Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-10-24

llemn words of Country and of Liberty by i'm
piously invoking them to every political fraud,
adure you to cast your eyes upon the pitiable
spectacle of our public affairs-the disgraces
that cover us, the more terrible misciiefs that
impend, threatening visibly to Bring down in
hideous ruin upon our heads not merely the
noble edifce Of our freedom, but all social
institutions whatever! BE names aud doc
trines whatsoever they may, what will they
bestow upon you that can redeem public an
archy, private ruin, and universal corruption!
Continually belied in action by those who
made of them alone their claim to your conf
dence, what have those names and doctrines
heretofore BESTOWED but shame, calamity, fol-
ly, and iniquity? They promised you Re-
form; and they have given you corrnPtiens
that had not even name before. They
promised you Purity and they have filled
the land with political dissoluteness. They
promised you a literal adherence 10 the Con-
sti,ution, aud have given us little but the most
daring usurpations. They came to you with
words of Peace; aud their power has been
sharp sword in the relentless hand
Shall such as these-but lately, by an in
dighatIon and alarm the justest and most gem
eral, driven from authority-now resume j,
with auspices still more detestable than be-
fore with fresh enoritities committed TO win
most audacious not merely Of every former
cvil, but of new crimes, uninvented in even
their previous career of public wo and dis
grace Shall these known oppressors and
deceivers, of more than fifteen years of power
abused in every form and TO the widest ex-
tent, again be trusted, not now for any fallacious
good they offer, but with the open plaques and
curses which they bring?
IL so, prepare the black procession Of such
a triumph At the wheels Of that accursed
car, bound fast in the most gnomnious chains,
let The vanqushed Genius of our freedom be
dragged, his dslhonored arms hung broken
around him. inverted flag trailed in the
dust! On high, in purple, let violence and
corruption sit laureled. Before, let rapine
and jugglery and public confusion march jul
blant and let honor and faith and justice
limp in the rear, while the brazen trumpet Of
The spolls" makes incessant proclamation.
with lis blast that this is Republcanism
But no, it cannot be! The good, the brave
he true, supine longer, will rise in that
nvincible strength of indignant honesty, OF
outraged intelligence, Of aroused patriotism,
which, in nation of freemen like this, must
still, In an extremity Of civil danger and disgrace
so visible as the present, ever answer TO the pub
ic call. Up, then, felow-ciiizens, to man -
Away with all soth Cast from you, as trea-
'onabe, all thought of ease Be, for the time,
md until each has done whatever can secure the
went, all else forget! Let this alone-this one
ison with which all private interesla and life it.
'elt should count fer lttle be your one and
FOUR vehement occupation! Bestir yourselves
n the manifest fashion, as if upon each ones
sole exer,ions hung the entire issue, great it is
Be your hearts lifted up, as to some great work,
appointed of God himself, and Of what is next in
sacredness, YOUR Country, ITS LIBERTY, IT'S
LAWS, AND ITS HoNoR