South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-11-22

knowing and penetrating in their own
conceii, whom of all mankind it was
most easy to deceive--one had only 10
tell them the truth. They interpreted
mems actions aud words after the meth
cd Of interpreting dreams !; namely, by
coatraries. They especially insisted
on the application Of that rule Of inter-
probation TO his actions and words.
He had been we'll informed, that bis
disclaimer Of all pretensions of fitness
for the Presidency, had been imputed
TO vanity; and his declaration of re-
luctance to be put in competition for the
office, had been considered as proof of
an inordinata ambition of it. They
thought him so blind as not to see, that
the course he had pursued, and was
pursuing, led not towards the Presiden.
cy, but directly from il. They thought
that if he had practised none of the
fraudulent articles Of ambition, it was
because he was such a simpleton that
he did no. know how, not because he
knew, condemned, and deiessed them,
as every man Of honor ought and did
and above all, they thought il evidence
Of the height Of presumption in him,
that Others had thought him worthy to
succeed such q man as Gen. Jackson,
and had presumed TO name him as
competitor ofsuch a man, forsooth, as
Mr.. Van Buren,
The abuse they were heaping upon
him, might, he said, detract from his
reputation in the eyes of the world
such abuse had furnished the fame of
better men ; but he trusted it could
never subdue his splitter, what bis
enemies were pleased to call "his pride"
this passions" still burning, as they
said, with as intense heat as in his
youthful days. Yes, indeed, the in.
born pride Of free mantle passion
for Government Of Laws-the detes-
tation of a Government of Will-,he
1oveof civil liberty and public virtue
the hatred of corruption--were yet
burning in his bosom and he trusted
the lust Of power or of distinction
would never smother them. Praise
might initiate Mr.. Van Buren's i'm
portance; but if the elevation were no,
in his sentiments and character, no
praise could elevate his soul TO the dig.
nifty Of the Presidential office-raise
him above the influence of faction.
end inspire him with a just sense of
the duties which President of the U. |
nited States owed to this great nation. |
II was not, certainly, out of Difference
for the superior merits Of that gentle.
man, that Mr.. l.. was anxious to de.
cline the competition. MIR. Van Bu-
ren's partizans, paying no regard to
decency, much more delicacy, them.
selves-and exac.ing none from their
leader-had counted, he we'll knew,
upon the delicacy of the situation 10 |
which others had placed him without
his consent, and were ready to raise |
the cry, that delicacy ought to put Il
gag upon his tongue, and fetter upon
bis opposition TO their favorite. He |
would not be SO gagged and fettered
and he took this occasion to avow his
determined opposition to Mr.. Van Bu-
ren's pretensions 10 the Presidency,
and his opinion, that the election Of
him to the office would be the last az,
gravation of political evil, that could,
under the present form Of cur Govern
ment, befal the country.
What services, he asked, had that
gentleman ever rendered to the nation
he did not ask, what services he had
rendered to any faction--that should
entitle him to the highest reward the
nation could besiow 7 What abilities
had he ever displayed, that fitted him
fer the chief magistracyf Upon what
foundation rested his claim to the gems
eral confidence of the Union, that
should place him at the head of affairs?
And, especially, what were the merits
on which he rested his hopes of the
sufrages of,he Southern States : lie
suggested these inquiries, and he would
suggest, too, the topics which the an.
awers to them would involve. Let
MIR. Ven Bureaus partizans commit
themselves if they dared, without wait
ing for Baltimore Convsntion--let
them enter, at once, into the detail
lei them tax their memory, let them
tax their invention, to give Us the most
plausible account possible of his pub
lie services. AS 10 his political hls,o-
ry before he came 10 the Senate Of the
United States, MIR. L. said, he never
had been able to understand the party
politics Of New YoIk, and he could
say nothing ahnut HIM. IF h;s nwn