Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-11-06

ern States! lie suggested tueSc ihluit cS, oho "S
would suggest too, the topics which the answers
IN them would involve. Let Mr.. Van Buren's
partizans commit themselves, if they dared,
without waiting for Baltimore Convention-let
them enter, at once into the detall-let them
tax their memory, let them tax their lnven-
ton. to give us the most plausible account
possible Of his public services AS 10 ms poiiti-
cal history before he came to the Senate OF the
United States, Mr.. L. said, he never mad Deeh
able to understand the party pol'tics Oh view
York and he could say nothing about hinl' OF
his own knowledge; he only knew, that ne mao
been charged with having been, at different
times in league with every party, and; al az
times remarkable for his idelity-to hlmscli;
which, included, of course, fidelity to the ma
iority for the time of being. What DID me- IN
the Senate? Would his friend referto the sup
port the Jealous support, when ne gave .ne.e'
to the American System, in both It's branches,
and in its utmost EXTREMIST He voted for The
appropriation of money for Internal improve
ments-even for the erection Of toll gates on the
Cumberland road-so, at least, Mr.. L. had peen
informed, and believed land he voted for the tarH
of 1928. He contributed to turn out slngulariy
unpopuar administration, and to the election OF
Jackson to the Presidency-he contributed ms
eforts-for there were numbers equally acuVe
and more efficient; some of whom his ana the
presidents friends were now eXhaustlng them
selves in reviling Mr.. Van Buren, had his re-
ward. He>was appointed to the ONCE OIL oecre-
tary of State. And the only remarkable achieve.
ments that distinguished his administration OF
that department, that Mr.. l. remembered (oth-
ers might add to the list, il they could) were
|. thathe advised the president (for II must nave
been his advce-it belonged 10 ms piace) u az
point diplomatic agent TO Turkey to negou-
ate treaty, during the Session OF the Senate,
without asking its consent and advice as to the
mission of the agent directly contrary to MS
own declared opinion that such proceeding
was unconstitutional, in the famous deoate on
the Panama mission, on which occasion, MT.
Adams had asserted such power, but ABSTAIN
ed from the exercise OF lt-and q that ne ue-
liberately instructed our minister at LONDON 10
exhibit our party contests, recently terminated
by the election Of Gen. Jackson, to the British
ministry, as motive to induce them to favour
us in the then pending negotiation. The hrst
was a point of constitutional law, which this
was no place to discuss; he might refer Mr.. V an
Buren'S friends to his own speech on the SUI
iect. But, as to the second, the good sense, the
good feeling, Of every American citizen, could
decide without difficulty, and almost without
thought. The statesman who could wlllfuliY
and deliberately expose TO a foreign govern
ment, our domestic quarrels our party contests,
and as it were the weak side OF our institutions,
no matter. for what purpose,-must, IN MS
opinion be wanting in the dignity the magnan-
unity, the national pride, the generosity, that
became the American citizen, much more the
birh officer of State. MIR. Van Buren's good
nature if not his good sense and patriotism,
should have saved him from that exhibition OF
party feelings. Mr.. l.. by no means thought
meanly his capacity. His personal acquant-
ance with him was too slight, to enable him
to Judge of him from his own observation-but
he had never been able to discover, in any thing
that had been given to the world as what he
i tI,o Mr. Nnp RUrp S.I
the qualities Of a great and wise statesman; a
liberal comprehensive, long and wide reaching,
profoundly sagacous mind; and those COM
handing talents, and yet more commanding
virtues, which might control faction. and ex-
empt him from the necessity of following, in
order to have the appearance OF leadIng-and
il had appeared to him, that Mr. van buren,
was deficient in that which every man long
conversant in politics ought to possess, since il
was in every mans power to acquire-general
political knowledge. 1t had rarely If ever hap
pened, that he who acquired the reputation
Of cunning, deserved the fame of WISDOM
As for those talents which were so generally
imputed to Mr. Van Buren--thosn talents that
had acquired for him the eplthet OF the Arch Ma
gicinn-whch Mr.. L. superstitious enough
to regard as an epithet ofthe severest reproach-
talents to combine parties for mutually selfish
purposes, and to manage and direct their ope-
ratons to suit his or their ends of individual am
bition: to talents Of that kind, Mr.. L. said, he
could not give any portion of his esteem, re-
spect or confidence In his estimation, it was
not talent, bnt vice-for any man, with meaner
abilities than Mr. Van Buren, possessed, might
DO the same thing,-f he were reckless of the
fairness of his means to accomplish his ends-if
he would disregard principle, and aim only at
success-if he would only let it be known, that
he was willing to log-roll with any body who
would log-roII with him. Mr.. l.. said, that one
principal objection with him to the election of
Mr.. Van Buren,, consisted in the apprehension,
of which he could not divest himself that he
would be willing, or if unwilling would be COM
PEELED, to administer the government, upon the
doctrine recently avowed, that the victors are
entitled to the spos OF victory"-the detestable
doctrine, that the honors and emoluments of
Offices established for the service Of the people
should be applied to the service Of faction and
corruption.
Mr.. L. had some hope, that he should live to
see the time once more, when the patronage Of
the Executive would not be used to the odous
purpose of rewarding the Presidents own
friends, and furnishing the friends Of his prede-
cesSOrS or his councillors If Mr. Van Buren,