Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-03-10

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

We foresaw, in the beginning Of the extraord-
nary contest, which lately bad In the House Of
Representatives, that the House--or, rather. the
Southern members of the House-would learn some
truths that to have been, oil along, hid from
them, although well known TO men Of common
sense. The Southern Hotspurs have mistaken the
spirit Of the North, they have msinierpreted the
motives Of the North; and by missteP, long ago
taken, they have given importance to movement,
which would otherwise, have hardly deserved no.
lice. We aude to the question of receiving sboli-
ton petitions, in Congress. Had the petitions
been received, and referred TO a commttee--a
Northern committee, if you choose--there would
have been an end Of the whole matter, But it was
resolved otherwise. The North saw, in the ex-
clusion of these petitions, a violation Of the right
20 petiaon--and they resolved to assert the right,
not by getting up petitions asking Congress TO de-
fine the import OF the Constitution, and for what
they may petition; but by insisting on the receiving
Of she very petitions rejected. And hence, the alb.
otionists-originally small party-have sweed
their ranks by the addition Of all the friends Of the
right Of petition, in tina, quarter of the Union-in
be aboltioni.ts the South has forced them TO be-
come so; besides which. they have also taught
them to look upon disunion as choice of evils
Startling it may be to some, say that the
Northern people forced to agitate this question
snd we tell the South to beware-for If the pheg-
matte calculating Yankees ever resolve dsunion,
they nil carry IL out.
60. h., .,fC h
erners on this head for we knew they had too
much discretion to attempt an nct--even II they
really had the iucnation-w would rebound
only totheir disadvantage. And we always thought
ii was TO extort something from the more powerful
portions Of the Union, that the menace uttered
for the love of union 10 the North was 80 great
that sacrifices would be made to the South before
it should DO driven 10 such an extreme Bat the
chord has been long barPed upon, that the North
as will be perceived below, has taken up the strain
Sparta has taught Bnotia
1t is the remark of an historical writer, famed
for the elegance Of his dction and depth Of thought,
that "when defects. either in the form or in the
administration of government, occasion such disor-
ders in society as excessive and intolerable, it
becomes the common interest TO discover and to
apply such remedies as will mos, efectually re-
move them. Slight inconvenience may be long
overlooked or endurd but when abuses grow to a
certain pitch, the society must go to ruin, or must
seform them" These truths are embodied in that
great substrstHm Of our System of government
the Declaration OF Independence: and the men who
found arguments for disunion, on this basis, have
better ground, think, than those who build upon
sbs.raetions There is point Of depression as
well az exataton, at which nations mus, take the
,s,rogra1e movement; and there is period when
the patience ofthe injured assumes fearfs change
NJ ~ Ne not gather, from the continued action of
the aboIi,ionis,s. and from the sympathy extended
10 Mr.. ADAMS, that that feeling is become preva-
lent in the non-slayeholding States
Agitation will give importance to questions,
which, in the abstract deserve ne notice and i'll
timed and Incorporate opposition add character
and interest TO subjects, which would, otherwise,
pass away, b, their own insignifcancy. Prominent
instances of the truth of our assertion may be found
in English history, in the cases of Dr. Saehe-
rerei, aud Mr. Wlses; In the enc case, the entire
kingdom was shaken, by the consequences of in
temperate heat in churchman--in the other, a
mere question of contested election resolved itself
into point involving the rights aud liberties Of
Eagiishmsa-if it did not, also, Gas DR.. Goldsmith
surmises,) by exposing the weakness of ministers,
soc The seeds of The American repolutioa, Proof,
likewise, in American history, may be found in this
very question Of abolition, and in its collateral the
right Of Petition.
We observed, in aH exchange paper, the pro.
oeejings of meeting in Plymouth. Massachusetts;
and as they a strong confirmation of our
views subjain account;
Agreeably to previous notice, a meeting Of cit-
gems Of Plymouth and vicinity was held at the
Tows Hall, in Plymouth, yesterday morning. at
10 O'Clock. The house filled TO overlooking,
and many citizens from other portions OF Mr.. AD-
AXIS district were present. The meeting was cali
cd 10 order by Col. john ID. THOMAS, of Plymouth.
Hon. Isaac l.. HEpoE. of Plymouth, Hon. GER
.nos B. WEsroS, of Duxbury, and Mr. ELEAzER
shERaAs, OF Carver, were appointed committee
10 report u list Of officers for the meeting. The
Committee reported rs follows:
For President-Hon. SETH SPRAGUE, Of
Dusbury.
Wee Prenaeats-Dr. JAMES TRAcHER, Of Ply.
mouth; Col. joins THOMAS, of Kington; DR.. AM
AstAH PRrsTos, of Plymouth
Seeretaries-Col Wa DAVIS, of Plymouth; 10.
. sgPH BRATT, Esq, of Carver.
II was then voted that a committee of FIVE be
appointed by the Chair to report resolutions for the
consideration of the meeting; and Hon. G. b.
Weston, Of Duxbury, Col William Davis, of Ply
mouth, WIN. James Esq of Scituate. DR. Winsow
Warren. OF Plymouth. and Amass Holmes, Esq
OF Plymouth, we're appointed. This committee
reported by Col. Davis, the following:
Whereas the right of pettionng Government
Tor redress Of grievances i. expressly guaranted
the Constitution of the United States and is one
which should ever be held sacred and inviolate
by free People; and whereas it is declared in the
Declaration Of Independence that whenever any
torn of government becomes destructive of The
great ends for which il was instituted, it is the
right of he People 10 alter abolish It, and TO IN
stltute a new Government" and whereas il is pro-
yided inthe Constitution Oft Upiied States that
Congress shall have the power of proposing a.
rDsndments 10 the Constitution:
ResetssS, therefore. That tho People have a