Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-02-15

Have there not been many
S,.,a conventions being filled by ONCE
hoId.,s and office seekers, who, aier ma
liz, The nomination, have divided the Oh
6c.s !, the State among themselves ana
49, nar,izsns, end joined in recommen-
d;og 10 the candidate whom they have
ms, nominated to appoint them to the Of
fees TO which they have been respective
lv allotted. II such be the case 10 the ~
fanny OF the system, i must end, II such
conventions should become the establish
ed usage. in the President nominating his
successor. When il comes to that, hwi'i
no, De long before The sword will take The
place Of the Constitution.
Such are my objections 10 the mode IN
which tn. propos' convection is I" D.
constituted, and my reasons for entertain
ing them. They are such, that caonot
refuse TO obey them without renouncing
tho principles which have often svowed
IN publ and pr vate, and which have gul-
ded me through the whole course OF my
public life.
In coming 10 thi, conclusion, ! have
not passed over, without careful exam-
nation, the reasons assigned by its advo.
Gates for constituting the Convention as
they propose. They have not diminished
the force Of my objections. ] propose to
notice the most prominent.
That which they have urged with the
greatest confidence, is, that each State
has right to appoint Delegates ss she
pleases. meet it, by utterly denying
that there i. any such right. That each
State has the right TO act as it pl' ascs, 10
Whatever relates 10 itself exclusively, no
one will deny; but il is perfectly novel
doctrine tat any State has such tight,
when she cones to act IN concert with OH
ers in reference to what concerns the
whole. In such casslt is the pianes
dic,atc OF common sense, that "hiteVer
Affects the whole should he regulated by
tho mutual cons,n Of all, aud not by The
discretion Of each That tho appoint.
ment OF Delegates to the proposed con
ven,ion ls n case Of this description, trust
have concIusisely shown. have, "l-
90 trust shown more: that the supposed
RICH, is perfectly deceptive, for while ii
claims for each State the right 10 appoint
Delegates as il pleases, il in reality gives
the larger States the right to dictate bow
tho others shall appoint. II, for example,
ths Empire State, as j, is called, adprts
the mode of appointing as she hos which
will concentrate her whole strength, what
discretion would she leave 10 others, if
thew 90 into Convention, but to appoint
rs she has appointed, or to be ruled by
her. II is then, neither more nor less
rpIaP thu aFh 1T
night, and such ITS exercise has proved
in the present case. II has left No option
bu, 10 conform 10 her course, er e over
ruled, or refuse t. go INTO the Conycn'l n.
regret this, because sincerely d sire
10 preserve the harmony Of :he party. !
had strong hope that the rally after the
defeat OF 1910 would be exclusively
on principles. This hope was greatly
str nr,hened by the truly rspublican and
noble stand taken at the extra 'ssIon
ard the caller part Of the succeeding reg
ul,r session During that period Of rigid
adherence to princip pie, ierfect harmony
peryaded the ranks Of the Iarty. be-
held it with Joy. | believed the mnmenr
highly favorable for the thorough relor.
nation OF the Government and the restor-
alton Of the Constitution. To the Repub-
lean party, | look d for tho accomplish
men, of this great work and according
ly felt the deepest soIicitude, that the
stand taken, and the harmony which *
is,ed, should bs preserved. In order that
it should, made up my mind TO waive
the objection, which have long enter
tanned TO any intermediate body, unknown
10 ,hs Constitution, between the people
and the election OF the Pres dent, in the
hope that the proposed Convention would
he so constl,uej that might cons s,"nt-
" with my principles give It nv support.
In this have been Disappointed, md be-
ing 50, / am compelled 10 decide as ! have
done. The same motives which InIrll
ed me to separate from the adm nsirntinn
Of Gen. Jackson, in the plrntltude OF its
power, and to come to the rescue Of Mr..
Van Buren's at its greatest depression,
compels me now to withhold my namo
from tho proposej Convention.
Having now assigned my reasons FOR
refusing TO permit my name 10 go tetnre
the Baltimore Convention, it rests With
Won who have placed it before the peapl"
and a:sen,ed 10 abide by Convention
fairly constituted, TO determine wha,
course you will pursue.
Re your decisi n what it NAV shall
be content. But regarded il as due TO
the occasion, to you and myselito deci IRE
that under no circumstances whatever
shall support any candidate, who is up
posed to free trade, aud IN favor Of the
protective policy, or whose prominent AMI
Influential friends and supporters are. |
hold the policy to be smother name for /"
system of monopoly and plumber, rnd to
be thoroughly anti republican and frd' raj
in its character. also hold tina, so long
as thu duties aresp lad as to be IN fact
bounties to one portion Of the community,
whsle they operate q, oppressive taxes on
the other, there can be no rope that the
Government can be reformed, or that ito
expenditures will be reduced TO the prop.
tr standard.
Wero /, with the evidences before me,
20 say otherwise Of my course, IT would
be. practically, TO declare that | regard
thc nro,,ctiys Dulicy TO be an open Qus ~