Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-01-04

W saliSly the CANDID oil every party and
every class, that the repeal Of the bank
rupt law would be the destruction Of IN,
wtsest measure introduced in this coun.
try for many years. More than enough
has e said to justify its friends in de
handing that il shall, at least, be put t.
the trial ofa longer experiences; more
:han enough 10 rebuke the waverinc.
tickle. childish policy which would de-
vote the labors OF Congress,o the destruc
ton Of a great system affecting every
interest OF the nation and which the We
ry same Congress adopted a few months
ago, after the most mature de~'ileration
Repeal il without a trial2 And on what
pretencei Shall we hear again that the
people condemn it? For nearly for;y
years the ablest Statesmen Lave urged
II upon the country. During all tina
time and ut nearly every session OF
Congress, it was discussed for seve
raj years before its passage petitions
from all parts Of the country demanded
its adoption. And finally a body OF rep
resentatives recently elected solemnly
enacted tho law. After all this who shall
deny that tho deliberate judgement Of
the nation approved the law? Have the
people suddenly reversed their Judge.
ment2 Show us the evidence of this
reversal. Do not attempt to play Off
upon us a lawyers trick. A cunning
advocate, practising upon an ignorant ju-
ry assures them that he sees a favorable
verdict already written in their faces
The credulous jurymen each one OF them
believes the other eleven have in truth
determined the point and have indicated
their sentiments by their c~ountenances.
Ignorant himself what to do he dares
not oppose the unanimous opinion of
the rest and hastens to adopt the con-
~clusion which has become so popular"
And suddenly, by a shallow device, the
whole twelve are entrapPel into q u
unanimous verdict, which not on Of them
has in his own mind considered or de-
cided. Surely some politicians are at
attempting to impose q similar trick up
on the people, when they cry out that
the bankrupt law is unpopular. Sha |
it succeed with the people? With some
OF their Representatives i, has had par.
tial success. Some Of them who trem-
BILE before every popular breath for fear
it will shake them from their Offices,
who have not the manly courage to dis
cusS their own acts freely before their
constituents and firmly await the result,
have already been alarmed by this STRAIT
agcm and are flying for refuge TO the
side which for the momen seems 10
them tho strongest.
We bow before the decIsion Of the
people deliberately formed and expires.
sed in a constitutional mode, with as
much submission as any. But there are
two species Of obedience to the popular
will. A representative may honestly
discharge his duty and when called TO
his account, may fesrlessly avow his
own opinions and defend his ow0 course.
He may discuss every measure freely
whether it seems to meet with immedi.
ate appreciation or not. If his fellow
citizens appear to him to be in error he
may tell them so with the independence
of freeman. If he can convince them
Of their error he may rejoice 10 have
faithfully served his country. IL, after
a full consideration the decision Of the
people be adverse to him, he may yield
without a murmur to the supreme power
in the Republic, even il it should de-
priVe him Of office Or If ho retain his
station he may conform his action to the
deliberate judgement Of people as the
rightful rulers Of a democracy. .: such
a representative, his constituents nay
bs proud. But there is a species Of o.
bedienco which cares not whether the
people arc right or wrongs which looks
only to the possession OF the homo
which they bestowj which never rises
to inform ignorance, rsbuke prejudice
or maintain truth which bows to the So
called popular voice, though it DO the
claP-trap noise got up By demagogues
in bar-rooms,-falling, like sWarming
bees, at the rattle ola tin pan who skulk
from every breath Of opposition whsth-