Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-22
Extract Of . letter to the Editor, dated

teu, buti IN the present chaotic state Of parties
IS not 10 b. woDd cred az.
The formal nomination Of BENJAMIN Watkins
| Leigh, has turned speculation towards the chance
Of has successor rather to the examination Of
the extent to which the influence Of his name may
DC used tor the injury OF MIR. Van Baren's pros
poets. That Mr.. Leigh can be elected has mol
yet been assumed, as know. even By those who
are most jealous in pressing his claims to the
support OF the South. Whatever MIR Leigh's
exact notions may be upon the great questions
which have agltated the nation for the last two
years, one thing is eertain--that he is now con
sidered the notification candidate. That he
wishes to be so considered, very much doubt
But the choice Is not his-ior upon those who O.
pcnly or by implication, avow the South Carolina
doctrines, he must depend for support.
II this Be true, fear that Mr.. l. igh's nomi-
nation VIII have the effect Of adding TO. rather
than diminishing, Mr.. V an Buren's strcngth-t the
very thing, by the way, Of all others least de-
sired by the Nullifiers. At the present iuncture,
il seems to me that no man can defeat Mr. Wan
Buren,, unless II be Mr.. Clay, and as a coase-
qucnce, If, as we are assured by the Wing, Mr.
Clay is not aud viii not be a caadidate-thcn do
look upon the election of MIR. Van Buren, as
morally certain, unless rendered otherwise By
some future combination. Of which at present
there Is no prospect. With the best lights | now
have, such is my conclusion. Let me Illustrate
the position.
Suppose Mr.. Leigh to be a leading candidate
iD opposition TO Mr.. Van Buren, and such he will
b., if Mr.. Clay is not in the field-AIr l.. will
nnquestionably concentrate Southern majority,
and will BE- considered the notification candidate
even should his precise sentiments be unav vowed.
Occupying that position, he absorbs the vote Of
the South, (Which would in no event BE- given 10
MIR. Van BUREN, while he can obtain no votes ia
the middle, northern and western states. A
large majority Of the two former, however re-
lrctantly, will be thrown into Mr.. Van Bureaus
Mr.. Mclean, The northern and middle states,
il is true, might prefer Mr. Mclean personally
to NJ Van Burcn-bnt The fear Of bringing in the
notification ndidate, viii prevent them from
voting for the former. Hating notification worse
than they do Van Burenism, and looking upon
Mr. Van Buren, as, in this supposed position Of
things, the only safe opponent 10 notification, his
support will b. vastly increased by that conside-
ration. We know that the proclamation has met
with especial favor in those sections of the Union
We know that it has added TO the popularity of
Cen Jackson, and wiped out many previous Of
fences, which were charged against his admins
tration. We know also, that Dir. Van Buren, is,
by the force of circumstances, identified with
the proclamation policy, and is the ayowcd ia
vorite Of General Jackson, whose right to choose
his successor seems now TO be conceded by
large portion of his adherents-and with strong
notification candidate, to take the wind out Of
the sails of any other individual opposed to Mr..
W
to the latter.
1t needs no argument 10 shew that the support
Of MIR. Leigh will be exclusively Southern. The
North, the West, and the centre, cannot sustain
him because he is identified with the ultra opin-
ions of the South. Those sections will adopt
what to them will appear the lesser evil, instead
Of the greater-Van Buren, rather than nullihce-
ton.
1t therefore appears TO me unquestionabIy GER
tain that the nomination of Mr.. Leigh, or any O.
Their strong notification candidate, must have the
eff, ct TO defeat the object of the nulliers, If that
object be TO reduce MIR. Van Burcn's strength.
If, on the contrary, the South could have been
content to decline entering the race with a
di-ate Of its own--if notification could be salts
fed to make the best of its limited power, there
is little doubt that the election Of Mr.. Van Buren,
could be prevented. Nothing can be more evil
dent than that Mr.. Van Burea is odious to the
Notification, Secession, or State Rights party
(calf it what you will, )if possible, more odious
than General jackson. To read the newspapers
of that party, or 10 converse with its members,
one would conclude that the defeat of Mr.. Van
Burens election was ITS primary object. But the
means to which they resort for the attainment Of
this object seem TO me pregnant with omens OF
defeat.
That the null fcaton party cannot by any pos
sibe combination of circumstances, elect their
man, be he who he may, is eyident-that they
desire to overthrow MIR, Van Buren, is equally
81 tutii CuiHDliatiOn Win muse VINO
are equally opposed to Mr.. Van Buren, and to
notification, is the only means by which he can
be defeated, is palpable TO the plainest common
sense. They ought to know this and act accord
ingly. They should not, for tn vain and empty
satisfaction OF having candidate of their cwn,
render the success of an individual whose princi-
Piles they abhor and contemn, as secure as he
could wish.
You II know that am no nullifier: Bat much
as dislike ths doctrines Of nullificat oaI slike
Van Burenism more. The intrinsic absurdity Of
the former, will, it seems to ne, prevent its
spreading TO any dangerous Xtent Bui the innate
corruption and venality of the latter, threaten
the purity Of Our government, and the very ioun-
dations Of public virtue. Hence any party com
bination that could be honestly brought about 10
defeat Mr.. Van Buren,, would b. sanctioned by
such desirable result
If il be true that Mr.. Clay will not BE- candi-
date, it will BIZ difficult if not impossible to de-
feat MIR. Van Buren,, because there is no other
man upon whom we can hope that all MIR. V. b. S
enemies will unite. Under this conyiction--nu
as could wish that Mr. Clay should r. alze the
noble rt tirement which he so eloquently descrb-
ed in one of his speeches last wintyr-nuch !
admire the sentiment which prompts him TO with
draw, CATER his glorious achievement Of a raj
triumph scarcely parallelcd in history from a
conflict in which he has met with so much inius.
tee and ngratitude: Much, say, as | admire
his determination to quit the turmoil Of political
should be permitted TO persist in his design
Divided as the opponents Of Mr.. Van Buren, are
at present, it is out of their power to make head
against the favorite of the President. ii is TO be
hoped therefore that Mr.. Clay's promise will be
revoked, and that he will suffer himself again TO
! BE- presented as candidate for the Presidency.
If in doing this lac should sacrifice his own wish
es, it will not be the first sacrifice he has made
to the good Of his country.
| 1t is amusing to hear the conflicting statements
Of the adherents Of the different parties in this
place The nullifiers insist that their sentiments
are daily gaining ground in Virginia, and refer
me 10 the tOasts given on the 18th OF July a very
fallacious criterion of public opinion. Our Old
friend p is fall Of zeal in the cause he has
so earnestly espoused, and sincerely believes, as
he told me the other day, that majority Of the
State Is in favor Of the doctrine. On the other
hand, C, that most thorough going Of polti-
cians as he is the bluntest Of men, says that the
State will go for Van Buren,, and Offers strong
proof of the the sincerity of his belief in the form
Of bet He is certainly on the safe side in the