Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-08-18

stder mere. as the OOuft COilStOefeu III Eu'
gland, that it is case where stern neces.
sity supersedes all law. But, if am moi
mistaken, it is a question which will be
settled by juries Of the country. an
willing TO wait the issue.
But, ask, on whom will rest the re-
sponsibiIity. That is the last point | shall
refer to for except, for the present, all
reference TO the subject Of our foreign az
fairs, because 10 issue has. as vet, been
made between Congress and the Execu.
tive on that subject.
But as the lands. On what principles
have the two Houses determined that the
proceeds Of the sales Of the public do
main stall be distributed among the
States to enable them to pay their honest
debts On the principle that they are
the property OF the nation that they are
the Inheritance OF the nation and that,
after the revolutionary debt has been
paid, they ought justly to be distributed
to the people OF the nation, to enable
them 10 improve the country and make
the desert blossom like the rose. That
was the object originally in view and 10
reliance upon it, the States, mostly, have
contracted debts to the amount Of one
hundred and niBety-fve millions Of dol
lars.
have here lis, showing that result,
tu, will not consume the little time allot-
ted by reading it now. Some portions OF
this debt have, perhaps, been contracted
for objects Of questionable proprieiy, es-
peclally where it has been for banks but
the great mass of this Indebtedness has
been incurred for improving the face Of
the country, and the Improvements made
amount in actual value to the citizens of
the United States to ten times what they
cost. Why, what is the time it now takes
to go from this city to Charleston ? and
what to Boston? We have reduced q
distance Of thousand miles TO a ride of
four days. How long would the same
space have consumed in passing over it
before these works of internal improve.
ment were projected and accomplished
But, my waning hour, which see is
fast elspsing, obIiges me TO omit many
things could here desire to say.
And now as to the question of respon-
sibilty the comparative responsibility Of
Congress and Of the Executive.
gentleman got up here and threaten.
ed US as if we were TO be buried under
mountains, while the Executive was rails
ed higher than the stars Now this
Congress has at best but a short time TO
live; on the third Of March next it dies:
at that day every man here will be politi-
cally dead, save the comparatively the
few who shall be reelected. What are
we to lose 7 Our seas 10 this House 1t
is very possible, know, that shall lose
mine for you have declared that of the
delegation Massachusetts has now on this
floor two shall be screwed out. A laugh. J
Yes, two must GO; and may be one of
them. Besides, how many Of the oistn-
guished members of this House, and on
both sides, have already signifed their in
tenton to resign? There is the gentle.
man from South Carolina, very dls,n-
guished member of the Democratic party,
and here is the Chairman of the Commit
tee Of Ways and Means both have vol
unfairly receded and yielded their places
To successors. Are you going TO appeal
these gentlemen with threats of response
bilty and a tremendous reckoning before
the people ? No; they will go home and
be received with open arms by their own
consti,u' mis-, whatever may be the fate Of
those who seek reelection. In the sue.
cession Of one Congress to another, every
body knows that, as general average,
not more than one talf the members sur
vved, at least half Of them are always
Iei, politically dead.
In the next Congress, then, at any rate,
and according to the usual course of
things, not over one half, possibly not
more than q third, of those now occupy
ing these seats will be found here
Where, then, will be this tremendous re-
sponsiblty? What is the responsibility
of dead men! Men are often dropped al
elections for very trivial offences. Where
then is the responsibility which Is to pile
up over us Pelion upon Ossa =? Possibly
it may give certain gentlemen vast graft
fication to see the coming elections result
in bringing into this House an abundant
harvest of good Democrats; let it come.
| say heartily, let it come. Will there
be any greater harmony, think you, be.
tween the White House and that Demo-
cratic majority than there is between that
same White House and the Wing MAORI.
ty here? The indications do not point
that way at present. How will it be with
that Democracy who now vote with hun
and his friends here merely for the sake
Of opposing the Wings, but who are not
willing to take the occupant ofthat House
10 themselves Will they find greater
harmony between him and themselves, be
they so ever Democratic? And let the
majority be what it will in numbers, will
they ALL like my colleague over the way,
(Mr. Cushing, take the oath of uncondi-
tional allegiance TO John Tyler ? No
sir, no. Mr.. Tyler will feel that respon-
sbiity of which the gentleman speaks
pressing hard upon him, when we are in
the predcament Of those who enjoy the
benefit of the ancient adage, de mortuis
nil niSi bonum7 Turned out, though we
may be, and Congressonaly dead, we
shall, suppose, still possess the rights OF
American cltizens-that is, so far as the