Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-04-29

Baltimore, and uiweekIy papers from
Richmond and Washington.
Sir il NAV with truth be said OF that
people what Percles boosted of his favorite
Athenian democracy, that the humbIest
mechanic in the district is capable OF act.
ing with intelligence upon the highes, in.
teres,s Of the republic.
Now, sir these people, who are precise
" such as have described them 10 you
intelligent, sagacious. and with large inter
est involved in the issue of our delibera.
tions--desire TO see government so fran.
ed as 10 conform. in all OF lis provisions,
to the principles OF an enlightened and
well.regusted liberty, to see government
SO framed that while their proprietary in.
terests shall be adequately protected, the
rights OF others shall no, be needlessly
trampled upon and despised. They are
no wild and visionary Believers in the per.
fectibility Of men. They know be pos.
sesses passions and iDfirmilies which must
be placed under the restraints OF wise
and prudent government They are prac.
teal men, and they look upon the subject
Of government with the eyes Of practlcsl
craftsmanship. They are neither to be
mised upon the one side by the vapid APP
peals OF the noisy demsgogue, nor caioed
upon the other by the false and spurious
pretenlions Of those who profess TO be The
advocates OF property. They desire to see
no distinctions established in your organic
law, by which wealth, either in individuals
or in districts, shall be dignified with any
special and peculiar political powers and
privileges. They do not desire it, because
they regard il as unnecessary TO the SAFE
ty of their inlerests--because 1t would be
unjust and offensive 20 their fellow men,
and they believe that whatever, in pop
ular government, is unjust and offensive
to alsrge portion oitheir fellow citizens, ne.
must cessarily be inexpedent and unwise;
and because, il such distinctions were de-
sirable, so far as any real or positive power
can be given to property in the organza-
ton OF your government, it is now Who'll
lv lmpraclicable and unsttaiuabe in this
Commonwealth, as think shall most
satisfactorily show. beg leave 10 assure
my distinguished friend from the county
Of Loudoun (Mr. JANSEY) that they look
upon every scheme IN your State govern
ment--professing TO give Representatives
influence to property. while at the same
time il denies to that property any voice
in creating that representation at the polls
las something very lille short OF poiili.
cal quackery-very little short, although
not so intended, OF an inposture upon the
public creduliiy. They believe that the
b,rhakf socuritu a. bic n ,,ronart, con have
in any community, is 10 be found in gov
errments based upon the will and affections
of a vrtuous and patriotic people--in
hichevery Just and wholesome Limitation
is imposed upou the agents OF government
in which a wise and benefceni system
of laws is administered BY pure, upright,
and independent, judiciary; government
under which all are left a, liberty to in
dulge the Instincts OF their nature in the
honest acquisition OF property, and where,
consequently all must ieela mutual inter
est ia preserving i, from violence and ag-
gresson Sir, these people are not mere
" practical men--lhey are practical repub-
licaus. They regard the people as the
true source and fountain Of power, aud
governments, only SO far legitimate and
free from the dangers ct abuse as they rest
upon their will, and derive their authori.
ty from their consent. In their estima
too, TO use the language Of an eminent
British writer:
Power in the people is like light in the
sun--native original, inherent, unlimited
by anything human. In their agents it is
but the reflected light of the moon-bor-
rowed, delegated, limited by the will of
the people. who are alone responsible for
its exercise 10 their God, themselves be-
ing the losers if they pursue false
scheme OF policy"
Sir, these people are not merely pracii.
cal men and practical republicans, but
they are thoroughly and truly Virginian 10
all their sentiments and feelings. They
love the State, and they love every part
Of the State. They know no distinction
between east and west. They admire all
that is worthy Of admiration in your east
ern character, and they admit that there is
much that is worthy of the highes, sdmi-
ration. They feel proud ofthe public men
to whom you have given birth, of their
expansive patriotism, shining abilities, and
God like virtues. They glory in the fact
That Henry slanguage is their mother tongue,
And Lees great name compatriot therown.
Yes, sir. such are their feelings, bot
they love Their western brethren also -
They admire their hardy enterprise Of char.
acter, their elastic energy, their irngallty,
their industry, their abiding disposi-
lion, their soundness ofn,ellect, their pa
triotism. They sympa'hise with them in
the question now under consideration, and
they sympathise with them TO that extent
that they mean 10 stand by them in all the
phases which this controversy may as
sumo.
With lhesn views before me OF the SEN
tlmenis and wishes OF my constituents,
in all Of which most heartily concur,
am called upon TO select plan ofgovern.
ment best calculated to guard and protect
their interests. Yes, sir. as the gentleman
from Halifax (Mr. EDMuNps)has truly
said am here to act for them Ito see TO
their interests But whilst admit that my
primary obligation is TO look TO the inter
ests and wishes of those whom ] immedi-
a,ely represent, and from whom | hold
my commission | by no means concur
with that gentleman that the horizon of