Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-13
CHERAW GAZETTE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1885,

We this week commence the reply OF Alr.
Van Buren, to the interrogatorles OF Mr.
Williams, and shall continue it until the mate
rial parts Of it are before our readers not
because we are favorable to the election OF
Mr.. Van Buren, to the Presidency, but be-
cause, from his prominence as candidate Tor
that high Office, his opinions on leading polltl-
cal questions must be matter of interest to
all intelligent voters. And we prefer glvlng
them in his own words to any distorted ver-
sion by either his friends or opponents. Our
aim shall always be, uninfuenced by our lndl-
vidual opinion, to present to our readers, as
far as our space shalenabl US to do SO, the truth,
the uhole truth and nothing but the truth upon
every important question of national or State
politics; thus furnishing them the means ofjudg-
ing for themselves, whether they agree with us
CT not.
The reader cannot but be struck with Mr..
Van Buren's anxiety to identify himself with
the administration of General Jackson, or as
the n. York Star expresses it, to prove "that
he thinks as General Jackson, Thinks thus
indicating a consciousness that he has no
popularity or political standing of his own
upon which to rely; and indicating also
want Of fself respect that proves him unfit for
the high office to which he aspires.
In the following sentence their is some
thing extremely low and demagogical. Speak
ing of the victory of the President over the U.
S. Bank it is said
'It was the successful winding up Of one Of
the most arduous conflicts between the well
understood will ofthe people on the one side,
and the moneyed power ofthe nation acting in
concert with formidable portion of its po-
litical power on the other, that has ever taken
place. certainly that has ever resulted in the trl-
umph of the popular will in any country.
What does Mr.. Van Buren, mean by sepe-
rating the "moneyed power of the nation"
and ga formidable portion Of the political
power" from the people, and representing
these powers as arrayed against the people I!
Is there in this country any hereditary aris-
tocracy or titled nobility? Is there any mo-
neyed power, or political power distinct from
the people! If a man by industry and trugall-
ty accumulates competence or even wealth
for himself and his family is he, on that ac-
count to be held up to the public as an object
of odium and that by prominent candidate
for the Presidency! Are men whom the peo-
pie appoint for brief periods to Offices ofhonor
and trust to be held up as " formidable"
political power opposed to the people!
Again, instead Of any victory being obtain
ed by the people over the Bank, the victory
was really obtained by single individual and
his immediate dependents, over most useful,
extremely well managed and popular institu-
ton. No institution of the Kind was ever
more popular in any Nation, or more deservedly
so. A few years before it honestly and patriot
cally refused to submit to the dictation Of
Gen. Jackson, Mr.. Stevenson of Virginia, we
think it was, moved, in the House of Repre-
sentativcs a resolution to sell the Stock held
by the U. States in the Bank, and only seren
members voted for it. This vote was consi-
dered a fair test of the popularity Of the insti-
tuition in the House, and in the nation. Of
those who voted for the resolution not one per-
haps was influenced by any other considcra-
ton than belief that the charter of the Bank
was unauthorized by the constitution. And
even during the administration Of Gen. Jackson
himself an overwhelming majority OF an ad-
ministration House of Representatives voted
that the public money was safe in the Bank.
1t is impossible that Mr.. Van Buren, does
really believe what he states. He knows, as
every intelligent man in the country knows
that the conflict was really one between "the
well understood will OF the people on the one
side," and that of popular "miitary Chief
tain" on the other. The result proves the
mighty influence in this country Of great per-
sonal popularity, however founded; the ne
dangerous of all influences, to the freedom OF
a people. 1t is most deplorable evidence OF
the wrctched state of public sentiment, to see
a man who understands the character of the
American people as well as Martin Van Buren
does, addressing them with such "stutt'
expecting thereby to promote his election to
the Presidency.
five had no other objection to him for this
high office, but merely that he permits his
cause to be identified withthat of man whose
moral character is as dark as that Of Richard
NJ. Johnson, this of itself would be sufficient.
Some of our contemporaries seem to cvlncc
considerable excitement at the recent decision
tfc bot