Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-13

nent citizen, PROSTATE with disease and nhumanly as
that non .coinmttal
His early espousa of Gen Jacksons cause after the
election in the H. of Representatives in February, 1925
and steadfastopposition TO MIR Adams administration
was that non-committal? His prominent stand against
the Panama Mission, when that mission believed to
be rressiiby popular and pressed upon the Senate
to crush the opposition members; that also willy
piece of non-commtal policy' Ills declaration against
the Bank of the U $ in the year 1876; that the
duet OF man waiting to the issue before he could
take his sdes The removal of the dcposites and the
panic scenes Of last winter, in which many gave
way; and so many others folded tleir until the
struggle over, while MIR. Van Buren,, both by
ms own conduct, and that of his friends, gave
danted support TO that mastery stroke of the Presidents
is this also TO be called noncommitta line of conduct,
ana The evidence OF temper that the issue before
IT dccdes' The fact Isl this ridiculous and nonsensical
charge, is unfounded and absurd easily rcutcd
but turned to the honor and advantage of Mr. Fan Blu
rem that his friends might have the risk of being
suspected of having invented it, and put it into circua-
ton Just TO give others of his friends brilliant OPP
porunity of embazonng his merits il not that the
blind cnmity of his competitors has put the accusation
upon record and enabled his friends to cxcupae them
selves and to prove home the original charge against his
undlsputed opponents.
The obligations upon good men to unite when bad
men combine, clear in politics is in morals FL
deity TO this obligation has heretofore saved the republic
and was indispensable its safety than the
present moment The efforts made under the elder Adams
above thirty years ago. TO subvert the principles of
Government produced union of the productive and
burten bearing classes in every quarter of the republic
Planters, farmers aborers, mechanics with slight in
fusion from the commercial and professional interests,
whether this side that of the Potomac whether
East or West of the Allegheny mountains stood tsge-
ther upon the principle of common right, and the
OF common danger and effected that first great of
the Democratic Party which achieved the civil revou-
ton of $500, arrested the downward of the
vernmcnt and turned back the national administration
TO ats republican principles and economical habits.
The sagacious mind of Mr.. Jefferson well discerned,
in the homogeneous elements of which this united party
was composed, the appropriate materials for Republi-
can Government; and to the permanent conjunction of
these clements he constantly looked for the only insur
monn;able barrier TO the approaches of ogarchy and
aristocracy. Actuated by zeal which has been
eNcelcd, for the and pcrpetuity of the Demo-
cratic cause he abored assiduously in his high Office and
subsequent retirement in his conversations and letters
to comment, sustain, and perpetuate party, on the
union and indvisbility of which he solely relied for the
preservation of Republic. Ii the political pow
er, resulting from this suspicious union TO say nothing
OF several other occasons) which carried safely and
trumphanty through the late war; enabling the Govern
ment to withstand on hand the parayzng machna-
tons OF n disatected arisocracy and rePel on the
other, the hostile attacks of great nation
The first relaxation of the ties which bound together
the Democracy of the North and South, East and West
was followed by the restoration to power of federal
and the re-appearance in the administration of federal
doctrines and federal measures The younger Mr. AID
ans crept into power through the first breach that was
made in the Democratic ranks; fundamentally proclaim
ed the fundamental principles which lie the bottom of
ancenttederalsm and modern whiggism-''thc repre-
sentative not TO be palsed by the will ohis constituents
constitutional scrupes to be solved in practical bes-
sings 1.-TWO DOCTRINES of which would leave the peo
Pile without representatives and the other would the
Government without constitution. The ultra federalism
OF this gentlehans administration, fortunately for the
country to the reunion ofhose homogeneous clements
by the first union of which the elder Mr. Adams had been
elected from power; and this reunion Immediately pro-
duced second civil revolutions not less vital the
public than the first one, of lSO0; revolution which
indebted for the election of President who has
turned back the Government so far ms in his power
lies, to the principles of the Constitution and to the
practice of economy-who has directed the action Of
the Government to patriotic obects-saved the people
from the cruel domain of heartless moneyed power
--withsiood the combined assaults of the Bank and
ITS allied Satesmenand frustrated conspiracy against
the liberty and the prosperity of the people, but lit
tie less arocious in its design and little less disas-
trous IN ITS intended effects than the conspiracy from
which cicero saved the Roman people, and for the
Illustration of whch he hailed by Cato in the as
sembled presence of all Rome, with the glorious appel
lation of PATER PATRiE-Father of his Country.
1t has happened, that although every Southern
President, flour in numbcr and the only Western one
Grough his teIms) has received the support
OF Northern Democracy yet Northern President has
yet received the support of the South and West
Hitherto this peculiar and one-sdcd result has left no
stingcreated heart-bnnngs, in the bosom of Nor
thern Democracy becanse it the result of sec
tional bigoy bntof facts and principles The admins
trations of the two Northern Presidents alike often
siye TO republicans of all quarters and were put down
by the joint voices of animated Democracy.
But, suppose this state Of things to be changed
and Democratic candidate to be presented from the
North ought that candidate to be opposed by the De-
mocracy OF the South and West Suppose that candidate
to be one coming TO the Jefcrsonan standard
Ito say might seem invdious to say that much is
enough Tor the argument suppose such candidate
be presented ought the Democracy of the South and
West TO re- ect him? Could they do it, without showing
disposition to monopolze the Presidential Office and
to go for indefinite succession after having al
ready possessed the Office for forty years ont Of forty
eight? What would be the effect of such stand taken
by the South and West the harmony of the Demo
cratic party! Certainly to destroy What would be its
effects the harmony of the States Certainly to array
them against each other What would be its effect on
the formation of parties? Certainly change it from the
ground Of principle, TO the ground of territory! subst
tute geographical basis for the political basis which
parties rest
Could these thinps be desirable to any friend IF nonu
lar government any considerable and rejecting man
in the South West? On the contrary should not the
democracy of the South and West rejoice opportu-
nifty to show themselves superior to sectional bgotry
voted TO principle, intent upon the general harmony
inaccessible to intrigue, to weakness andfeady TO
support the of democracy whether the representa-
tive of the from this that side of river
or mountain? southern and a western myself
this is the state of my feelings and rejoice to sec
that your convention has acted upon them And if what
have here written, (and which could not have written
II had accepted the most honorable and gratifying nomi-
nation of your conyenton ithis letter. long for the
occasion but too short for ieelngs lift shall contribute
to prevent the disruption the republican party and the
consequent loss of all the advantages recovered for the
President Jackson, then shall feel the consolation of
having done better service to the Republic by refusing
TO take, than can ever do by taking, Office.
Hoping then, my dear sir that the nomination of your
Convention may have its full effect in favor of Mr. Van
Buren, and that it may be entirely forgotten far as it
regards MYSELF except in the grateful rccolccons ofmy
own bosom,
remain, mcst truly and sincerely yours
THOMAS III. BENTON
Major Gen. DAVIS, Manchester, Mississippi.
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