Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-07-21

lne our great object, radical change IN the adj
min>rarion of the government. Tins can only he
Effected by means of the presidential rr, ton: for
under the prescott state OF things, aud thu cSaggc-
rated and ovcrslnlowing Importance which that
officer has acquired IN lie governments the whole
complexion OF the administration depends mateii-
ally on the character and qualifications of The presi-
dent lie i, not only regarded rs the chief exc
ent,e officer, aud the dispenser of patronage, but
by strange pcrvcr>ion Of III principles OF our
governments the president, aud not the people, Is
the source Of all executive power and upon his
notion OF his prcroenrivcs, he exercises unlimited
sway over all subordinate officers. This fact Is OF
itsclt sufficient, to render him almost omnipotrnt,
and all attempts TO reform the government, which
do not begin AZ the fountain head, mus, ncccsSdr-
" provc uuuatnrv.
THESE considerations lead naturally to aNlcw
of the principles involved in the approa' hing pres
dcntal election, and al the character at the PRONE
ncnt candidates Tor that exalted station The
candidates are three IN number, w: Martin Van
Buren, of \. York; Hugh l.. White of Ten, aud
" am II Harrison Of Ohio. Il Is not Our rur-
so>e to 90 into any detailed view al til" relative
merits oi lin ~ individuals, nor can We permit
ourselves for u moment 10 descend into the n,"na
al controversy for thr purpose al discussing alleged
personal dement's We have nothing To do with
the United States, aud III thai relation We
shall cndcavor to discuss lhcr lrc,cnS'on' fan
"; fer u respect to ourselves no less 'han due
regard tor the hirh station Ia which they nrpnr.
would forbid that they should be treated with in
DIGNITY
The pr,on,on, OF tho first named candidate.
Mr.. Van Buren,, are, III onr orlnfon. obnoxious I"
many ln>ul nountah' objections. To say nothing
Of the very cqui, ocal ntli ndc IN which he stands
10 the subject of abolition, subject Of the
deepest interest Ia Virginia, and irauglt with
the most momrutous consequences 10 the u
mon, we regard the SIMPLE fact that ho is nom
mated To the succession, by The presidents rs con-
,llulnc, in itself, most srtiou, objection to his
election.
The principle Of hereditary succession has been
most carefully Guarded asaln,l by our constitution,
It's trainers doubtless supposnr that merit should
constitute the only clalm to promotion, ANA mat
the people wcir the hes Judges oi hat merit, and
hence they have left the election ii public officers
III the hands Of the people. Bnl what would ihiN
principle avail, IT IN praclre II ~ In b" diSrcgni-
del aud the substantial power nj clecilnr his sue
ce,sor exercised by the president, whilst the mrrr
cmpy Formally oira,itying hls nomination IS re-
served Ia the people
In addition to lhrsr objections. We regard MI.
Van Buren, aS ulonrl6ed with, II mol the author ol
mini>trallon. We regard him tho father oi
that od,ous system OF prescription, and rewards
and punishmcnts, aud party ,assalasc, winch Is
known rs the system of New York tactics We
have looked too INTO his polilloa course for more
then twenty wears, dung Which time hc has been
prominent actor III political scenes, ana W" can
recognise enlarged and sinirsman.Ilkr system
of policy wllcI, owes is origin IL linn, and We
Al lo<s 10 ascertain even The cardinal principles
by which hlS political course has been governed
for we find him alternately advocating and oppo-
sing almost every prominent measure "i pnbhc
nolirv, as ia the fluctuations ot public sentiment
WIS popular otherwise. That he possesses u
snlilccn, degree Of talent and political information
IL administer the government with ability ""
readily admit but whilst accord to Inn these
qnallics we hook in vain 10 discovrt, in the
character Of the man, who could declare TO the
world that IT was glory enough for Inn Ia
have served under such chlcl * General Jack
son, ior that elevation of sentiment and dignity Of
conduct which SHOULD characterize a President of
the United States
From the election Of Mr. Van Burcn, therefore,
We could have nothing 10 hope, hui every thing to
fear. Even flc were disposed 10 reform the n
buses of the government, his party conn ms and
o lgaIiul are such as 10 oAlay his abluN 10 ne
compI,,h il. Bur he has solrnnly declared IT to
be his purpose, IN case he IS elected, 10 continue
TIN ABUSES winch have been introduced BY his a.
grucN, under the prctrN oi CARVING ont the prin
cipcs Of the present administration. II therefore
becomes all who dcprcca,c the existing condition
Of public affairs rs " II curse 10 the couWrv, to
unite in strong effort Ia defeat his election. For
ourselves, we sulrnnlv declare our conviction that
the election Of Mr. Van Buren, would prove in u
hph degree dangerous If not fatal to the liberties
ot our country, by sanciionlng the very abuses OF
which we have complained; aud We regard the APP
proachng election as presenting distinctly, for the
decision Of the people, tho issue, whether they
shall be continued or not
A very large portion Of the people Of the United
States have expressed their fixed determination To
resist 10 the utmost of their power the attempt now
being made to pcrprtuato the present system OF "N-
travagancc, prongacy and corruption. Already
they have arranged themselves under the banners
of different leaders, and, with confidence bccom-
inu the sac red cause in which they engaged, are
awaiting the contest. In the South. the friends oi
liberty and the constitution have selected as their
leader, the Hon. Hugh l.. White Of Tennessee, "A
man whose nfexi firmness, unsullicd integrity
and Roman simplicity of character appear I" them
to furnish the strongest guaranty of his efficiency
in promoting the great civil revolution which we
contemplate In tn, North and West, the advo
cafes Of reform have selected as the champion 81
their principles, Gen. William II. Harrison Of O.
hio--i man whose name is associated WIN me
prondc>t rccollccions of the American patriot, and
whose firm support Of the principles OF '"o Honth,
distinguished ability, spoileSs purity OF character,
and IIlusrlous public services, e'h ana h'',,"fV'
for more ,han forty years, would seem to Indicate
al. L..