Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-08-26
VIRGINIA.


/ New York Tribune, native Of Virginia, re-
siding in New York, holds forth in praise Of
the Old State, and says he would like TO return,
but for the fact that he can't be allowed 10
speak his opinions on the ''p ocular institu-
tion." Thereupon he thus invokes Mr. Gree.
lily:
] sob, Sirl is this the land of Washington ?
| Did Patrick Henry, Marshall, Jefferson, and
host Of minor worthless, not less honorable or
noble, ever breathe this air? All, degenerate
Virginia if Freedom Of Speech-nay almost
thought-be forbidden even thine own sons
within thy borders Tell me, sir, | pray you,
! that lam misiniormed. Tell me that an hon.
est man may entertain honest and honorable
sentiments. and yet live in Virginia-ihe Val
/ ley Of Virginia-and will thank you,-thank
you for myself, for my little ones who often
say, ''Father, ,chen will you 90 back to Vir
ginia ?" aud no doubt for a great many 9th
ers who, knowing Virginia, know it but to
love, who YET love truth the more.
"lf you cannot answer, can you not invoke
an answering voice from the Valley-irom the
Blue Ridge to the Ohio and the Atlantic p
Surely, you can; and let it come quick, so that
'iiC aohi PiOoNh Alidl bC WtItd Ilblil Tue Go-
eutcheon olmy more than native land, or that it
be blazoned on high, an evidence of degen.
eracy IS tOathesoDle as II is mean"
Most undoubtedly, this is "the land Of
Washington" and this the air once breathed
by "Pau;ck Henry, Marshall, jefferson, and
others. On yonder hill, within sight of us, is
the venerable Church, where Patrick Henry,
IN stains of almost angelic eloquence, hailed
the star that cast its first beams upon the "cra-
die of liberty" Yet the peculiar institution
existed then as well as now, and if all partici-
patton in it be sin, Washington, Jefferson,
Marshall and Henry, have been sinners of the
first magnitude.
In response to the pathetic invocation, the
Editor of the Tribune remarks:
"We cannot say as to the Valley, but we
think we can assure our correspondent that in
Western Virginia proper-beyond the lie
ghany ndge-a citizen may now, or very soon,
express his adherence Of Slavery publicly and
iearesSly.--Events are now maturing in that
region which will not permit Slavery much
longer to crush Free Opinion, and stille the
dictates of Conscience"
We can scarcely understand what mysteri-
Gus "events" are maturing" beyond the AL
leghanes TO deliver "free opinion and con.
science" from their imaginary bondage. II
any restraints exist upon the widest license
of discussion, it is attributable exclusively &c
those whose impairment dictation and inter.
ference have signally defeated theic own de-
signs.
"Freedom of Speech"is as sacred upon ev-
cry subject in Virginia as in any other Com
monweal,h. A man may as readily entertain
and upon all suitable occasions express his
own opinions here, as in any other State Of
the Union, and much more than in those
States where he is denounced and prosecuted
if he stand up manfully for the integrity the
Constitution. The Tribune's Vrginan. ifhe
resided here, would be permitted to believe, il
he chose, that the moon is made of green
cheese, or indulge in any other chimera of a
heated imagination, with perfect impunity, SC
long as he attended to the Apostolic injunction
of "minding his own business" ard letting
other people take care of theirs-Rich. Rep.