Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-08-10
From the .imerseaa Rer;e,s.
NECESSITY or PApTv.

~ - very common error among the ignorant "a erv
out against party and TO dsavow paralifies ,sa,in,
aScofuhg 70 these disInlere5ted persons IS nelth
er lof TINS nor that side, but for the country
LEI US agree with them for the moment: as no, de-
siriRg, IN This easy race of protesi,ton ~ IL len h
n"a. auu becoming quite impartial in our affections,
et US propose plan for the good OF the nation lei II
n : arm; % tax on property, sub treasury
y possible thatany friend o! his country can be Of
Tended at the proposal or SO necessary measure r.
iSus many are offended. A division has begun and
NE yeas and nays have gone over to dfseni sides
Let any national measure be offered 10 the eop,l.
Grafton Of promiscuous body Of citizens division
VIII ARISE as 10 its expectancy Some will 20 into op-
position upon grounds merely heoretc others will
ma arguments against II from policy as being III.
timed; others, again, will find II al variance win The
peeunlay or political interests Of themselves or their
trends; all these will unite against II am, form, 49,
~ TO oppose IT, PARTIES therefore ,vha,evar H. IN,
private opinion oil them, are unavoidable and I, bs
comes us, instead OF ing out then, or ,fIc,
ing naughty indifference them, 10 use Them, rain
anarchy and despoiisrn - - 2
nor can The Struggle for power be deemed d;sc,a3
aos' When u seen that this struggle is de INNS, ar
nuous anu The most important that men can epoage
~, ana thal The very life Of liberty is maintained enIy
.! we s'i,se q contending parties. Ia free states.
where public questions are decided 81. r,a;a,,as ~
strife OF party begins in the office and lie ms,sa,
pace every point OF policy agiiaed in private and
Tue representative is chosen with the expeclaan Tia,
he VIII maintain the opinion and even The preirdjre
~nen ne represents. When the majority are well IN
iorsa and heir representative true TO his function
liberty and humanity will be observed and The morals
Of private life become the guiding principles oflegisa
ton
Wien the Constitution fonfers The power or suf
rage upon citizen, II imposes duty; he has taken
share IN the government, and is legally qualified
member Of the great Council OF the nation from which
cmanae, II moi particular measures at least the first
impulses OF opinion. on which the character and pow
er Of The nation reveals itself
In election TO public Offices, the people know or
should know, that they are merely choosing one or
Their number in whom they confde to represent the
opinion, the character, and the Interests oil the MAORI
ty The Constitution inruss them with this power of
choice, and in using it, they impress their private
Judgment, and their private wil upon the government
Of WHICH they thus become true aud responsible mem
befs How unworthy, then. OF this high privilege are
these inert or supercloas citizens, who affect 10 dis
regard the elections, or who speak OF them as vain
and interested contest Of Office Seekers people who
respect Their insuutohs, and who not only know. !
but feet. that government emanass from themselves
VIII not confound the contemplate enthusiasm Of
place seekers with the ardor OF patriots or-if even
that most sacred appeaton have lately acquired some
aint,of men VINO seek for power only 10 avoid dis |
honor. National dshoaor falls not only upon the
mean and insignificant, but upon the able, the bold
and The welnormed the honor Of the nation is an I
element, yes, palpabe element, OF its power aud 7
prosperity II the Affairs Of the nation badly con
inciea, not only the weak and mean, bat the men OF
character, OF genius, and Of enterprise, have 10 bear
The elshonor and the punishment Whoever there /
lore. accounts himself one Of these, whoever feels 7
within himself The least spark Of that generosity OF /
soul which makes men republicans, is, SO far poL-
ricns. Politics. the Judging and acting for the hon
Or and the prosperity Of the nation properly an AT
10 which all OF as are born Ne, the czens who |
think we have masters but the laws, cannot be too
careful or too veilant in the exercise OF the power OF
eleeilon In which we perform the initiative arr Of Coy
erament