Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-07-23
WHOLE NO. 277.
THE PROSPECT BEFORE US.

\ The National IntelHgeRcer Of Satur-
day, closed series of well written arti-
ces under the above title, on questions
relating to the Presidency. In this the
editors express unreservedly their own
predictions among the candidates now
in the field. As such we present it to
our readers, fully persuaded that they
cannot but approve the course recon-
mended:-
! We might have ended these numbers
with the last, il onr readers had not some
right to expect of US to declare our own
preference between the Opposition Can
Gidates for the Presidency. This we
shall do without reserve.
Let US promise, however, so far from
having at all changed our own estimate
Of the POLITICAL merits and intellectual IA
bilhy of MIR. Clay, whom at the last
election, we earnestly supported for the
Presidency, that intervening time has in
our opinion, bat added to his reputation
as statesman, and enhanced his claims
upon the affections Of the people. IL
signal public services, stern republican
principles, and unimpeachable political
integrity, with thorough knowledge Of
men, qualify a citizen for the highest
trust in the gift Of IA free people, then 10
no citizen of the republic, at this mo-
ment, more eminently qualified to dis
charge the duties Of Chief Magistrate,
than Henry CLAY. In a Government
like ours, in which elections are free and
uncontrolled, (or ought to be) no citizen
can be allowed to have a claim upon the
highest or any other office; but, if to the
fitness Of MIR. Clay, for the station, and
the public services he has perlormed,we
add the persecution which, for several
years, he has undergone, because of his
devoted fidelity to his country and its
constitution, we are free to say, that il
he had been presented as a candidate,
no one could have been offered, whose
election we should have more zealously
or cheerfully advocated.
\ MIR. Clay, however, is not among the
Candidates who have, thus far, been put
in nomination for the ensuing election.
The prominent Candidates now fairly
in the field, between whom the oppo-
nents of MIR. Van Buren, are called up
on to choose, are Daniel Webster and
Hugh l.. White, each Of whom has been
nominated by two or more State Conven-
ttoAs. In addition to these, Judge NJ
Lean, Of Ohio, has been nominated by
his own State. General Harrison, ofths
same State, has also been nominated at
respectable popular meetings in Penn
sylvania and elsewhere; and other emf
nent citizens of different States have be-
sides been spoken of in the public jour-
nals as suitable Candidates. Happily,
our country abounds in men who would
do honor to the station, and whose quail
fications and claims would well compare
with one another. The nomination Of
Judge M'Lean, however, has not been
seconded in other quarters, and seems
indeed to have been rather tribute Of
respect and confidence from his fellow
citizens, than a serious call to him to va
cate his seat upon the bench of the Su-
preme judicial Tribunals: and the nomi-
nation of Gen. Harrison, though it has
called forth pretty general acknowledge
ment of his personal merits and services,
has not assumed the iormahty Of nomi-
nation by State Convention. II has,
in brief, become daily more and more
evident to us, that the number Of Candi-
dates announced, in opposition to the
Candidates of the Convention, is narrow
ing down to the two we have named.
Between these two, 1t can hardly be
doubted, by those who have paid any at
tcntion 10 the politics of this journal and
TO the public career of the citizen refer
red to, that MIR. Webster would be the
man of our choice. For many years,
we have admired the power Of his elo-
quence, rejoccd in the greatness Of his
intellect, and exulted in The loftness OF
his patriotism. For the last fifteen
years especially, that we have been more
aucntiveIy observant Of public men and
matters, we have never known Daniel
Webster to say or do an act inconsis-
tent with the purest integrity OF purpose
or morality OF conduct. What has above
all entitled him to our respect and es-
TEEN as an American Statesman, is, that
in all public affairs, during his arduous
service in both Houses Of Congress, he
has ever spoken and acted as n Repre-
sentative Of the whole United States
North, East, West, and South, have,
within the bounds OF his own country,
been to him but one point Of the COM
pass. The PUBLIC GOOD, the polar star,
by which be has always steered his
course, he has never suffered his eye to
wander from it. No tme-serving truck
ling Politician he, but ever the Cham
pion of Liberty and the Laws, defend
mo both. when thew have been most i'm