The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-01-28

now united, victorious, happy and secure unoei hc
administration of President Jackson; shall IL dis-
band, and fall to pieces the instant that great man
relires This is what federalism hopes oreteis, pro
notes, intrigues, prays, and pants Tor oha', inns
bc-and through whose fault Shall sectional pre-
udices, lust of power contention for office (that
banc of freedom shall personal preferences so am
liable in private life, weak in politics, shaii lleSe
small causes-these Lpu;ian tactics-be suffered
to work the disruption of the democratic union 10
separate the republican of the South and west, from
his brother, of the North and East and IN that
separation, to make opening Tor the second
restoration of federalism under its alias d,efus OF
whggism) and the permanent ensavemcnt OF the
producing, and burden bearing classes of the COM
munity!
! Bear with me if speak without disguise, and say,
if these things happen, it must be through the iaut
of the South and West.
Here the facts:
1t has so happened that, although every Southern
President -four in number) and the only western
one Through his two terms) has received the warm
support of Northern Democracy, yet no Northern
i President has yet received the support oi the
South and West. Hitherto this peculiar, and one
sided result has left stlng-created no heart
burnngs-in the bosom of Northern Democracy
because it was the result, not of sectional bigotry
but of facts, and principles. The administration OF
the two Northern Presidents were alike offensive to
lTepuDncdnS Oi all quarters, anu "Cio P"' WV" "y
the joint voices OF q united Democracy.
But suppose this state of things now to be chang
cd and q democratic candidate to be presented from
the North ought that candidate to be opposed by
the democracy of the South and West! suppose
that candidate to be coming as near to the JET
fersonian standard Ito say more might seem invid,
ious to say that much is enough for the argument
suppose such candidate to be presented ough
the democracy of the South and West to reject HIM
!, do n "A
monopolize the Presidential Office and to go or
for an indefinite succession after having already
possessed the office for forty years. out OF
What would be the effect of such stand, taken by
the South and West, on the harmony of the Demo,
cratic partyl Certainly to destroy it? What woulo
be its effects the harmony of the States Ger
tainly to array them against each other
What would be its effect on the formation OF par
ties 7 Certainly to change it from the ground o
principle to the ground of territory to substitute
geographical basis, for the political basis, on which
parties now rest Could these things be desirable
to any friend of popular government; to any con
| sderate, and rejecting man in the South or West
G On the contrary, should not the democracy of TIT
South and West, rejoice at an opportunity to SHOW
themselves superior to sectional bgOtry, devoted t
G principle intent upon the general harmony inacces
sble to intrigue, or weakness; and ready to sup
C port the cause of democracy, whether the reprcsen
tative of the cause from this or that side OF
t river, mountain
e A Southern and Western myself, this is tn
state of my own feelings, and rejoice to see tina
G your convention has acted upon them And If, who
have here written land which could not hav
d written if l had accepted the most honorable an
: gratifying nomination of your convention IT thu
letter. too long car st, OCCASION, but too short for m
feelings if il siuntrbutc to prevent the disruI
: ton of the republican party, and the consequer
loss of all the advantages recovered for the constu
ton and the people, under the administration of Pres
: ident Jackson, then shall feel the consolation
: having done better service TO the Republic b
a refusing to take, than do by taking
= office.
= Hoping, then, my dear sir that the nomination {
your convention may have its full effect i'll favor
Mr. Van Buren,, and that it may be entirely forgotten
: far it regards myself, except in the gratet'
y recollection of my own bosom. Iremain, most trul
= and sincerely yours,
d. THOMAS II. BENTON.
= Major General Davis, Manchester, Mississippi