President, by means Of ia.
%tronage, intrigue and corrlptioa, can not only sc.
cure his own reelection at pleasure. hut dictate 70
a reluctant Peopls the appointments Of his success
sor.
These significant indications Of the proclivi,y of
our Institutions TO despoiism under our present IA.
lers, II 30 other causes of oppositien could be found
IN TIE disastrous measures OF this faithless and in
competent Administration, are sufficient 10 rally
every patriot 10 the 7, seite. But other causea Of
opposition, unfortunately for the interesis Of the
country, are but too abundant. We have neither
time nor patience, nor would IT be compauble with
the nature It this address, 10 enter into the loath-
some detail. That will be reserved for future pub
llcati0ns, in which facts, authenticated by dncn.
neDt' aud evidence, will be plainly presented be-
fore the people, IL is sufficient, Tor the present, TO
advert 20 the condition Of the Treasury, Of the cur.
rency and domestic exchanges, Of private md pub.
lie credit, 20 demonstrate the disastrous consequent.
ees OF rbe reckless course Of this Administration -
IL was the boast of Gen. Jackson. that, during his
administration, he had enilrely discharged the debt
contracted during the last war in defence If our ns.
tional character; YET. IN the course Of th,ee years,
IN a time Of profound peace, disturbed only by oc
casional siFfuptions OF the Indians on the frontiers,
de ssseifsiev % the country have hasn eAtAakted .
heavy debt incurred, and the credit VI the nation
texed TO on uDisoal extent 10 mset The dishbrAe-
menta of the Government. The Treasure Of the nm
ton has not only been exissvaganily wasted. hui
millions Of the public money havs been actually
putloined by the tai,iiess agents 81 the Executive.
i not with he connivanee Of The higher officers %
the Government. yen though their grnss neglect
and incompetfncy. The arrangement Of the cur.
rency and domestic exchanges, occhsioned by the
Wild experiments OF the Administration, hns no,
only greatly diminished tho extent anil profits Of
internal trade, but has produced a corrup, syttem
q shaving and speculation, as injm iols TO he mo.
rails as II is destructive OF The interests o. the peo-
pie. In u word, an exhausted treasury, n debased
currency, an embarrassed commerce., and an impa-
red credit, public and private, attest the boosted
financial abilities Of this empirical Administration
We are engaged 10 an srduous and unequal con-
test-ibe raw militia of the people, aninased sole. |
~ by the love OF country, cootendtng against tie re-
guIar aud disciplined forces Of the Executive, With
The motto " re he ricto,s bstons tie Spoiis, . bla-
zing upon their banners. But fellow citizens be not
dismsyed. Let us 30 into the battle eheered by
the noble example and brilliant success Of TIE glo-
rious army Of the Revolution, which. though with
out pay and without ratioDa, not only kept the Bfi-
n,h regulars in check. but finally wresied tho sword
from the grasp Of power, and resiotsd il. on the
ever memorable plains Of York, to the ackpowledg.
ed friend of freedom and faihet Of his country.
The party with which We have to contend. are
most arful and designing. We chprge you, fellow
citizens, be upon your guard against their strata
gems. The whole vocabulary Of party epi,hets will
be rxpeDded-all the resources Of misrepresenta.
ton and falsehood will be exhausted 10 deceive |
you. Every effort viii be made to SOW discussion
in our ranks. The fears Of Some, the hopes OF 9th
ers, the prejadices Of al viii be addressed Bot,
fellow citizens, az FiRM-sE UNITED. Suffer not
your resolutioa to be shaken, nor your equanimity
to be disturbed by these designing articles. They
are the weapons Of a corrupt and reckless party, |
ard may easily be met aud resisted by Tho simple
armor Of truth. They claim for themselves TO be
Democrats-they unbluslingly call US Federdhsts.
Ask them the meaning OF Democracy-if the I'M
controlled sway Of one man Is Democracy Ask
them If the principles OF Republicanism OF Demo |
crazy, as held by our fathers, have hsen promoted
by bringing the sovereignty Of the States, in the
persons ~ tneif oenhtofs, 10 the Iootetpcl OF me
Executive f-If the utter dependence OF the Gov
eminent press and the host Of Federal ofice-hotd-
ers on the nero caprice Of the President is compa-
;ible with Democracy Ill the overshadowing IN !
fuence Of the Executive in Congress, IN the State
Legislatures, and smorg the people, by which the
States have been slorn of their dignity and RIGHTS,
and become mere provinces Of a great Central EN-
pire at Washington, is consistent with Democracy 4? |
Ask them, on the other hand, the meaning OF Fed
eralism-ifi il consists in the maintenance OF the
rights and dignity Of The States-in the support Of
the power of the People and the just authority Of
their represenfatives-in adetermined r~ssisiance to
the encroachments OF arbitrary power, and an ar.
dent, sincere and des oted attachment to the prirci- |