Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-08-24

| The duel. which was to have been fought be-
tween these distinguished Democratic Senators,
did not come off. Col. Butter, the challenger,
was held to bail, whilst the would be Lieutenant
General, s7ho did nothing but accept TIC ehai-
ienge, was discharged By the Court. Had the par
ties really wished 10 fight the s. coo, in which
sum Col. Butler was bound, would hardly have
prevented the combat. II would have been 4
better example for the rising generation. if the
sober second thoughts Of these distinguished men
had suggested themselves before the challenge
was sent and accepted. Ii two Hhfg Sem
Cfors had been the actors in this disgraeefuE af-
iair for disgracefuf it surely was from begin
ming to end, especially so FAR as Col. Benton was
concerned what pious honIiliss we would
would have been favored with from this text. bv
the Immaculate preachers Of Democracy With
what holy horror would their presses have des-
eanfed upon the inlury inflicted upou the public
morals by this exhibition of wickeslness in high
places. We have often been forcibIy struck by
the distinction which seems to have been prac-
ticaily set up by the Locos, and taeitly aequies-
eed IN by the Wings, between Wing and Dem
ocratic responsibility for offences against morality
and virtue Let Wing paper allude 70 the ir-
Irregularities of Locofoco leader. and forthwith
the editor is assailed and reviled for inpudently
interuieddling with the domestic relations'' Of
the accused. Let prominent Wing, however,
be but suspected of proclivity to the seIEsame
irregularities, and the whole pack Of Loeofoco
journalists open upon the trail. and the colder
the scent the louder viii always be the cry
We have sometimes thought that some of the
Democratic leaders considered themselves ex
empt from the operation Of public opinion, in
consideration of their political services, and
and therefore entitled to monopoly Of wicked
dedness; and that Wing offences were to be re-
sented as tcspasses upon their proper and an
clent demesEe. OF course we do not mean to be
understood. as svowing that Wing great men,
are all good men, or that distinguished Demo-
Gratis all bad men. Weare as sorry to confess
TO Wing derelictions as we are proud of being
able to bear testimony to the moral worth of
many OF the great men among our political OPP
ponents. We do nevertheless believe that some
OF the Loco1oco principles have decided ten
dency to corrupt the public morals and that the
fact Of Wing departures from the path of recti-
tude being noted and held up to public censnre,
whilst Democratic culprits go unwhipt of justice,
does produce a most unwholesonle effect upon
the body polite. In support of the first of these
positions, we need but refer to the infamous and
corrupt sentiment of one high in Office and in the
confidence of the Modern Democracy that the
spells of political victory belong Of right TO
those who have been most active in securing the
holding out the offices Of the |
Government as bride, and securing allegiance
to party instead Of the institutions and interests
of the country. The observation of every intel
liggent man IL the community has doubtless long
since. convinced him Of the propriety of our
views in regard to the last proposition, and we
doubt not that the evils growing out Of the state
of things referred to, are sources of decided I'M
easiness to many rejecting and conscientious
Democrats.