Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-01-14

"But history and observation will inform us :,
" tina, elections Of every kind Gin the present state
" of human nature) are too frequently brought
" about by Influence, partially aud ar,ihce, and
eren tohere the case as otherwise, these practices
" tciH be often suspected and as constantly charged
upon the successful, by a sPienetic, disappointed
- minority
The above extract, from Sir WILLIAM BLACK
STONES COMMENTARIES, recommends itself to
notice. no, only as historical truth, but as one
which has been practically illustrated by the late
contest through which have passed. The
sertion that elections of every kind, in England,
are too frequently brought about by influence par
TALLY and artifice," will apply with a melancholy
force to the contests which have for some years TAX
en- place between the people Of this country on the
one part, and the cohorts Of the administration on
the other. The whole extract is such portraiture
of the antecedens and consequents of the late Pre-
sidertal contest that we can hardly realize that
it written by Ensshman, years before our
Independence, and applied only TO British cleo
tons! Mutato nomiae, de te, .fa6uia narratnr.
Applying the charge contained in the :st clause
to ourseves-the elections in Pennsylvania, in '38,
80, and last year, the continual violation of the
Election laws in the city of New York, the notori-
Gus and outrageous New Jersey frand, the Inger-
soil frauds, the letters case in Baltimore, The pipe
laying scheme in New York city, last fall, and the
ncorpor alton of certain British settlements into one
Of the Congressional Districts in Maine for the pur
pose of securing The election of a Loco Member of
Congress-to say nothing of the suspicious of foul
play in this State, in November last,-prove, too
satisfactorily, that elections have been 9" too fire.
quently brought about by influence, partiaIity, and
artitice," Howm many more similar cases have, thus
far, escaped detection, know not. The ascer-
tanning of the fact. too is not necessary, as to
hold up, TO public gaze the party obnoxious to the
CHARGE and to point at them, the slow, unerring
finger of scorn--that punishment may be melted out
to the guilty, and their fate be warning to future
evil doors. This country in its political divisions,
knows but two great parties and to which of them,
the charge of resorng to such means to carry cleo
lions, is to be aprlied,-we leave the history" OF
the last few years and the observation" of every
candid mind TO answer.
We now look at the latter clause Of the text
And in illustrating it, go no further back than
the Presidential election. Every one knows the
complete overthrow ofthe administration party and
the triumph Of HARRIsoH and TYLER By popular
majority of about 900 votes. Yet in the face
Of this clincher the charges Of bribery and cor
raptioR every expiring groan Of the defeated party
is loaded with them. British influence" British
gold, :" corruption" and thousand mendacous
assertions, have exhibited alike their deep despair
and ruling passion. 1t is received opinion that
innocence never attributes sn event to a criminal