Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-04-27

ELECTION DAY.-In the good old Common
wealth OF AlassaC hUseits they have an election
day appropriated TO the use Of the boys, who have
plenty Of cakes and nuts that day, and # they
have money, plenty Of powder Und shot, il possible
an old fusee, and then he squirrels and the birds
immensely frightened although the obituaries re-.
quired for the occasion far less numerous than
those m populous city. during the raging OF au
epidemic. The "boblinks," appear n, numerous
and sing assweeily, aud the squirrels cl-rr.r.r as
dIscordlntly the brgh, morning. as before:
bat this Is not the kind ul election day shat upon
US Of the old Dominion to-day. We have again
to-day another trial Of our Institutions another test
Of mems capacity To govern themselves. How will
1t RESULT Will the spirits Of Washington, Hancock,
Samuel Adams, John Adams. and the other brave
heroes and parriols Of The revolution, smile with
pleasure as they look down upon this day ia Virgin
n! VIII they find. on this occasion another stone
laid in the fabric ofhuman liberty, of which they
They laid the foun lalion, or will il be another blow
toward tumbling ii TO the goumdl These are qucs-
lions that may well be asked, well poniered upon
whether we have votes To give or not. Ia this
district. oPine that voting ia any way will DO it,
Tie toward perPetua'IHg their pr ncIPles, raising
The temple Of liberty. They probably. never eI-
peeled that one candidate FOR Congress would use
the money he had earned in one term to buy of an
opponent for the next Meth er did the, ever expect
that Congress would be occupied by men like our
representative, (wiih nothing but party To recon.
mend Ihcm) except ia their hours ofdespsnJency q
depression OF this character we presume, were
the reflections Of the father Of his country when he
wrote the following passages orhis farewell address
which should be much pondered upon IA going To
the polls.
81 have already intim1ed 10 you the Danger Of
parties ia tie state, with the particular reieten ces
Co The founding Iasm on geographical discrim ina.
tipns. Let me now take a more comprehensive
view, aud warn you IA The most solemn manner
against the baneiu effects Of the spirit Ul parry gen.
orally.
This spirit unfortunately, inseparabc from
our nature, having IT'S root IN the strongest passions
Ufth0 human mind. IL exists under different shape 5
iE all governments, more or less sIned, controlled
repressed; hut IN those Of ,,.uIar form is seen
IN its greatest rlnkue and Is lruy their worst en-.
envy.
Fac alternate domination Of one faction over
ano,her, sharPened by the spirit Of revenge nalura
party dissenson, which in different ages and coun
tries has perpeiraieu the most horrd euormIIes D,
a fdgh,lul despuiIsm. But this leads 81 length &,
orders and miseries which result gradually incline
the minds Of men 70 seek security aud repOse in tho
absolute power Ofen individual; and, sooner or la
ter, the chief Of some prevailing faction, more sble
or fortunate than his competitors. turns tia,
disposition 10 The purposes Of his own elevation on
the RUNS Of public liberty
Without looking forward 10 an extremity Of this
(Which nevertheless ought 10 be entirely out Of
sighhD the common and continual mischicfs Of the
spirit party, are sufficient 10 mike Il the interest
aud duty Of wise people 10 discourage and re-
strain g.
cit always to distract tho public council Is,
and enfeeble the public administration. u aitgates
the comm unity with ill founded iealousies and
false alarms; kIndes the animoHy Of one part a.
ganst anOtheri fOments occasional riot and lnsur-
recOn, IL opens the door 10 foreign influence aud
corruption. which finds facilitated &c cess 10 the
government itself through the channels Of parry
passions. Thus the policy and will Of one country
are subjected 70 the policy and will Of another.
There is au opinion that parties in free cOuu.
tries are useful checks upon the administration OF
the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit
Of liberty. This, within certain limits, is probably
truei and. IN governments Of a mOrarcbical cast.
pstrlstlsm may look with indulgence. f not with
favor upon The spirit Of pery. But IN thOse Of tho
popular character in governments purely elective
~ Is spirit not TO be encouraged From heir nat.
utai tendency. q Is certain there will always be e.
BOugh Of that spirit for every sautary purpose. And
there being constant danger Of excess, the effort
ought 10 be. By fice Of public opinion. 20 mitigate
and assuage. Ere not 90 be qusuchod ID de.
manJs a uuiiJfm vigilance 10 prevent &c bursting
into 1ame, lest instead Of warming, &c should con-
sumo.
One watchman u Buffalo scaled on q fence and
- &c ,fff gYhlfo .r,f,rs r-r Ga ft. .f..,- 81