Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-10-27

- r. go 30 ~frf 80 -
/ sll OibsJ voices gers drowned 10 ibe deaf
nDlDR gebemGDce VI their clsmOTouS zeal
What asl0DjsLes zoe 10, that they were not
soOTDed, despsed, BDd secuted, by the whole
UDlOD ~ one proud burst ~ Dsl0Dsl lDdigDs'
Ton, IA Was the bOldesi aud fovlest ssbIbI,
iioD of syOvsd ys0sldy and corruption ~
which modern history affords any memorial,
The political DysIiiy of MI, Van Bereg
vas further sbOgD BY the fact, tDat i',s cbIef
topic NJ yitDpeTsfi0g employed by bIs psny
Bg0iDsi Nr. AdrDs was ibe DsuTpailoD ny tho
lloUse, as they termed u, ~ eleciiDg this
geDilemsD, sjtb minority Of electoral votes,
IN Opposition 10 Gen. Jackson. whose riRh 10
ibe office rested upon the DDdeDigble claims
0fa large plgrsIity of the PeOple, Aud the
compliant, with sll ibe changes nIDg upon u.
was heard from the man whose cOgGsels, had
they prevailed, would have conferred that
high Office upon the caucus candidate, who
~ the popular contest was beaten nearly out
Of sight.
The worst feature, however, Of Mr.. Van
BureD's pfoajsacy Is, that he seems 10 think
it is all right and proper. a public meeting
Of the People require him, ~ public man,
and u candidate for their suffrages, 10 declare
his opinion on certain points OF national
policy. which they propound To him through
their ebsirBIBn; and how does he resp' nd to
tbeDi BY an uDIoeoniDg rabble OF words,
through which no human penetration can
trace the slightest shadow Of n sensation, or
an impression of M idea, of any opinion at
all, aud then, hoping that this explicit and
frank syowal Of his sentiments may be sat
isfactory, subscribes himself their very hum
bic servant; as If it were both unfair and un-
reasonable to expect from any candidate for
office an open and honest disclosure of his
sentiments IN reference 20 any subject; and
as II IT were his firm conviction, as no doubt
IL is, that every candidate should be left free
To dodge, and shuttle. and twist, according To
the changing exigencies of coming times and
seasons.
Some there be who affect to admire this
species of adroitness rs something meritorl-
Gus, aud evincing an uncommon degree OF
sagacity. MIR. Van Buren, must be amused
at this, knowing, as he does, that this mag
nifcent endowment of nature is in reality
nothing more than low art and cunning,
which - no otherwise wonderful than that
any respectable man should gain his own
consent to practise it, There are many men
in this nation, now whitening IN the shade of
popular dlsfavor, with whom, IN point OF intel
lact and genius, he is not to be named, who
upon the terms he employs to attain 1t.
Translated from the miserable diplomacy
of the New York Regency to the charge of
the Department of State at Washington, it
was not to be expected that Mr.. Van Buren,
should leave his favorite system of party
tactics behind him. Nor did he. For it was
scarcely known that he had reached the seat
OF the General Government, when the whole
power of the National Executive was at once
converted into vast engine Of party VEN
geance. Men were turned out Of office BY
hundreds and thousands, and the immense
patronage ofthe Government employed with
out scruple, a. the means Of enlisting par
usans, and Of corrupting the press, for in the
general scramble for office, the editor of
scurrllons newspaper was an aspirant, upon
whose approach all others retired with res
pectful Difference.
To complete the work Of organization, a
secret, irresponsible, yet all-powerful cabal
was formed at Washington, in the existence
ot which the nation immediately recognised
all the odious and detestable features Of the
New York system. A junto more daring,
and more base and profligate, never assumed
to dictate the measures, the principles, and
opinion of any party in power. And yet to
their DEGREES every functionary of the Gov.
ernment, from the highest to the lowest, was
soon compelled to yield ready acquiescence,
or TO give up his place. Through the ma
chinations of this caba, the Public, during
the first term of the present Executive, were
entertained at frequent intervals with "blow
up" at Washington, in which, on some oc-
casions. whole batch Of ministers, at other
times trio Or Il pair of secretaries, were
unceremoniously dismissed from office, and
new sets called to fill their places.
In the various branches of the public SER
vice, particularly in the Post Office and in
the Land Office, we have seen fraud, pecula-
tion, and corruption stalking abroad in open
day, with none TO rebuke, much less tn punish
them. The good old rule Of selecting the
best men for uthce is fairly exploded, and the
highest stations of trust and profit reserved
for those only who are ready to put on the
collar and be harnessed to the car Of faction.
These are the legitimate fruits Of that cold,
selfish and sordid system Of which Mr.. Van
Buren, is the rghtful inventor and sole paten-
tee. have seen enough of this gentleman
to be well assured that no force Of circum-
stances would ever confne him to minority.
The main purpose of his existence is to take
care of HIMSELF to find the strong side, and
then hold on to il. The minority that could
shake him off must not remain on the face of
the earth-they would have to take wings
and fly into the clouds"