Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-09-10
From the Augusta Democrat.

From the Augusta Democrat.
M. Editor,
/ So far as am individually concerned,
should not deem il my duty further TO
notice the structures on my ESSAY" at "a
speech" in the Stanton Spectator of the
Doth, or its commentary on my card in that
of the 18th inst. Bat conceiving that the
impatient and malignant attack on me, is
calculated, If not designed, TO prejudice
the cause Of Reform by shining il over
With foul and false epithets, should re-
gard further silence on my part, as taking
The back track, almost as effectually as
the now famous editor of that paper has
taken it on the question Of Constitutional
Reform.
1t was my sNcere desire to take as hum
bic and secluded position in the Conven-
ton of the 9Th, as was consistent with
my ardent zeal for its success-insomuch
that even declined the honor of organiz-
ing the Convention, repeatedly insisting
on Mr.. VIM. KINNEY, and others, to per-
form that duty. was. however, "ruled'
into it, and would not, certainly, then
make any back tracks, declined serv-
ing on the committee for business, and at
tempted to substitute another name for
mine Oh The address committee. ! didn't
even ESSAY to make speech" But, it
seems certain sapient spectator present.
so considered the few desultory and rather
playful remarks thrown out by me, aco,o-
edly to elicit speech from our friend IL.
w. SHEFFEY, and others.
should certainly claim the privilege of
feeling indignant as any one, ii heard
a respectable individual institute com
parison between T. w. Dorr and George
Washington, in such wise as to assert that
the ouly difference between them was the
one was unsuccessful and the other sue
cessful." should regard it sort of po-
htical sacrlege to compare the character
of George Washington with that Of any
other created being, as being in any de-
gree equal while should. myself feel
entirely at liberty 10 institute compari-
son between the principles contended for
by the one and the other; and to point to
consequences 10 the cause of the leader,
growing out Of success or defeat. This is
all ! did on the occasion referred 10; most
certainly, all intended. | have asked
the opinion OF no one as TO what were my
precise words. or the idea expressed by
them-but several intelligent, observing
and respectable gentlemen, clergymen
and others, wings and democrats, have
mentioned the subject TO me, and fully con-
cur IN this latter view. If | could be per-
suaded that | bad perpetrated so gross a
folly, or given utterance TO so unpatriotc
a sentiment as that attributed to me by the
Spectator, should most promptly and
cheerfully take the "bacl track" and do
myself the justice TO retract it-for con-
slider the Father Of bis Country, in all re-
spects, as far above T. w. Dorr as Dorr is
above the editor of the Spectator. The
editor "wonders by what sort of mischance
or management" | was member of that
body. might, if felt il, express my
surprise that he was not member! But
1t seems he was there Very well. In
what capacity did he attend The meeting
Was it as friend of the cause' should
hardly think so, from his remarks on our
mongrelsm, Dorrism, Sc, sc. Was he
in attendance as an editor, 10 give fair
report of Me proceedings? lfso, he should
have come forward in the meeting, where
he could have better heard what was said.
No. This is the idea, he must have
thought the Convention in session, some
monster perhaps crocodile, and that some
ichneumon ought TO attend to destroy its
eggs. There are other inaccuracies and
omissions IN his report Of my remarks.
will notice but one other. Mr.. POINTS, it
seems, knew there were enemies in our
camp; and, fearing, from the fact, sup
pose, that had mentioned the name, } that
I, or the meeting, would be accused Of
Dorrism, enquired "what remedy would
propose in the event Of the Legislatures
continued rejection Of our appeals to that
body 7" Perceiving, as | thought, the
drift of the enquiry expressly referred to
the course of Virginia, in her preamble
and resolutions, on the Alien and Sedition
laws excluding the idea of resort to any
thing. or any course, which would be OBJ
noxious to the charge Of Dorrism.
TShould deem it an act of courtesy, as
well as of Justice, in papers that have copi-
ed the structures Of the Spectator, to copy
this also.
D. w. PATTESON.