Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-08-19
VOL. 52.-N0. 25.

/ say ~ NHntStS no uerFaNativh upon Us OF Tue
South. 1t is not our concern. Our fathers
SO established it under circumstances ard for
reasons which have already explained
! Aud the South has received lar less than its
proper share Of benefits under the constitu-
| iiou in which il is found Aloreocor it is
1 further answer TO the gontlemans question
/ to say that the basis Of Federal numbers is
not nov before Us il viii be time enough to
meet it when presented as il rests upon
wholly different principle,
But. sir, 10 return to the point was CEN
sidcring when the gentleman from Fauuuier
interposed his interrngatory. again ask IL
the ground upon which the gentleman from
Richmond seeks TO justify or cxcuse them
consistency involved ii his position, Is not
Justly offensive to that large class Of our pop
ulatien who are co nparativeiy at least. with
out property and who look alone to their
personal industry and enterprise for the means
of acquiring and maintaining position Of pc
cuniary independence! To examine it lit
to more closely. How stands the case p
The excess Of political power to be enjoyed
BY men Of this class in tire East, over that Of
their brethren Of like condition in the West.
is accorded to III m, not personal right, or
even by virtue Of any property owned by
them They to get it through the wealth
of their rich neighbors II is offered MS
bride to them to join in despoiliug their hreth-
rem of the West Of their equal rights us equals
and as freemen
This, in my judgment is fair statement
Of the gentlemen's argument, when carried
out to its legitimate bearings. The spirit Of
manly independence that dwclls In the bosom
of every genuine republican must revolt at IT,
Whenever the subject is properly understood,
our Eastern friends Of the middle and lower
classes. ! am persuaded. viii spurn the exer-
else of political power upon such terms. -
They viii not, in the matter Of political rights,
become the beneficiaries Of any men or class
OF men They will remember that ac-
cording 10 tho theory aud spirit Of our
free government. their Western brethren nre
alike with themselves the renl sovereigns of
the land, without respect to the amount Of
property held in the respective sections of
State.
The true and Just sentiment on this SUBJ
iect, when applied to the men Of the West. is
at once beautifully aud forcihly expressed in
the following lines Of the patriotic Scotch
bard-thc peasant Robert Burns
awhst though Gu namely fare we dine,
Gle fools their silks, and knayes their wine,
4 mans a man for a. that.
For a. that and a that,
Their tiuscl show and a that,
The honest men though POOR.
u king o men for u that,
And again 81 aa3
'srhe rank isbut The ruinea's ssamp,
The mans the gowd for a. that" hMr
This. SIR is the sentiment and ftelirg that
ought, SO long as we remain free and indie
/ pendent people, to be cherished IN the bosom
! OF every man. 1t is the sentiment of the
| people whom have the honor to represent.
| And il furnishes full and complete solution
to the problem which seems to have puzzled
more than ono gentleman Of this boty-why
people, situated as ours both in respect to
slaves and other property. should have sent
her white basis delegates. They recognize
to the fullest extent the maxim, that in poll
! ties at least, t aa5
1.-The honcs, man though ere sac poor,
Is King Of men for a that"
Equality of political rights is cherished
principle Of true democracy. Its violation
cannot stand long against the progressive
spirit of this age The doctrine of assigna-
bility of political power is a novel one at
least but when understood in its practical APP
plication it win revolt not only those from
whom the power is unjustly withheld, but also
those among whom it is proposed to dlstnb-
ute it is a boon.
Let not gentlemen raise the cry Of dema
goguism against this course Of remark Ii is
strictly IN reply to the ground upon which the
gentleman from Riehnond has placcd the
justification, or rather recommendation ofthls
mixed basis. No man. more than myself,
abhors any attempt to excite luminosity aud
ill-teeling between the poor aud rich, The
case is simply this. an igducement is held
out to tie men withop. property Of the East,
to unite in withholding from our Western
brethren what they claim 70 be their just
rights. and tC.se merely pointed out the
personal der. ada,i0n involved in such pro-
position Have | gone beyond the lipe Of
proprcty 10 this course Of remark Has IL
not been forced upon Us II is not q legiti-
r.ate argument to show that this mixed basis
i. scheme now, for the first time presented in
its unmtigated dcformity, is at war with that
spirit of selt-respect, that individual dignity
Of character without which no one is iit to DO
freeman? A spirit aud feeling as ! main
tain, that ought to be preserved and promo
ted, and developed. aud cultivated, aud cher
+ ished in framing all Of our institutions; and
further that any principle which has the e.
feet Of degrading or lowering an honest poor
man in bis own estimation, OF in his relations
to his more wealthy neighbor is wrong. and
anti republican. | mean no offence to any
one But these are my convictions, and |
hesitate not to utter them boldly and without
reserve.
Turning again to the West. will they. or
ought they to submit to what they deem a
degradation? 1t is in vain TO forget tho
lesson taught by the aut..or Of lhs Bin Of
Rights, when he tells us these men hayo
their preindces and their passions as wa
have Equality Of political power is their
\ right; they demand il and unless we give
1t, IN tho language of George Mason they
will rebel" ! win not say they will. or ought
to separate OF dismember the state. Hesv-
EN- forbid No. not this. but they will reb-
el in feeling; they viii become entapeled
and alienated in sympathy and kindly regard
to their Eastern brethren. J hs bond Of