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

"a measure dear 10 the Wings and Eow
at least peculiarly their own. The histo-
nv Of this law furnishes striking exam
pie Of the control which the Executive
branch Of our government exercises over
public affairs, and the readiness with
which the leaders Of modern democracy
trim their sails TO catch the breeze which
blows from the palace. 1t is needless to
recspitulate II here, we know that al the
beginning, this law commanded the sup
port Of every State in the Union, except
those interested against it--that il was by
the strong arm of the executive suspend.
ed, until the Wings came into power, and
now still obedient to the mandate Of their
master, those who sang hozannas to him
when in office, denounce II as federal
measure Yes, a federal measure! Ev-
cry man is federalisi, and every thing is
federal to which the selfstyled denocra-
cy of Virginia are opposed. When they
took up Mr.. Crawford, General Jackson
was tyrannical military chieltain, and
his supporters were federalists. (See the
address of the Central Committee of Vir.
ginia, and the Pennsylvania address, writ
ten by A. Galla,in.) Mr.. Adams being
their second choice, had not yet become
a federalst, but when they took up Gene
raj Jackson, Mr.. Adams, the most odious
man in the Union TO the old lcderalists,
straightway became federalist. Mr..
Clay, the right arm Of Madison's admins.
tration, became federalist as soon as
this Junto determined TO take up Mr.. Van
Buren,. Ia l79s strong Executive was
the quntessence Of federalism, now TO
propose TO strip the President Of the Roy
AL VETo, or modify it at all, is rank fed
eralism, and 80 it will be esteemed, doubt
not, to withdraw Congress from the cor
ruptng influence Of his patronage, and
place the national purse beyond his con-
troll.
have made hasty, but hope not
unsuccessful defence of the measures and
policy OF the Wing party, as far as the
short time during which they have had
the direction Of public affairs, has devel-
oped them, and briefly pointed attention
to few, and only few OF the acts OF
misrule by which their opponents lost the
confidence of the people, and for which
they were driven from their counsels.
Some of the subjects are Of no little mag.
nitude, but they are of little compa tive
interest when placed by the side Of tina,
. to which the Wings ask the mos, serou.
attention ofthe People, mean Reform,
retrenchment in the number and extrava.
giant salaries Of public officers, reform in
the administration of the finances--in the
disbursements Of the Army-the Navy
. and the civil lsts-reform in the whole
administration Of the Government -anC
above all, reform in the fundamental law
where the root of most Of the evils O
which we complain is to be found. Unles:
the people can be aroused TO sense o
their actual condition, our progress to.
wards monarchy will be as rapid as has
been our rise from colonial thraldom &c
the proud independence which we now
enjoy. The prosperity of our pecuDiary
affairs, both public and private, deserve
our care,-but what is wealth, what is
peace, what is life itself without freedom
The fanatical abolitionisis may irritatt
and distract-the Bankrupt law may re,
lease the fraudulent trader from his obi
cations, or it may restore the crushed
and heart. broken debtor to his family ant
to society 1t the distribution law may in.
commode the Federal Treasury, or it may
, relieve the embarrassments Of the State.
and tighten the burden Of the poorer elias.
Of the tax-payers-our Treasury may b.
wasted or stolen by incompetent or I'M
faithful servants-our fertile lands anc
industrious population will replace it-ouI
currency may be deranged, credit pros
trated, business siagnate and bankruptcy
and ruin pervade the land, time and bet
ter counsels will bring a remedy-our CT
ties may be sacked and our soil polluted
by the foot Of the invader-our hardy
yeomen will roll back the tide of war
bu; when the defences Of liberty are bro.
ken down, when she is besieged in her
last strong hold, when the sap and mine
have crumbled her ramparls, and the
gates Of the citadel are thrown open by a
treacherous garrison, who shall stay the
hand that would bind her in chains?