Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-06-30

Sill risen, aud It remains to account for the quo mode
The first great undoubtedly, is the character
and ofhis native State to conciiate which
is primary object with every administration end ev.
cry Presidential asprant We need look no farther
than the SO electors Of New York for tho proxirnate
cause OF his selection Secretary of State Whether
ne desired reelection or not, the President must
feel every disposition to keep in good humor State
SO able to disturb bis administration. BY what means
Mr. Van Buren, had managed himself to the emnence,
which turned the eyes Of the President and even Of
tho Presidents party, towards him as his prime Mi
MISTER, without having attained the experience,
ed the monuments, or undergone the probstion which
IN all former instances deemed essential, it re-
qures scrutiny of his personnel character and politics.
to understand For this scrutiny neither feel in
clination or qualification. In the language of Ed
mund Burke, it may be summarily affirmed that he
was indebted for toa spirit and habit of low cabal
and intrigue" The Secretary is
"For hi, own breskias, he'll projco, scheme,
"Nor take his tea without sxaiagem."
With every advantage of geographical position, IN
unscrupulous accommodation to the times, selfcom-
mand that never makes personal enemy, a caution
that never commits sself upon doubtful results, On
tire prudence in talking, oil the wisdom that is con.
tanned IN the most comprehensive definition of cum
nng with the art of turning every thing that posi-
OILY can be turned, to his personal advanage-by the
force and unremltted exertion of these traits the
subject of these observations, has ,origgied himself
into eminence, it may be safely asserted without the
exhibition or possession, of single great, gen.
erous or striking quality. Were the value of men
tai qualities to be estimated by comparative success,
the life OF the Secretary might lead us to prefer fat
terry over plain DEALING trick and dexterty over rea-
soninG, tact over honesty, and management over wis
dom.
The selfish cunning of the man needs no iustra-
ton; If 1t did, we might recite the means he has sue
cessfully used TO secure predominating influence
over the mind of the President. 1t is well known
that this has been by his osentatious att entons to
one whom the President made it his darling object,
To force into circle ndisposed to receive her. The
obsequous attentions of the Secretary of State fa-
ciltated the important State purpose, and contribu
ted to secure partial If no universal success We
might mention another instance, in his lingering at
Albany, until the first fury of prescription was ex-
hausted; thus gaining the credit of moderation, and
avoiding any share of the odium, while his subse.
quent acts and previous limitations in the Senate
furnish the strongest presumptive evidence that he
was secretly using his influence enlarge the sphere
of prescription. To him too the nation is indebted
for the attempt to introduce the party machinery
which he had used in his dirty work in New York.
at Washlngton-for the philosophical attempt to
identify Republicanism and Jacksonism--for the
scheme OF turning the Post Office into partizan in
strument, and pander. The results of these move.
hients VIM be developed in CAUCUS nomination and
making Van Burensm, the onfy test or 1epu5iican
ism. Mark the end