Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-07-14

nm. WHICH carried the Stale as one Of the
glorious thirteen, through the Revoiuiion
and broush: her safely into the Union.--,
Under il. her Greens and Perrys, and
other distinguished men we're born ana
rose 10 eminence. The Legislature had
called a Convention 10 remedy whatever
Objects II had, and TO adapt II 10 the pro-
gressive improvements OF the age 10
that work OF reform the Durr party m'ght
have co-operated; but, not choosing so ~ =
cooperate, and ia wan,on defiance oil all
established authority, they undertook
subsequ, nily to call another Convention.
The result was two Constitutions, not es
sen.ialy differing on the principal point
Of controvf rsy, the right OF suffrage
Upon submitting TO the People that
which was formed by the regular Conveu-
ton, small majority voted against 1t,
produced by union IN casting votes, be-
tween the Dorr party, and some OF the
friends Of the old Charter, who were OPP
posed 10 ony change. The other Con-
stitu,ion, beng also submitted to the Peo-
pie, an apparent majority voted for It,
made up Of every description OF votes, le-
gal and illegal, by proxy and otherwise,
taken in the mos, irregular and unauthor.
ized manner.
The Dorr party proceeded 10 put Their
Constitution 10 operation, by eltciins him
as the Governor Of the State, members to
the mock legislature and other officers. -
But they did not stop here; they proceed.
ed to collect, to drill, and to marshal mil
itary force and pointed their cannon a
ganst the Arsenal oil The State.
The President was called upon to IN
tetpose the power OF the Union TO pre-
serve the peace Of the State, ~ contormi
ty with an express provision oil The feoe-
raj Constitution. And ! have as much
pleasure in cxprt sslng my opln!"n thai
he faithfully performed his duty, IN re.
spending to that call, MS II gave me pain
to be Obliged to alIlmaovert ON olher paris
OF his conduct.
The lending pr, sses Of the Democratic
party at Washington, Albany, New YORK
and Richmond, and elsewhere, come gu,
in supper, of the Dor party, encouraging
them IN their work oil Rebellion and liea-
son. And when matters had got TO crit
sis, and the two PATHS were preparing
for a Civil War, aud every hour II was
expected to blaze out, great Taminany
meeting was held in the City Of New
York, headed by the leading mon of the
party, the Cnmbrelengs, the Vanderpoels,
the Aliens, &C., with perfect knowl.
edge tina, the military power Of the Union
was to be employed, if necessary, to sup
press the instruction, aud, notwithstand-
ing. they passed resolutions tending to
awe the President, and TO counienance
and cheer The Treason.
Fortunately, numbers Of the Dor par
~ abandoned their Chief; he fi"d, and
Rhode Island, unaided by any actual
force of the f. d,ral authority, proved
herself ahlo nlone to maintain law, order
and government within her borders.
DO no, attribute to my fellow ci'izcns
here nss"mbl, d, from whom d'tier IN
opinion, any disposition to coun,en'ncc
the Revolutionary proceedings IN Rhode
Island. ! do not believe tina. they ap.
rrove it. do mt believe tina, their par
t, generally could approve it, nor some
OF the other examples ola spirit OF dlsor
ganiz,tion winch have enumerated; but
the misfortune is, IN time OF high patty
| excitement, that the leaders commit,
themselves, and finally commit the body
Of their party, who perceive that unless
they stand by and sustain their leaders,
division aud perhaps destruction OF The
party would be the conss quence. VI all
the springs Of human action, party ties
are perhaps the most powerful. Interest
has been supposed TO be more so; but
party ties are more influential, unless
they arc regarded as a modification OF I'M
aginary inter, ST. Under their sway. we
have seen not only individuals but whole
communities abandon their long cherish
ed interests and principles, and turn round
and oppose them with violence.
Did not the Rebellion in Rhode Island
fnd for It's support precedent establish
I'd by the majority in Congress, in the ir
regular admission OF Territories, as States
into the Union, TO which have hereto
fore alluded Is there not reason to fear
that the example which Congress had
previously presented, encouraged The r.
Island rebellion
II has been attempted to deienl that
Rebellion upon the doctrines Of the Amer.
lean Declaration of Independence but
no countenance to il can be fairly derv.
cd from them. That Declaration asserts,
it is true, that whenever a Government
becomes destructive OF tho ends OF life,
liberty and the pursuits of happiness, for
the security of which il was instituted, 1t
is the RICH, of the People TO alter or abol-
ish it, and institute new government
and 90 undoubtedly 1t is. But this is a
right only TO DO exercised IN grave ano
extreme cases. prudence indeed will
dictate" says that venerated instrument,
that Governments long established should
not be changed for light and transient
cause S. g But when a long train OF a.
buses aud usurpatons, pursuing invaria-
bly, the same object, eylnces design to