Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-12-02
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M Esdfor Now that wo nre upon the eve Of
one Of the most important elections that has ever
occurred in Virginia, we By permission through
the medium Of your paper, to address . few adj
mcnitcry lines 10 the Rstv voters Of Berkeley and
the whole country. As one or the people, and an
humble voter too, We claim this Indulgence, with
out the fear Of mourning the charge Of prcsump-
ton or dictation II Is true we are rot Of that
class OF voters created by the New Constitution
but We well know what II isto have cur lust rights
withheld from as. for we have felt tive have
felt the modification and degradation Of disfran-
chisement We we'll recollect the day when we
cast our maiden vote when FIRST We proceeded "a
exercise the exalted right Of suffrage and never
can we--neser shall we forget the feelings Of in
dicnatiou that throbbed in our bosom, when our
Qualifications for such distinction were called In
question, and that toe by one Of those brawling
lovers Of the sdear people, real hot souled To-
eo-foco Others hnvc doubtless experienced SIM
liar sensations on the same account. But what
rendered it so peculiarly nauscous 10 us, was that
il emanated from those who claim all the sympa-
thy and love for the people, whilst IL affords a
most striking and convincing exemplihcation Of
the proverb that loud professions ARE seldom 10
be trusted 1t is too true that il has ever been
the policy OF the loco .focos to preach one thing
and practice another, and unfortunately for us
and the country they have been successful here
tofore. But II is hoped new political era has
begaii--and that henceforth the regcnerated and
masses will no longer yield to the
dominion of hyrachricy and tyranny But why
is II thew have SO long submitted to wrong and
oppression II would be unjust illibcral, false,
to accuse them ofa lack Of honesty or intelligence
but we must ask Why they suffer themselves 70 pc
improperly Influenced BY tricky demaSogues, I'M
principled politicians--by party who have trani-
pied upon their rights for nearly ccnturya II
they are the true friends of the people why has II
happened that in this good old Democratic State
of Virginia, where they have ever had the ascen-
dancy, and beyond whose limits the feeble groans
of whiggery have never been heard why is II the
people have not been deemed fit to be trusted un-
til now--in the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-one-- three-fourths Of
century after the formation and adoption Of our
first Constitution They have had the power at
any moment they conld have decreed it--their
word was the law Of the land, and they had only
to speak to be heard, only to command to be obey
ed and yet fur that long period Of time, embrac-
ing waste too long to comprehend, too gloomy to
contemplate the people were suffered to groan
under these unholy restrictions, to breathe, to
languish, yea, to die under their ponderous bur-
dens Their cries for redress have ever resound-
ed throughout these fertile plains and valley they
have echoed and re-echoel from hill-to hill, from
mountain to mountain, from Eastern, from West
ern from all parts of Virginia the suppiicating cry
of Reform, has gone up to the powers shat be;
but the voice was humble, feeble, sick with long
deprivation long long suffering and it was heard
not, or only to be treated with dsdain by their
fat, pampered interiors, Loco-foco Masters -
Yes, proud, naughty, dcspctic Democracy has ever
sat upon his lofty throne in this good old tried
true and valeut democratic State of Virginia."
and fourished his tryrannical sceptre over the
heads of thousands Of her disfranchiscd sons,
whilst with his syreen voice he sang hnzza for the
peoples rights, huzza for liberty death to the ty
rant--frce trade and sailors rights, but no bread
to the starving lrish--no meat to the poor famish
ing, dying sons Of the green fields Of Erin! o.!
Democracy where is thy magic power by which
thou slashest the people with the rod Of oppression
and deceit; and still they bow in servilc submis-
sion TO thy might, still they Worship at thy unho.
ly shrine. nor sigh for better lot Will thy
days of wickedness never be numbered Dost
thou think, .! Democracy day of Judgment will
never visit thee. Ii has been said stherc Is time
for all things and we believe the day has at last
come. when the Virginia Democracy will be sig
nally punished for their countless political wrongs
Yes we believe their day and generation are DER,
the people will decree 1t, and il must be So How
humiliating to our pride and patriotism TO reflect
that this sland of the free and home of tho brave
Virginia the mother Of Presidents, Of heroes,
Statesmen and orators: and the gibraltar Of Amer
lean democracy should have so long submitted to
the usurpation, abuse and tyranny Of those who
claim 20 be the only genuine disciples Of Jefferson
Madison and Monroe r.!
New voters here is practical democracy for you
with q vengeance. These are your dearly beloved
friends, your staggering advocates who denied to
your revolutionary sircs and granisires the rights
they fought bleG and died for. and sent them down
to their graves disfranchiscd and uncarcd for =!
Oh! democracy hast thou no shame, no remorse Of
consciencci Wherever democracy dwells there
tyranny reigns supreme For seventy Ave years
they swayed the political fortunes of Virginia. and
SO 10th were they 70 yield to the people so unwil-
ling TO surrender their power TO tho people Cha.
she has been last, one, among the thirty -one
States Of this Union TO submit to the extension Of
the right of suffrage, and the election of all off,
GERS. Her ever faithful loco-foco sister, South
Carolina, is the last in the great race Of Reform
She too like Virginia is fearful OF the wrath OF the
people, and prefers the evils she knows to those
size knows not of. In South Carolina there never
has been an organized wing party, everything is
democratic save the masses who are nothing.
three-fourths Of the people being DISTINGUISHED,
and nine-tenths of the Offices conferred by APP
pointment There is democracy in oil its beauties
lin all its rich trappings in all its glory! Oh,
democracy thou art indeed beauty! Thou art
truly worthy Of the people devotion! Oh, DEM
ocracy how variagated thy colors, how different,
how various, how contradictory, how loud thy
professions, how base, how false, how recrcant to
thy promises how deceitful and hypocritical to
tho toiling people, ever pledgng, never perform
ing; ever the same where thy sway is undisputed
anything every thing, all things or nothing where
it suits thee Such is democracy, feebly but cor
rectly portrayed, and hidcous me nster il is.
New voters IL is Cor you to say whether you
sanction this long siege Of dcspotsm. 1t is for
you to determine whether you sanction policy
which has prevailed in Virginia for near q centu-
ry, 1t is for you to decide whether the party who
adopted and sustained such doctrine have any
claims upon your sympathy when they had none
for you-ncno for your fathers. New voters the
hour Of strife is here the contest is hot the clouds
are lowering, but despair not sunshine will re-
turn, the storm will pass DER, aud the happiness
and glory Of victory win drown the recollection
Of our expressions and tolls. In moments ofdoubt
or dependency, let the political deprvations and
wrongs endured by you and your deceased fathers
at the hand Of your loco-foco Masters arouse your
dropping energies, and inspire your bosoms with
hope and confidence Keep it ever In your minds
that defeat will be the success of our old enc
mics and oppressors Remember your prosecutors
at the polls, and make them feel that they have
had their day and generation, that they have
oeaped through long and unbroken series Of
years luxuriant harvests and now that new era
has begun they must yacate their places aud give
way to others, to the needy and hungry, whose
long sufferings will doubtless make dainties Of
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