Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-03-05

Extract from Gen. Harrison'S FiaccHnes Speech
"I have now, fellow. citizens, a few words more
10 say on another subject, aad which is, in my OPT
MON, Of more importance than any ether that - now
in The course Of discussion in any part OF the Union.
| allude TO the societies which have been formed,
and the movements OF certain individuals IN some
Of The States in relation 10 a portion Of the popula-
lion in others. The conduct Of these persons IS the
more dangerous, because their object is masked un-
der the garb OF disinterestedness and bcnevolence
aud their course vindicated bY arguments and pro
positions which, IN the abst act, no one can deny
But, however fascinating may be The dress with
which their schemes are presented to their fellow
citizens, with what purity Of intention they may
have been formed and sustained, they will be found
TO carry in their train mischief 10 the whole Union,
aud horrors TO a large portion Of it, which il is
probable, some Of the projectors, and many Of their
supporters, have never thought Of the latter, the
first in the series Of evils which are TO spring from
their source, are such as you have read Of, 10 have
been perpetrated on The fair plains Of Italy and
Gaul by the S~cythian hordes Of Attila aud Alaric;
and snch, as most Of you apprehended upon that
memorable night, when the tomahawks add war
clubs of the followers Of Tecumseh were rafting in
your suburbs. ] regard not the disavowals Of any
such intention upon the part Of the authors Of these
schemes, since, upon the examination of the publ
cations which have been made, they will be found
10 contain the very fact, and very argument which
would have been used, if such would have been
their object. ] am certain that there is not, in this
assembly, one Of these delUded men, and that there
are few within the bounds OF the State. If there
are any, ! would earnestly entreat them to forbeIr ;
to pause IN II their career, and deliberately consider
the consequence Of their conduct 10 the whole Uni
on, and 10 hose for whose benefit they profess 20
act. That the latter will be the victims Of the
weak, injudleious. presumptuous, and uuconstitu
tioual efforts to serve them, a thorough examination
Of the subject must convince them. The struggle
(and struggle there must be) may commence " tn
horrors such as ! have described, but il will end
with more firmly riveting the chains, or in the at.
ter extirpation of those whose cause they advocate.
"Am ! wrong, fellow eitiz, ms, in applying the
terms weak, presnmptuous, and unconstitutional
10 the measures OF the emancipatorsf A slight ex
animation will, | think, show that | am not. In a
yindicstion e the objects Of a Convention which
was lately held in one Of the towns of Ohio, which
| saw in a newspaper, il W as said that nothing more
was intended than TO produce a state Of public ieel-
ing which would lead 10 an amendment OF the Con
stituiiou, authorizing the abolition OF Slavery IN the
United States. Now can an amendment Of the
Constitution be effected without the consent Of the
Southern States? What then is the proposition &c
be submitted TO them? IL is this The presen'
provisions Of the Constitution secure 10 you the
right "a right which you held before il was made
which you have never given up,) TO manage you
domestic concerns in your own way, but as we arr
convinced that you do not manage them properly
we want you TO put in the hands Of the General Go
%vernment, IN the councils Of which we have the ma
lIority, the control over these matters, the effect Q
which will be virtually TO transfer the power from
yours into our hands