Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-24
EsDEzVsGAEI.
From me Poi;tical Arcna.

CltiZCnS, discussed H. |
hours pfotcHs'ons to the Presidency we will n,w
proceed to cxarnine those OF Mr. Van Buren, In
thus GEer' '-a.srn, shall continue to speak with
freedom, but TRUST with no unnecessary harshncss
fcc oui unconscious OF any feeling like porsonoI
hostility TO either OF tho gentlemen
lhe character, which Mr.. Calhoun has lately ac
CURED among the small class Of cool observers for
po!ilc1l management and IA want OF that frankness
AMI lar dealing he was originally believed to nos
EeSS has always been given by the public to Mr.
N@n Buren,. The very SouLrigHet of s'NIayician."
winch he has acquired among his opponents affords
oStNenc" That Inc possesses the qualities att rihu,eJ 10,
hun; Tor though it would not lie fair TO take =
7'sn'a character altogether from his enemies. vet
their very prejudice and ll-will iuStnctvely choose
out those points Of his clarac cr for ttac, in which
10 Is most vulnerable. Mr.. Van Buren,, then, must
10 ranhod IN Tie class of cunning politicians who
rely moro Tor their success the crafliucss of the
FOX 'hnn clthcr tic strength Of the lion or the in
noccnce Of the dove. Yet ii is likely cnourh that
tins defect III his character has hccn over rated nn6
tnat ne often has credit for schemes and designs
which no never formed.
We must not then condemn him on his rcncr,l
rcputo'lon but test his principles, moral and poli
teal, by his conduct. When tried by this standard
there seems 10 be much to confirm the public i'm,
preston of his character.
IL We 10 credit the statements of NIessrs
Borricn, jngham and Branch, circumsiantiaI and
consistent as they are, against the sweeping denial
81 Col johnson Gas i have previously endcavored
to shcw we bound to do, then Mr.. Van Burcn
did deliberately attempt to deceive the people of the
tA!tcd States IN assigning false reason fer his re-
slgnation of the office Of Secretary OF State He
not only tried 10 conceal from the public what is
now Ecncr1lv believed to he the real cause of the
cnIro change Of the cabinet, but also the unquos-
'i.aah'o fact of want of harmony in the cabinet
Although his meaning is conveyed in the samo
confused and mystiiying language which dstin-
guishcd Oliver Cromwell, and which was probably
IN part unintcnorGl, vet, when it has been repeat
cdiy and attentive!y read, it unquestonably means
That he had been placed, by the public voice. in the
list OF the candidates tor the Presidency, after Con
Jackson, by reason of which he was az, object of
jealousy and hostility of the friends of the rival can
dldacs 80 long rs he continued Secretary of State
the administration aSsai!cd through him. and
all its measures were Judged in uncandd spirit.
md msrcprosentod to the nation; that to put sop
10 tHls state Of things, unjust to Gen Jackson
and so injurious to the nation, he must either re-
sign ms place or surrender his future claims to the
presidency, (''distranchisc" himsclf) and "a tho
last could not fairly be required expected he had
chosen 10 take the other course, which he iiatterad
himself would cure the mischief, and which lie hon
Cd would prove warning to tho nation and an CT
ample to others so as to prevent any future cand-
da'e Tor the presidency again becoming Secretary
Here not only different reason from the
true one assigned for his resignation but one
which was arttully Intended TO exhibit hi. own
conduct in favorable contrast with that of Mr. CLAW
whose expression of 'safc precedent" applied TO
defend his vote for Mr.. Adams, had been disinpe
nousiy interpreted intended to apply to his
own case, and TO prepare the public mind to trans
Ter ann from the office of Secretary of State 10 that
nng exhibited III public paper TO so little purpose
II aimed to screen the weakness of Cen jackson
from the people, TO turn that weakness to his own
account, and to give = sure blow to \ rival and
1t failed in all three objects.
Ito must also be considered as party rcspons;
Die Tor tAo"e expressions i'll Mr.. McIancs cores
Pohdohce, and IN the instructions 10 that pnntlc
man, which reflected on the preceding administr,
ton, and which have already noticed for the mr.
pose OF conforming. Here was another opoortnni
ty OF serving his rival i'll turn with the noople
%iu, III is e@Gerness to further his own views, the
dignity OF the nation was forgotten.
Nor can doubt that the Presidents scbon,o
~ treasury bank was the suggestion of Mr.. Van
ouron, Tor the resemblance between some of the
features o. That project and the safety fund systep,
WiicA ne !l'st introduced TO tie notice of the legis
lbturc In New ork is too strong for us not TO re-
I'T tlc!n To Il co ninnn parcnagc. On the subject
oi banking generally, and of the u States, Phi
III particular, know, fellow citizens that Won arc
greatly divided and that small portion of Won
consider oil banks injurious, and this bank uncon
stltuilOnal.
But though such!nay be your op:nion. ~, sure
Ii is not your wish sii!c all discussion Of i,,csc
questions. All that concerns vo II, relation to tho
bank Is the public good, and that must he promoted
ny discussion ii your objections are well founded
taoy VIII thus be sustained and if thcv are nm
iodnGod You do not wish them sustained What
apology then you find for the administrator
papers, and those who influence them, for COM
planning that the officers Of the bank have been ac
l!Fo In circulating among the people arguments in
favor oi their own institution, and against that
winch the President would substitute for III SUP
posing that the public was not materially Interes
led lin the question, and that only the interests of
TIE corporation were involved, it would seem
syringe TO deny them the privilege, allowed to the
YcfieSt criminal of defending himself; but when If
IS rccoected that dissatisfaction is intimately con
necled with the fiscal, commercial and monet,
fy concerns OF the country, the public has direct
interest In giving the subject most full and thor
o"gh Investigation. Ye! editors calling themselves
republican, and even your public printer have NOT
been o ln ham e.
jig thrir views Of the subject to the pcon,e Tho
President may iorsooth, attack this institution nv
t"c welglt which must always attach TO the opin
ions OF him who has had the SUI rarcs of morn than
hail the nation, and who has an annual patronage
10 the amount Of several r1iiiions-hc NAV avail
himself oil the public curiosity to read his OPENING
message Tor the sake of transmitting his views and
arguments TO every corner of the Union-he NAV
Nlter tnd;nT that Inc derive no support from
inc represent atvcS either ohe states or the peopIe
fcI'Hfac lis attacks, 81 present his favore scheme
IN Term to cludc former obections;yet notwithstan
hHg AL hs,thc individuals whose institution is TINS
hsF'l!ed, whose property is affected, whose utility
Is denied, and whose fair dealing is called in oues
Ton, shall not be allowed to defend thcmseves-tol
f'c" ih1i inc complaints against them are unfoun
's"-thht Gjc past and present services have been
"noefFGlice-that tho Substitute proposed for the
present bank Ey tho President would he far less
G'eiu! and a thousand times moro dang crous The
Arguments 10 establish these points addressed to the
impartial good sense Of the American pcopIo If 10
not &: they should hear, and schemes which both
houses OF Congress have pronounced pregnant
with mischief and corruption may he circulated At
the public expense, while the individuals whose
Interests affected bv fl,c gang scbo,,cs H.