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

4 q
position of retirement, from which can
/ look back with camness, and speak, |
hope, with candor and Justice. do not
intend to attemp; general contrast be
tween the two parties, as TO their course,
doctrines and spirit. That would be too
extensive and laborous an undertaking
for this occasion but purpose to spec..
| ~ few instaoces, IN which, think, our
political opponents have exhibit d SPIRIT
aud bearing, disorganizing and dangerous
| 10 the pcrmanency and stability OF our IN
| stitutons, and invoke the serious ana So
Der attention to them, of all who are here
assembled.
The fist would notice IS the manner
| in which Territories have been lately ad-
mtte5, as States, into the Union. The
early and regular practice 81 the Govern
neni was for Congress 10 pass previously
law authorizing Convention, Tegulai-
ing the appointment OF members to u I;
specifying the qualification Of voters, &c.
/ 10 that way most oil the States were re-
ceived. OF late, without any previous
sanction or authority from Congress, sew
eral Territories have process did of them
selves to call conventions, form Copsliu.
lions, and demand admission INTO the UnI,
on and they were admitted. | do not
deny that their population aud condition
entitled them TO admission; but | nslsi
that II should have been done a. the reg
ular and established mode. la the case
/ of Michigan, aliens were allowed To vote,
as aliens have been allowed Ia become
! pre-. emptioners in tie public lands. Anc
a majority in Congress sanctioned tho
proceeding. When foreigners are natuf-
! allied and incorporated, as citizens, IN
our community, they are entitled 10 oil
the privileges, within the limits OF the Con
stitution, which belong to native born
citizens and, if necessary, they should
| be protected al home and abroad the
thunder of our artillery should rear Us
loud and as effec,ually in their defence,
os if their birth were upon American soil.
J Butt cannot but think il wrong and haz-
ardous, to allow aliens, who have Just
! landed upon our shores, who have not yet
renounced their all. glance to Foreign Po.
tentates, nor sworn fidelity to our Const-
tuition, with all tho influences of mon-
nrchy and anarchy about them, to par
,icipa,e in our elections, AMI affect our
legislation.
2. The New Jersey election in,--,he
great seal Of the State, and the decision
Of the local authorities were put aside by
he House OF Representatives, ind a ma
jority thus secured to the democratic par
| ~.
3. Modification, which is nothing more
nor less than an assumption by one State
TO abrogate within its limits, law pass
ed bv the 26 States IN Congrt IS ass no
bled.
! A. 4 ! re r. evolutionary war III Mary
land, 10 aubver, the existing government,
and set up new one, without any nu-
thoiiiy Of law.
5. The refusal Of minority IA the
Legislature OF Tennessee, TO CO operate
it'll the malority (thcIr Constitution re-
curing the presence Of two-lhlrts OF tn
members) to execute positive injunction
of the United States to appoint two Unit
ed States Senators. In principle, that re-
iusal was equivalent to announcing the
willingnt IS Of that minority TO dissolve
the Union. For if thirteen or fourteen oi
the % States were 10 refuse altogether
TO elect Senators, a dissolution of the
Union would be the cons quence. Tha,
minority, for weeks together, and time
= fter time, deliberately retusrd 10 enter
upon tho election. And, If the Union Is
no, in fact, dissolved, il is not because the
principle involved would no, lead to dis
solution, bu, because II or 3 other States
have not like themselves rctus' d to per
| form high constitutional daty. And
why did they refuse? Simply becaus'
they upprehendcd the election TO the Sc
nate of poltical opponents, The seats Oh
the two Tennessee Senators, III the United
States Senate, are now vacant, end Ten.
ne ssee has no voice IN that branch Of
Congr, So, in The general legislation. One
of the highest compliments which ever
rect wed, was To have been appointed, at
a popular meeting in Tennessee, one OF
her Senators, in conjunction with dis
tinguished Senator from South Carolina,
with all the authority that such an APP
| pOlDtTneUt COulu DtotCn' iOptut hSiS
an expression Of my acknowledgements
for the honor, which most ansbitiouSly
resigned, when | gave up my Dictator
ship, and my sea, as Kentucky Senator.
"a general laugh.)
6. Then there is Reputation, that foul
STAIN upon the American character, cast
chiefly by the Democrats of Mississippi,
and which II will require years to efiace
from our bright escutcheon.
7. The support given to Executive
usurpatons, and the expunging the re-
cords Of the Senate OF the United States.
6. The recent refusal of State legisla
lures to pass laws to carry into effect
the act of distribution. An act OF Con
gress passed according to all the forms oil
the Constitution, after ample discussion
and deliberate consideration, and after
the lapse of ten years from the period II
was frs, proposed. II is the duty of all
to submit to the laws, regularly passed.
They may attempt to get them repealed /;
they have right to test their validity be-
fore tho judiciary; bu, whilst the laws
remain in force unrepealed, and without
any decision agains, their constitutional
validity, submission to them is not mere.
/ lv a constitutional and lcgnl, but moral