Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-09-18

ichts no one uenlcS-ln truth we DcncVe tneTe me-
yer was a more popular superintendent we fear
not to predict, that the more he is known, the
more will no be respected and esteemed
A FRIEND
ROGER BROOKE TANEY, ATTORNEY GE
NERAL.
We admit the defence of Mr.. Tancy's politics,
without hesitation reluctance. When We said
he fcderalist of the Hartford stamp, we were
guided by tho knowledge of his having been for
many years, the federal leader in Maryland, and by
Mr.. Jcffcrson's aodged declaration that the Ma
ryand federalists were worse than those of Mas.
sachusetts declaration which VIC have heard as.
cribcd to him in conversation. We arc no stran
gers TO the private worth of Mr.. fancy, and ne.
yer imagined or urged that his federalism should
have wrought disqualification for office, or that il in
any degree, lessened his claims to private or public
confidence In the days when the distinctions Of
Republican and Federalist existed in truth, and
when principles and measures of fundamental inn
Portance, depended upon the results of party con.
tests, we "ould not have supported MIR. fancy for
any political Office; but those days belong history
and when the country the old Federal party
dlsbanded, and its members ranged according TO
personal inclination on either side of existing part
les, knavery only, and interested design, would ar
rogate exclusive claim to Rcpublicansm for its
side, and impute exclusive Federalism to the other
II was to expose this despicablc attempt-to hold
up to mcri,ed scorn :he knavcs who were stalking
the ghost of the old Federal party before the owes
OF the American People to alarm them into jack
sonism--to unmask the interested designs of the
party in power, supported by a fraud palpable in
decd, but which they yet hoped might impose upon
and enlist the prejudices of tho ignorant that we
exhibited the fact, incompatible with the pretension
| to exclusive democracy, impudently set up
for Jacksonism by the Van Buren, prints-thot two
at least, of the Cabinet (proper) were old Federal
fists, and that these two, McLane and fancy, werc
now in the sole and undisurbed enjoyment of the
Government! !. The fact, in all it's component
parts, is undoubtedly true, and has not been, nor
will not be- denied. We demanded after this, TO
hear no more of the Republican Party. We now,
demand, the falsity of the assumption being unan
| swerably exposed, that the Van Burenites, whose
men McI.lne and fancy are, shall cease to throw
dust in the eyes Of the People. Let them employ
themselves to better purpose, in reconcng Van
Burensm to Virginia principles, and in generating
him ii they can, (for Jackson is nov but stalking
horse for his ambition) from having opposed the
Republican (not the Republican, Party, Mr.. Madi-
son and the War. Let them explain his conduct
touching the Missouri Restrictions, Let thcm
satisfy Virginia, that he was not an advocate Of
those restrictions. Let them publish his Tariff
Speech at Albany, in 1928. In fine, let them #
they can, show one good reason, but one, why
Virginia should support Mr.. Van Buren, for the
Presidency, in preference to the lustrous names
OF Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Writ TazewclI,
Hayne, Drayton, McDuffie--names which extor,
| the universal concession of eminent talent and
worth.
But, we hope MIR. Taney's apologist did not un.
derstand as, as urging ancient Federalism against
HIM, as an objection to his having received the
appointment which he fills. If we objected to
his and Mr. McLane's holding Office it was on
very different grounds, grounds which affected their
personal independence, but had no reference to
their capacity or to Federalism as a disouuIifica
ton. We expressed our admiration, that they,
known and confessed Foderalists, and gentlemen
of character, should degn 10 hold office under an
administration, whose presses and politicians uni
versaly stigmatizcd their party, its principles and
distinguished names, loaded it and them with every
epithet of reProach, ard sought to brand their adj
versariss with the distinctive appollation of Fede
rdlists, in which if they succeeded they appeared
TO think they had at the same time, overwhelmed
them with popular odium and distrust We won.
dered, having heard McLane and fancy represent,
ed as men of spirit, that they should be induced for
$4,000 year. and the honor (or ''glory enough" as
the Philosopher of Undertook sad) OF serving the
Greatest and Best, and having their counsel inva
riably ovorruled and vetoed by Amos Kendall g.,
Co., to put up with the taunts ceasclossly flung at
their party, and themselves members of it.
We wonder still, and find no other explanation
Of the phenomenon than that once before gave
that those gentlemen were in minority all the
days of their lives until Jacksonism RENTED their
political sins, when finding in old ago, how pleasant
thing the losVss and fishes were, they cannot find
it in their hearts TO resign them.