Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-02-17

Z
I Start not dear reader, when we tell you that
The above sentence is extracted, verbatim e'
literaurn, from the December Number Of
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, the organ
Of the High Tory Party Of the Kingdom OF
Great Britain.
How strangely does such doctrine contrast
with the creed Of the Democratic Republican
State Rights Party Of this Union! The Tories
Of Great Britain regard the idea that the Min
listers of their Queen are not amenable TO pub
lie censure, as involving proposition too
absurd 10 be seriously discussed. The organ
Of the great head Of the Democratic Church
in the United States, seeks to brand as a trail
tor every man who dafes to question the wis
dom Of the Executive in inhicting upon the
country the horrors or Warl BY the same
mail which brought US the number Of Black
wood from which the above extract is taken,
we received the t'Union," containing the let
ter Of a miscreant whom the editor is pleased
to style '.gallaui officer" of The army in
Mexico, in which the writer dares to stigma
tise the expression of opinion in relation 10 the
inception and conduct Of the war by the free
men of this Republic as treason. This impu-
dent and insulting exhibition Of sycophancy,
is heralded TO the readers Of the Executive Or
gan with iulsome encomiums, as the embodi-
nent Of all that is wise and patriotic
That broken down politician, who had
forfeited the respect and confidence Of his par
ty a, home, should become renegade--nay
more, that seeing the road to promotion open
10 all who are willing 10 "crook the pregnant
hinges of the knee to his Democratic Excel
lency, such a man should seek to win his
way by SANDER aud coarse Remuneration of his
former political associates, is the mos, natural
thing in the word doubtless he will in due
time "receive his rewardi by being promoted
over the heads of honester men, who have
spent their lives in the military service of the
country. And that the pampered organlst,
receive the evidences Of such dislnterested de-
votion 10 the ''powers that be-" with full
measure Of commentator, is equally 10 be
expected. But that the propagandist Of such
doctrines should set up to be 'Democrat"
par excellence, and the expounder oftheprogres-
sire faith Of the nineteenth century, is an as
sumption unrivalled in the annals of impu-
dence.
Some of our Wing contemporaries have I'M
dertaken to prove that the advocates of Exec
utve usurpaiion in this country, occupy the
same platform with the tories of Great Bri-
tain. What great injustice has been done the
tories of old England, the extract from Black
wood will show.
We do not pretend TO keep pace with the
progressive spirit of Modern Democracy, but
adopting the antquated theory of the founders
Of our institutions as criterion. the candid
enquirer would scarcely be al loss TO decide
as to which was more obnoxious TO the charge
of treason, the President, who in violation
Of his solemn oath TO support the Constitution
dares TO usurp the powers entrusted by that
sacred instrument TO the representatives Of the
people, or the representative who in the fear
less discharge of his obligation, denounces and
opposes the usurpation. Nor would any man
in the possession Of a sober and unbiased
hesitate to accord TO each one OF
the millions Of freemen, who have individual
" nothing to hope or 10 fear from the Execu
tive, and who have nevertheless, unhesitating
" denounced the conduct of the President, a
devotion 10 country, at least equal 10 that OF
the retained advocate 1--WE will not say coun-
sel) of the Administration, fed from the public
crib and bound to support the cause of his
employer. The Union asserts upon the au-
thori,y of the indignant officer, whose letter he
spreads before his readers, that the speeches
of Messrs. Clay and Webster are read by the
Mexican people. We are glad oft, and we
put the question to every candid man in the
country, whether the Mexican people would
not be far more likely to listen TO proposals of
peace, and be far more favo-ably disposed TO
wards nation whose counsels are governed
by such principles of justice and honor, than
Government whose designs against the very
national existence of Mexico are but lily con-
cealed and whose organ proposes the spo-
liation Of Mexican Churches, with the same
nonchalant eflron,ery, with which an hum
bier member of the progressives would suggest
the robbery of a henroost!
1t is not in the power OF Mr.. Richie and
the whole host Of office holders and office-see
ers combined, to check The free expression ofthe
sentiments of the people Of this country, in re-
gard to all the acts of the Administration the
right to hold the highest as well as the lowest
officer Of the Government, 10 a strict accoun
liability for all his acts, is birihright which
they are not yet prepared to surrender, and
Mr.. Polk must not hope TO escape the ordeal
0s- We this week lay before our readers
extracts from the speeches of Mr.. Stephens,
of Georgia, and Mr.. Goggin, of Virginia
Mr.. Stephens eloquent defence Of Gen. Tay-
lor from the gratuitous charge that he advised
the movements which led to hostilllies between
our own and the Mexican troops, and Mr..
Goggin's admirable reply to Mr.. Bedinger,