Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-04-07

friends. Blu, came here with the pur
} pose. which am now about to effectuate
Of retiring as soon as though, could re-
tire with propriety and decency, from IN
public councils.
From the year 1906, the period of my
entering upon this noble theatre OF m,
public service, with bu. short intervals
down to the present time, have been en-
gagged in the service Of my country. y
the nature and value Of those service.
which may have rendered during my
lloug career Of public life, it does not be-
come me 10 speak. History, if she design:
TO notice me, and posterity-if recollec
ton OF any humble service which may
have rendered shall be transmitted to pos.
tefity-wilI be the best, truest, and mos,
impartial Judge; and to them defer q
decision upon their value.
But, upon one subjec. | may be allowed
to speak. As TO my public acts and pub
lie conduct, they are subjects for the
Judgment Of my fellow-eIiizens; but my
private motives of action-thai which
prompted me TO take the part which ! may
have done, upon great measures during
their progress in the national councils.
can be knonn only to the Great Searcher
Of the human heart aud myself; and
trust that shall be rardoned for repeat
ing again claration which ! made
thirteen years ago, that whatever error |
may have committed and doubtless
have commi,t' d many during my public
service-l may appeal to the Divine
Searcher of hearts fot the truth Of the de.
carallon VIII CHI now make, with pride
and confidence, tina, have been actual d
| by no personal motives-that have
sought no personal aggrandiz ment-no
promotion irUm the advocacy oil those va
rious measures on which have been call
ed to act-ihat | have had an eye, q SIM
gle eye, a heart, a single heart, ever de-
voted to what appeared 10 be the best ~
,erests of the country. Yet, sir, during
this long period, have not escaped the
fate of other public men, in this and other
countries. have been often, Mr.. Presl-
dent, the oblec, Of bitter and uDmeasured
detrac,on AMI calumny. Ihsve borne il
| will not say always with composure, bu,
| have borne il, without creating any dis
turbancec here. have borne it, waiting
in mistaken and undoubting confidence,
that the truth and justice would ultimate.
| ly prevail and that time would settle
all things as they ought to be settled.
have borne them under the conviction, Of
which no injustice, no wrong, no injury
could deprive me, that did not deserve
them, and that He 10 whom we are all to
be finally and ultimately responsible,
would acquit me, whatever injustice !
might experience at the hands Of my fel.
ow-men.
Bul rave not been unsustained during
this long course Of public service. Every
where on this wide spread continent hive
| enjoyed the benefit of possessing warm
hearted, and enthusiastic, and devoted
friends-fIiends who knew me, aud ap.
preciated justly the motives by which !
have been actuated. To them, if ! had
language to make suitable acknowledge
ments, ! would now take leave 20 present
them, as being all the offering tina, can
make for their long continued, perseveI-
ing and devoted friendship. But, sir, if |
have n difficulty IN giving ut,erance 10 an
expression Of the feelings Of gratitude
which fill my heart, towards my friends,
dispersed throughout this continent, what
shall say-wha, can | say--at all com.
mensuIa.e with my feelings of gratitude
towards that State whose humble scrvitor
| am? ! migrated TO the State OF Ken
lucky nearly lorty'fve years ago. went
there as an orphan, who had not We, at
tanned his majori,y-w had never re-
cognlzed a fathers smle-poor, penni-
less, without the fuvor OF the grea,-wi,h
an imperfect and adequate education, lin
tied to the means applicable to such a
boy but scarcely had set foot upon
that generous soil, before | was caressed
with parental fon ness-patronized with
bount;iui munlficence-and may add to
this, that her choicest honors, often unso-
licited, have been freely showered upon
me and when stood, as it were, in the
darkest moments OF human existence
abacdoned by the world, illuminated by
large portion Of my own coun,rymen,
she threw around me her impenetrable
shield, and bore me aloft, and repealed
the attacks Of malignty and calumny, by
which was assailed. Sir, it is to me an
unspeakable pleasure that am shortly to
return to her friendly limits AND that |
shall finally deposite land il will not be
long before that day arrives my last re-
mains under her generous soil, with the
remains of her gallant and patriotic sons
who have preceded me.
Mr.. President, a recent epithet, (I do
not know whether for the purpose of hon.
or or Of degra dation, has been applied to
me and have been held up to the coun.
try as Dictator Dictator The idea Of
dictatorship is drawn from Roman inst-
tutlons ; and there, when it was created
the person who was invested with this
tremendous authority, concentrated 10 his
own person the whole power ofthe State.
He exercised unlimited control over the
property and lives Of the citizens of the
Commonwealth. He had the power OF
raising armies, and Of raising revenue by
taxing the people. II have been a die.
tator, what have been the powers with
which have been clothed Have pos
sessed an army, navy, a revenue p
Have had the distribution of the patron.