Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-09-29

exscl{y rivals. but circumstances placed
them n opposilien to each other. Mr..
Vsn Huren vpede his bow IN 1912 90
hr. Clinton. adsocated bss nonin alien
for Pnsideot against Mr.. Msdiscn.
and opposed The war. But Ia doing
so. be took especial care to hold on TO
the skirts Of Tompkins a, the same time;
calculating that IL Clinton failed the
friendship Of :Tompkins would be me-
cessary 20 mako his peace with Madi.
son. And 50 itturnsd out: bis spostacy
to has country and the democratic par
|ty at that time was pardoned; and he
Was sproinied United State, Judge Ad-
vocste. with heavy coonssl fees. Then
the Canal project found in him very
warm friend; but when the rally Of
1917 against poor Clinton promised TO
be successful. Mr. Van Buren, folded
his arms and stood still, and when the
current sat strong and powerful against
that eminent statesmAp. Mr.. Van Blu
rem soon worked himself into the buck
tail ranks. declared var against Clinton
just in time 20 direct the operations of
the new council of appointment, got
himself elected Senator in Congress
by the buckiail party, involved poor
Fompkins in controversy about his
war claims and his state accounts, and,
by this operation. killed of politically
the Only two prominent politicians who
stood in his way in the great State Of
New York.
Having by bis juxta-positlon managed
to get himsclf in Congress. his next in
tngue was on the Presidency. He
fancied the people were tired OF Virgi.
MIA Presidents. and the practice Of max
ing the Secretary OF State the successor
TO the Presidential chair. He took
ground against Monroe, in favor Of Mr..
Crawford. with the hope that after Mr..
Crawford had served out his time, the
Presidency would swing north. and as
q northern candidate be would be the
lucky man. He was deceived. Mon
roe received the caucus nomination.
and he had to submit. When Adams
came on the field. we find Mr.. Van
Buren, still for Crawford, upon bis orr
ginal ground, and consequently dead
against the newborn pretensions Of
Jackson in the West. and Adams IN
the East. The election devolved on
the House, and another intrigue was
the result. Mr.. Clay was the friend Of
Adams. and Mr.. Van Buren, saw that
If h. could defeat Adams on the first
ballot, he could decide the election Cor
him on the second ballot and claim the
reward. He was defeated, owing TO
the detection Of one or two New York
votes. and Adams was elected on the
first ballot. The next move was to
make terms with Mr.. Adams; support
him for another four years against Jack
son, and then claim the succession as q
northern man. Mr.. Adams, in his
cold. calculating manner. rejected Mr..
Van Buren's advances, and imagined
be felt strong enough without him
Van Buren, finding every effort TO con-
ciliate that party was met With hostili-
ty, add alarmed at the progress Of Jack
son. aPprehensiye that the old chief
might succeed without his aid, he threw
himself into his camp at the eleventh
hour. after having ridicuied the pre-
tensions Of the General, and treated
his claims with indifference, il not
contempt. When appointed Secre.a-
ry OF State, the next intrigue was to
SOW divisions and discomfort between
the President and the honest and able
men to whom he vas indebted for his
enhancement, and the dissolution Of the
first cabinet and the quarrel with Cal
houn, placed Andrew Jackson COM
pleteiy IN the power and under the
control OF Martin Van Buren,. Thus
far succession Of intrigues--a change
Of position to suit the times, and 9
non-commi,isi course his polar star, to-
gether with hcaTtless policy towards
friends. and purchase Of enemies, bad
advanced him 20 the second Office in
the Government, and a control over
the measures of the administration
and by system Of gross hatiery and
servile aduiatIon--by applsuding aud
sustaining the violent and uneonstitu-
tionsI measures Of the President, and
the ragged, wTetched crew, who sur
rounded him, Mr.. Van Buren, succeed
ed in obtaining his nomination as sue
IEg9ots anu tbe NDOtc tuuucoCe ana
power Of the government in EeveTsion.
Thus matters now stand, and we
thus see the gradual progress Of ~
trigue, and the success Of policy over
principle.
But the great intrigue has not yet
been fully developed II hss excited
great surprise 10 find that MF. Van Blu
rem Wss uniting the North In bis favor
as the noriheFn candidate. while he
was attempting n divide the Soatb,
add secure support under the prelen-
lions Of being Southern man. This
has been bis difficult card. and let us
see how he managed Il. u Is unrsa-
sonable TO suppose that old federal
Sistes. uniform and consistent, could
have been brought 10 bic aid without
poweFgul consideration Of personal
and sectional interest. lie commenced
With deeTying the ambition Of The
South snd defending the claims Of the
North 10 the Presidency. To The
fieh manufaeinfera q New Eseiand
his ianfuaFe So significant and intel