Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-03-28
STRIVING to avert a conflict !

tins cnniuncturt, and that the South has
never done him justice. | desire not 10
be misunderstood. There vas no day IN
the week, Sundays excepted, On which
the volunteers which had the honor 10
command, at that time, in Chsrlt ston.
would u have gone out aud have gwen
G,n. JscSson's regulars battle, il III $ was
to have decided the ISSUE, notwiihsiaud-
ing our just apprec alton of the skill and
g~lan,ry of the distinguished officer To
whom their commani had been c.nfded,
and WHO, on u trying occasion, added to
his known vaor so brnignaut desire for
peace and Cancellation. But We knew
.ha, on the discharge Of the frs, muske,,
the streets Of our city would run with
lratrrual blood. Mr.. Clay lent his hand
to stay the torrent. Can we then regard
with indifference The services such man
render It such b tlm!
| You will permit me 10 remark that
now lake no part 10 ths p ltlcs OF the
country. | have nut voted for FIVE years
at an election, nor do know that | shall
vote for the next five years 10 come. -
Engaged Ia an ANXIOUS aud ardent chor.
to pay my d 5t by ,iiiug The il on the
banks Of this river, The sunny acclisIty OF
public honors has no attractions Tor me-
| seek the valley, and prefer the shades.
There VAS a time when might have
cherished other aspirations, bui that time
has gone forever. Retired, therefore,
from the contest of parties, think my
very position makes me witness beyon
exception. But still my opinions may be
Of very ltlle velue--such as they are,
you are ent tied to tn m.
| | beleye Mr.. Clay's election is about
as probable as any human event, in fuiu
rity, can well be. A vista of rrnown
will BE- opened to him, which has awaited
III. administration Of no previous Pfesi-
dent, since tina, Of The .lather of our
country" Ii he is able. by the command
ing Influence, to arrest in Congress the
porienlious agitation Of the slave question,
and to fix the tariff firmly on the basis Of
the principles Of his own comp omise, he
will, in saving his country, have reaped
his own harvest, abundant an iru .tifying,
now and forever. | know no man who
has more Of the instrumental means to
perform this high funct on than hims II.
l believe, IN the splrndor Of yet un.
clouded genus, his ambition will b. on
level with the august position he IS likely
TO occupy. Col grant that it may be SO.
That man must have hunted sight,
and strong nerves, who does not see, or
seeing does not feel, that the country has
10 pass through a valley encompassed
with clouds ami darkness. The crisis
requires gifted sagacity, and the high
est moral courage. Mr.. Cl'y has these
qualities, in degree conferred on few
men. I'm making these remarks, beg
you not to consider one Of them as inten-
ded in dispa-agement Of the gentl' man
who is considered, as heretofore, in oPpo-
siton to Mr.. Calhoun in the ranks OF the
same party, 10 which they are both said
to belong.
For Mr. Van Buren,, cherish feelings
Of kindness and esteem, which should
be insensible 10 both lis merits aud his
uniform friendship il did not both en-
,ertoln and express. II, at any time, !
have ever appeared TO occupy an aniag-
onist osltion to this gentleman, Il has
been rather TO the ~. assures OF his parry,
than hmself-measures which d rived
the authority from the POTENT influence
OF chief the reps Sc Of whose declining
years would not nOW disturb, if coul :.
Let the rays of his glory, gathering TO-
gether on tn. banks o. the river am soon
d,suned 10 visit, settle with colint, mn-
jesty, eternal and endurng, n ms fame.
You may well ask. Il entert IN ,htse
feelings towards mist OF our public men,
to whom | am opposed | answer not
one. The emb' RS oi patty spirit are K
iingushed 10 my bosom, after havins
felt, as intensely as most men, their bum
ing heat. am sensible, with one Of the
most eloquent AMI philosophical Of states.
man, of The truth OF the remark thai "Old
factiuns are volcanoes burnt out; from
their ashes the fruitful olive and vine
take root" ! feel that by these exh ,us-
ted craters can plant few Of those char
iues which induce US to lnok with IGdui
gence on the opinions Of others, and wi b
a less overw, enng confidence in oar own.
Although have not fe IT worth my
While, Oh any body's Will, TO define my
position, and to dete mine whether am
Democrat or Wing Tor on C. ran points
have differed and agr ed VITA b, tn par
ties)-y,t, cannot but feel AMI express
my sttong regard for the Wings # Geor-
ga, who, at time wien South Carolina
needed friends, were nearly all nullIfers
TO a m IN, and prepared to black US 10 the
death" ! ;her, fore, am lille disposed 10
quarrel with them now, II hey happen
to have made up tn ir minds to support
an individual tor the Pres DE- ncy ~ho was
mainly instrumental IN the only subst n
tial reduction ofihe Tariff which has ever
been effected, on any recognized princi
Pile Of pubic security; WIN has stood forth
on Two occasions as III grsnt and success-
lul mediator of The per'luus striies 81 tths
confed racy, and Who, to bfi'li nj cours3"
and surp sstmg genius unit he NJ S. at
tractlve SEGA qu,itirs. ! may have had
my prefer NJ, s my bears an they aye
entitled TO theirs, which III y ar. quite
likely to make Ear more effeclusl than my
own, by triumph decisive and overwh' l.
ming.
Pardoa this long, rambling letter, which
a -