Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-02-16
From ID. N.sisnsl IaselIiesnesr.
MR.. BARTON, OF VA, TO HIS CoNSTiTu-
ENTS


gressionat District Of Virginia.
The time has arrived when The public
mind IS usually turned TO The canvass o
the Spring elections, and, to prevent any
embarrassment among my political friends
| esteem il my duty to declare thai 70 nc
contingency whatever, will be candl'
date fur public life again. This purpose
| had formed aud distinctly expressed
more than year ago, TO some OF my
friends, by letter and otherwise.
A long continuance IN public life has
proved injurious TO my private interests
and further neglect in these times 0i dlfh.
Gully and trial, would do violence 10 my
inclna,ons and to my sense OF duty IN the
social and domestic relations OF lille.
| retire with grateful sense Of the con,
fidence Of an intelligent constituency man
Tested on various occasions, and with q
disposition TO forget every unpleasant. col
ison which political life is too apt to en-
gender certainly with no unkind leelicg
towards single individual remaining up
on my heart.
The experience and observation which
my position afforded, have confirmed me
IN maintaining that set Of opinions enter
tanned by the party to which | have been,
and am, ardenly attached. They are
essential, if proper action be predicated
upon Them, to the best interests Of the
country. They mast ultimately be adopt
cd by Discerning public, who will saga
ciously look to the causes Of their present
sufieriogs and apply some wholesome
corrective. refer more particularly to
the currency question, and to its correia-
tive aid, a just protection Of every branch
of home industry.
On three occasions have, with Twenty
or forty others, separated from MAORI
ty Of our Wing friends.
LIST. 10 voting against The abrogation Of
the constitutional veto.
21Iy. Against resolutions of inquiry
with view TO the impeachment Of the
President.
Lastly, and recently, agains, the reso-
luton Of the Committee of Ways and
Means declaring that the plan of an Ex-
chequer presented to Congress by the
Secretary Of the Treasury ought not 10 be
adopted.
The limits prescribe to this letter will
not warrant my charging upon the rea
sons of those votes, nor is II necessary, as
have the pleasure to know that these
llt, thn
ed generally by my constituents, while, if
the last brings me in conflict Of opinion
with mahy of my own friends, they would
not and could not urge vindlcaiion Of my
motives.
The veto power was conferred upon the
Executive by the fathers of the Cunslitu.
ton as conservative check to has,y, or
perhaps improper party Legislation, and as
the means of adjusting hnd maintaining
the balance Of powers between the differ
ent departments Of The Government. Ii
ought not lightly 10 be abrogated. To
the people of the South especially, for rea-
sons which the intelligent mind will at
once embrace, the veto may in some lu-
lure time prove the barrier to save our
peculiar institutions, and consequently to
preserve the Union. Nor was disposed
to impugn the wisdom Of Washington and
Madison and other sages Of the Republic,
who deemed the power essential in the or
game law Of the country. The exercise
of the veto power has been occasionally
abused, aud will continue to be abused
and so has liberty been, and every otEer
blessing we enjoy.
vote against the resolution Of inquiry
contemplating the impeachment of Mr..
Ty Ter, SIMPLY, because tho whole move.
ment would have resolve d itself into moth
ing but words, words, words-a waste OF
practical good, bu; positive evil
resulting. The action of the House upon
important measures, would have been 70.
tarded and vitinted for well know that
Congress is never N 81 unfit cord lion
for real business, as after a tempesiuous
party debate. Let me not be understood
as calling in question the patriotic motive
or the prudence of those who held a con-
tIary opinion to mine.
By the las, and recent vote | gave a.
gainst the negative proposition unfuvora-
BILE to an Exchequer plan, did not mean
to commit mysclfto the identical project
submitted by the Treasury Department,
while | frankly confess | prefer ii, as a
whole, TO either of the o,hers-Mr. Cush.
ing's or Mr.. Tallmadge's. 1t is true thu
plan is objectionable on the score of the
Executive uower incident to it, and no
great financial agent can well be- project
ed exempt from Government influence
1t would, however, enlarge and replete
the currency, now stinted and collapsed.
1t would regulate exchanges, sustain SOL
vent banking institutions, and prosti ate
the unsound and lettering 1t would have
the effect of making hard times easier.
Nor was | deferred in voting for this
Exchequcr plan because it is not the BEST
as admit il not to be. ] believe an old.
fashioned, well conducted National Bank
the only panacea which can completely
cure the disorders which afilct US. But,
unfortunately, the alternative is not pre-.
scented between a National Bank and the
Exchequer, but between the latter and a
sub Treasury-a plan signally condemn
ed by the American people in lS40-one
in my opinion, impotent to do good, po-
tentia TO do evil. Note the fact, that the
report of the Committee Of Ways and
rafarrad m xuas accomnanIpd wit N