Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-11-03
N, {vIRGINIA,) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1886

N3 -" OBpoSiAoi w NSh
jackson, whose right to the office
rested upon the undeniable claims O
large plurality of the people. AND
the complaint with all the changes
rung upon it, was heard from the man
whose counsels, had they prevailed
would have conferred that high office
upon the caucus candidate, who in the
popular contest was beaten nearly out
of sight.
The worst feature, however, Of Mr.
Van Buren's profligacy is, that he
seems to think it all right and proper
A public meeting of the people re-
quire from him as public man and a
candidate for their SURFACES, to de-
clare his opinion on certain points OF
national policy, which they PROFOUND
to him through their chairman, and
how does he respond to thcm' BY
an unmeaning rabble of words, thro'
which no human penetration can trace
the slightest shadow of a sensation or
an impression of an idea of any opin-
ion at all, and then hoping that this
explicit and frank avowal of his senti-
ments may be satisfactory, subscribes
himself their very humble servant. AS
if it were both unfair and unreasona-
bic to expect from any candidate for
office, an open and honest disclosure
of his sentiments In reference to any
subject. And as IF it were his firm
conviction, as no doubt it is, that eve
ny candidate should be left free to
dodge, and shuttle, and twist, accord
ing to the changing exigencies of COM
ing times and seasons.
Some there be who affect to admire
this species of adroitness, as some
thing meritorious, and evincing an un-
common degree of sagacity.' Mr.. Van
Buren, must be amused at this, know
ing as he does, that this magnificent
endowment of nature, is in reality
nothing more than low art and cum
ming, which is no otherwise wonder
full, than that any respectable man
should gain his own consent to prac-
tice it.-There are many men in this
nation, now whitening in the shade Of
popular disfavor, with whom in point
of intellect and genius he is not to be
named, who would scorn to accept his
political success, upon the terms he
employs to attain it.
Translated from the miserable di-
plomacy of the New York Regency
to the charge Of the Department O
State at Washington, it was not to b,
expected that Mr.. Van Buren, shoult
leave his favorite system of party tao
tics behind him. Nor did he. For
was scarcely known that he had reach
ed the seat of the General Govern
ment, when the whole power of TIT
national executive was at once con
verted into vast engine of party ven.
geance. Men were turned out of of.
flee by hundreds and thousands, ant
the immense patronage of the govern
ment employed without scruple, a
the means of enlisting partisans, ant
of corrupting The press. for in the gen
eral scramble for office, the editor o
scurrilous newspaper was an aspi
rant, upon whose approach all other.
retired with respectful Difference.
TO complete the work of organiza
ton, a secret, irresponsible, yet al
powerful cabal was formed at Wash
ington, in the existence of which The
nation Immediately recognized 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 opinions of an,
party in power. And yet to their de.
crees every functionary of the govern.
ment, from the highest to the lowest
was soon compelled to yield a read,
acqulescence or to give up his place
Through the Vaccinations of this ca
bal, the public, during the first tern
OF the present executive, were enter
tanned at frequent intervals with
elbow up" at Washington, in which
on some occasions, a whole batch O
ministers, at other times trio or
pair OF secretaries, were unceremoni
ously dismissed from office, and new
sets called to fill their places. W.
have seen secretary Of treasury in hi
annual report of the concerns of hi
department, presenting views of pub
lie policy so eminently sagacious ant
just, as to win the favor of all parties