Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-10-27

-misrnle, rather. 1t is cause for con.
graduation, that the issue can be met
with sc little to disturb or mislead the
Judgment, on the part of him who has
exposed his country to the modification
of considering it. Mr.. Van Buren, has
no claims upon your gratitude, nor can
his character inspire your admiration.
He has been long a politician, but his
course has been distinguished by no
instances ofpatriotic devotion, no indi.
cations of uncommon ability, or supe.
rior wisdom and knowledge of public
business. Few public men have chan.
ged so often Their opinions on grave
subjects-and it is impossible therefore
to rely on any opinion which he may
now avow. He is represented, indeed,
as always cheerful and graceful at a
bow-a courtier whom it is hard to re-
sist and not easy to offend-of whom
it has been told, that a high per.
sonage, having the power to reward
affection, believed himself the object
of his loce. Conceding to him these
accomplishments, and others of a high.
er order, still his is not a charnc.
ter which the sturdy independence,
the vigorous intelligence, the plain
frankness of our people, would propose
for imitation. In the former address,
we examined his public life, and it ap-
peared from the review, that he could
not be trusted with the protection of
Is your steadfast principles, your fixed
interest, your cherished and unchan-
ging political doctrines" Take the
Bank-towards which, now it has pas.
sed away, r~epudiatcd and condemned,
he has exhibited a spirit Of fierce and
intractIble resentment can you trust
him not to revive the odious institution
in another form, whenever a number
large enough to threaten his POPULAR.
ty shall demand his cooperation p
What did he say Of it in the plenitude
of its strength, when your opposition,
earnest as it was, appeared hopeless
and desperate Did he come to your
assistance? Nay, failing in that, did
he content himself with a vague and
qualified support of lis a~dherents,
your adversaries? Hear him" The
question of the constitutionality of a
Bank is settled, and that the power
must stand a successful Interpolation of
the constitution" Aye, that val his
declaration in his place in the Senate,
and as he chose the time, and made the
occasion to proclaim it, it would have
been regarded as derogatory to sup.
pose, that after a short interval, he
would and retract his opin-
ion. What has he lately said Much,
it is admitted, of what an anti Bank
man might be expected to say, and
something which such a n in his Sit
uation would not say. He parades the
name OF the President, his august pa.
iron, before the public, as n conscious
gifts rower, and ever prone to invoke
its protection, might be expected to do
and submit to be considered as the ants
bank candidate. At a time when there
is no bank, and the people, so far from
meditating a renewal, are resolved
against it, he disclaims the existence Of
any feelings in its behalf; and now,
that the enemy il overcome, offers
himself as executioner. When he ex-
pressed the opinion which we have
quoted, he regarded the constitutional
question as then settled I; We have now
his authority for believing, that he con-
siders the question settled adversely to
his former impressions. Numbers,
then, settled the question in both instan-
ces; and if the majority shall again
change sides, he who follows the jus
majoris may be expected once more to
change his opinions.
Take the question ofSlavery. What
has he said or done to attract to him.
self the commentator or good will Of,
Southern plantersl He was in favor
of the Missouri restriction-that is at
tested by his acts in the Senate ofNew
York. He entertained the opinion that
the free negro and mulatto was entitled
to stand by the side of the citizen at
the polls, to raise his voice, and to
cause his influence to be felt in the as
sembly of the people, to select their le-
gislators, and other public officers
That is attested by his acts in the con-
~vention of New York. He admits the
authority Of Congress to abolish Slave
ry in the District Of Columbia. That
is attested by his published correspond
ence. True he accompanied the adj
mission of the authority with a decla-
ration in effect that it would be mex
pedient and unjust to exercise the pow
er. But if Southern rights might rest
secure in that concession, still, who
could rely upon a politician to adhere
to his impressions, respecting the erpe-
diency and justice Of measure, who
was so remarkable for his versatility
We have alluded to one instance OF a
change Of opinion (; take another not
less remarkable. His partizans alledge