Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-21

Executive edict, in violation of the Constitution
and for the revival Of the sedition law, to be en-
forced against Democrats alone, to be tried er
fe and to DC OF &c post faeto operation and unver
sal persecution Of the Observation-Disclosures
put into Office for frauds at elections, Democrats
Turned out for voting fairly-naval and military
officers threatened with dsmisson for political Of
fences unknown to the Constitution of the coun-
try, or to the rules and articles of war, or to tho
navy regulations-abolition of debts at the will Of
/ the debtor, under the name of general bank
rupt law-thc Departments at Washington con-
verted into magazines for scandal, where della
tors, iniormers, libeers. and Office hunters file
their false and secret denunciations against the
Democrats, whom they hate, or whose offices
they love-hypocrisy, DISSEMINATION, treachery,
corruption, the Justification of every promise
made before the election, and the fulfilment of
every charge denied--a rump Congress usurping
power, and endeavOring to plumber and manacle
posterity, changing limited Republican Govern
ment into an unlimited oligarchy Of scrub and
scrip arisiocrats. Such is the picture, briefly and
imperiectly sketched, which the first half years
entries in the political part of these new books pre-
sents to the country. 1t is the beginning only,
ana from this beginning Judge of the end.
Prominent in the foreground Of this picture,
towering over the rest, and browning the whole,
stands the great red harlot of Babylon, THE
NATIONAL BANK, waving her gilded sceptre,
and eXnlung in her triple character OF POLITICAL
ENGINE, to crush Democracy; PECUNiARY ENGINE,
to plumber the people, and Branch OF THE BANK
UT
and political interests to the paper oligarchy Of
London. All the rest her offspring. That
gigantic beast sits for Milton's picture of SIM in
ihhs kkaTadse ost-a monster, vast, FOUL and hid-
out, growing and bowling for theft TPsdflld phey
This extra session OF Congress, this rump Con-
gress, was TO place this beast, and all her foul
and ravenous brood, upon The Federasts,
drunk and mad with unexpected success, rushed
to this hot and sultry session, to fasten all their
odions measures upon us. They came to great
political banquet where Joy and triumphh were
to reign; but seem destined to change the char
acter of the entertainment, and to give the world
q new addition of the immortal feast of the Lapi-
the and the Centaurs.
The new Secretary of the Treasury was put
upon the hard duty, the ignoble task, of discov-
sring the dr post )acto reasons which were to ex-
,use and justify this pre-ordained and execrable
session.. He was to find reasons for this Federal
isurpaton in the "miscondttet and the /ohies, tho
iedts and the trfraragances'' of the Democratic
Administrations. He dreamed he found them
He sent them in, strung together in that report
which the speeches of three Senators Woodbu-
~, Wright and Calhoun,] shattered, shivered, q
and scattered like the PaXhan bombs beat into
atoms the helpless walls of Beyrout, st. Jean
1'Acre, and San Juan de Ulloa. Not a vestige
Of the report remains; and of all the Secretary's
friends, on this floor, not one stood up to defend
him during that murderous fire but the Senator
rom Maine, Mr.. Evans whose courage and
skill, though great and generously exerted, were
wholly unequal to the dreadful occasion. The
MS report, MS discoveries, and his Inn
,utations, and all his excuses for the called ses-
sion sunk into rubbish under the Maidstone storm
IF shot and shells which showefed upon them,
md now lie in dust and ashes upon the floor of
his chamber, the pity of friends, the of
oes.
Sr.the political world is divided into two grand
livisions; those who believe in the capacity of
he people for self-government, and that they can
,e governed by reason; and those who believe in
heir incapacty and that they can only be gov
srned by fraud or force. The Democracy of the
United States belong to the former of these grand
divisions; the Federalists to the latter; and each
practice upon their received and fundamental
principle. The last election was trial essay be-
tween the two parties. The concurrence of many
unexpected events gave the victory to the Feder-
alists; and now the question with them is save
by force what was by fraud. Hence this
extra session-hence these new rules-hence this
hurry and impatence-hence this terror and a
arm at debate-hence this cry for action--hence
all these dreadful measures moneyed and politi-
.al, which are now thrust upon us. These strong
measures to the fruits of victory; they
ire to chain and manacle the vanquished. But,
We do not gipe up the ship One defeat is not
enough to subdue the brave. We try it aqan.--
The country is in a crisis. The cause Of free
lem is in danger. great political problem is
o be solved-the problem of the capacity of the
'eople for sef-government! Their conduct is TO
rive the answer