Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-03-31

" places H WI AFGusufyp 70 oohni "a
ken from direct taxation. Repeal the
law, and the sum thereby Withdrawn from
the State must be supplied by taxes on
lands, slaves and horses there IS no al
tentative but to leave your debts unpaid
and abandon your public works.
But it il said that the law ls unconsti-
tuiional. The time was, however, when
this objection did not prevail. Witness
the resolutions of the Legislatures oftpen-
~ out Of fwenty- sir States, the often de-
clared opinions of the leading men Of all
parties, the legislation OF the Govern
ment. But does it not belong to Con-
gress to settle this question And why
should We be so swift to assail its judg-
ment. The question has been so often
argued that every topic is exhausted, the
authority Of Congress rests upon clear
and comprehensive grant of power over
the Territories and public property OF the
United States, and upon express stlpula'
,ions in the deeds Of cesslon. will not
repeat the argument on this head: ifgen-
tlcmen are not satisfied with the argu-
ment Of my friend from Cumberland,
which fully endorse, beg leave TO re-
fer them to a speech Of Mr.. Robertson,
(now a Judge on the public lands, delv-
cred in Congress in 1899. In that speech
they will find the subject deliberately
treated, and most conclusIvely argued.
shall pass over the objections made
against the DETAILS of the bill: the pro-
position is to repeal, not modify, the law.
| will make, however, this observation
upon the criticisms of the gentleman from
Louisa-equaliiy is not always justice.
have already occupied large share
of the time OF the house, but before re-
sumo my seat, desire to make few OBJ
observations upon the address to the PEG.
pie recently put forth by the Democratic
Convention which assembled at this place.
Ny justification for doing so will be found
in the fact that the main body Of the ar
gument oil the gentleman from Louisa,
was to be found in that address, and most
of the charges which he has INDUCED in
against the Wing party.
Here Mr.. Scott read the first para
graph of the address, and was proceeding
to common, with much severity upon the
language employed against the Wing
party, when he was called to order by
the Speaker.] He then proceeded
Alter the sweeping denunciations of the
plumbers and misrule of the Wings during
the shor, period of their power, the boast
full display Of recent victories, and the
lofty ayowal Of anticipated triumph in the
spring elections, it was to have been ex.
pectcd that the Wing party would have
been fairly deal, by, and that their pow.
erfu and sec-con6dent adversaries would
be content with honorable war and legiti.
mate weapons. That the Wing party
would be held responsible for measures
which are their own, and principles and
doctrines which they avow, or can be
plainly proven. Instead, however, of pur-
suing this candid course, we meet, in the
very first specification, revival Of the
oft refuied imputaton that the Wings are
iavorers OF The Aboltionists. This I'M
founded charge was met and refuted in
the late Presidential canvass, and retort.
ed, with no little success, on the then
candidate Of the Democratic party.
will not waste time in reiterating the facts
and proofs in which the vindicaton OF the
Wings and the gull, Of many leading
Democrats was established. The truth
is, neither of the great political parties is
identified with those dsturbers of the
peace called AboHtiopiSts they are found
Unfortunately IN the ranks of BOTH
Politicians on both sides have sought TO
make political capital out Of the subject,
and have given to it degree of mpor-
lance which it otherwise never would
have obtained and have contributed to
the special and disturbing influence Of u
set of fanatics, who, if lett to themselves,
would long since have sunk into insignli-
canoe.
Passing from the subject Of abolition,
the Address loudly complains OF the repen!
Of the Sub.Treasury Law-ihe re.enact-
ment Of which is announced as among the
first measures to be expected from their
restoration to power. The pert'naclty
with which the leaders Of the self-styled
democracy have pressed this favori,e
measure Of their late defeated chief, after
its condemnation by q Congress in which
his own political friends composed ma.
jority, and its subsequent damnIng re-
lection by the people Of the United States,
affords striking commentary upon their
professions OF Difference to the popular
will. If a measure of a party ever were
rebuked by people, this attempt at IN
controllable power by Mr.. Van Buren was
rebuked by the people of the United
States. 1t was chung to with the spasmo-
dc grasp Of dying maniac by one
party, ant assailed with unrelenting, I'M
compromising hostility by the other, in
the late contest, and was condemned by
a majority Of $780, 900 freemen. If the
people Of the United States ever nature
ly considered and authoritatively decided
any question involving their interests.
they have decided this; yet those who
arrogate to themselves the name Of Dem
ocratic Republicans, when asking their
confidence, insult them by telling them to
their teeth that they mean to override
their decision.
Do they think that the people have lost
their understanding, or that the founda.
tons Of their virtue are sappedl will
not Insult them by reterating the argu-
ments upon which their decision was
founded. If their memories. are so frai
as to have forgottenthcm if they are so