Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-03-25
20 the Patrons OF the Ga
ZPlfe

You have slready bcen made acquainted
with the fact Of my having undertaken the ed.
itoriai conduct Of this paper, and assure you
am Car from inscnsibe TO the responsibilities
incident TO my position /; for while have not
the vanity to suppose for a moment, that even
within the sphere Of its ordinary circulation,
the direct influence Of the Gazette could be po-
iently sxer,ed for good or evil--yet it is man
fes, tina, the village Newspaper enjoys means
Of usefulness, and possesses capacities FOR
mischief sufficient TO render il an Object Of in
tercst in the vicinity Of its location. To many
ii is the Only chann'l through which they be-
como acquainted with the events OF the great
world around Them; it is welcomed IN then
homes as familiar friend and lireside com
panlon-an'ording the means OF amusement
and recreation, aud furnishing food for reliec-
ton amid the ordinary lahors and cares of life
thus whist il is invaluable as dispenser OF
Nsefui knowledge, its assertions arc but too OF.
ten received without cauton--i,s conclusions
adopted withou, examination, and prejudices
are instilled and principles Inculcaied into the
minds of its readers, whose banelul effects are
fell, IN every portion Of the community.
To guard sgains, these evils, should be the
anxious desire Of every conductor Of press,
and pledge myself at the outset TO exercise the
most watchful care that nothing shall appear
in the columns of the Gazette calculated 10
prejudice the cause OF virus ard sound moral
ity. no matter how brilliant and attractive may
be the style, how popular the subject or how
rrcal The genius or fame OF lis author. With
fixed and steady purpose to express no oPm-
ion which is mol the deliberate and candid con
vic,ion of my own mind. and to give currency
10 no siatemcni upon any subject which do
no, honestly and sincerely believe TO he true,
hope whatever may he my shortcomings IN
other regards, to retain yeur cohtdonee and
respect.
Virgnian by birth and education, and de-
voedly attached TO my native soil. shall zeal
ously cndcavor to aid in promoting all those
measures which promise to arnuse the SUM
bo4ng energies Of her people, and to place her
IN the ptoud position she is entitled 10 occupy
with her sister Stsies-among which recog
Misc a liberal vet judicious system Of Internal
improvements and plan Of Common School
Education, which will place the means ofac-
curing useful knew,cdgs within the reach Of
oil.
With regard to Federal politics, can only
say. tina, "according 10 tbs most a'a!trst sect
Of cur political proiesson--l am q " his. !
am WsiE. not only because consider the
crea, noaSwcs or the <7th Congr" en-
rcntlv calcuasad 10 promote the prosperity CT
tho whole country. bui h"caus" regard the
rrea, body OF the Wing party ashene dianie'-
really opposed TO those radical aud destructive
principles, so alarningy prevalent IN some OF
the States of our confcderacy, and which Wrea
TIN n, no distant day, to destroy the fair fabric
or our Union. There can be no doubt, that
the time has come, when many OF those,who,
in lsl4. were found in the ranks oil our
onponsn,s, look upon the defeat OF HENRY
cray. as a great national calamity. They
have seen the offices Of the country distributed
40 ,poils to the most abandoned and unprincI-
,,ed of the yotaries Of the Administration
They have seen the olt.rcjected Sub-Treasury
bill again forced upon the country, in defiance
Of the will OF the people. They have seen the
President Of their choice, after rcckessIy decla-
ring our righ, TO the whole Of Oregon TO be
clear and unquestionable," and insisting that
the national honor vas pledged to MAINTAIN that
right. compelled by friends and par,zans 10 re-
,yact the ridiculous bravado which degraded
tho national character in the eyes OF the world.
They have seen the country plunged into
wor Of conquest. under the shallow pretcnce
oe"conouerinc a peace" with nation noto-
,,or.ly destitute of the means OF aggressive
warfare. They have seen this war declared
without the authority Of Congress, and there
c,,s in direct violation of the Constitution
They have " itnessed the blundellns incapaci'
e. which has more than once placed our brave
army in situations OF extreme peru, from
which nothing but the almost unexampied
skill Of our gallant Wing Generals and the Ia
tren,di,y OF their forces could have ex'ricated
them. They have witnessed the workings o.
,ha, jealousy which prompted the preS'
dent and his advisers to endeayor 10 pluck Tho
Iaurels from the brow otihe gallant TAYLOR
asd lastly they see that in the event Of the sue
csssful termination Of the war, the annexauof
Of this conquered territory threatens to raise
o,es,;on which will sever in twain our glorr
ous confederacy.
For hess reasons we cannot permit our
ss,yes 10 doubt, that at the Grst oPporIunh!
offered by she Constitution, the reckless AM
incompetent party which now holds posses