Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-08-07
For the Mntchman & Jnurnal.

For the Waterman & journal.
Mesrrs. Editors:-FOf some months rost, !
have been rather silent observer OF the rollti-
cal changes and manocuvres that were taking
place around me. Durlns the short time that
/ have been upon the stage OF political lie,
until recently, ! had been led TO believe, that
the differences of opinion, and the organization
Of political parties, grew ou OF The Iapcrtcc-
tons Of our natures, the weak NJ IS -four judy
ments, and IN some cases, tho dliioren; mediums
through which we viewed objects; and that
although individuals and parties did in fUct
very materially differ in regaed TO the propre
~ Of certain measures, still from that prnc.
pie OF charity which we all wish 10 have ex
tended 10 us, ! was induced TO believe that
these differences arose from the causes that |
have named, and that while individuals held
different opinions, they stIll were actuated by
honest motives. And such undoubtedly is
the fact for n general rule, for although indi-
ridudlS, from interested motives, may be dis
honest, the great mass Of the people are honest,
But from what has transpired within the year
past. | am led 10 believe that we have men a.
mong us whose professions OF patriotism are as
sounding BRASS aud that while they
Sigh and groan
For public good, they mean their own
And while INDUCING in this train of reflection,
| have in my minds eye certain individual,
more famllarly known by the name OF Martin
k'liut--a man whose veerlng, changing, truck
ling, weather.cock course, has gained for him
rather an uncnviabe reputation. This man
who has Of late taken SO much pains TO thrust
himself before the public, as in acme measure
10 become public property, or, perhaps, more
properly speaking, public nuisance can
have no objections 10 have his actions little
scrutinized by the public. But a newspaper
Ia, 1. n,s.ta IN q
q SYNOPSIS Of few Of the events IN the life OF
this distinguished n,--and these few will be
selected from those OF the most recent date,
with reference to the consistency OF his prac'
tce and professions. | suppose /: Is now I'M
drrstood that his political needle, at this ume,
points TO the Van Buren, pole. To begin then
with some fixed data, we will refer back 10 the
administration of President Jackson, during
| which time he was an opposer oil the admins
tration- al least in prolession-though his
principles, like the virtues Of lagos VILE, hung
so loosely about him, that some were disposed
| to doubt 1t. But su IN s the TACT, that during
this period he assembled with the people Of
this state from time to time, who passed re So
lutions strongly condemnatory OF the leading
acts of the administration. Ii Is also iact
well known, that during this time. Mr. van
| Buren, had been nominated 10 be the successor
of General Jackson, and accepted Tie nom-
nation, and promised, if elected, 10 follow IN
| the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor. Ii
is fact also, that Mr. Van Buren, had been
nominated and given his pledge. An Antma-
| sonic Convention was called, &c bc holden
In the month OF Feb. 1886, the object OF which
was among other things, TO take into consid-
Grafton the nomination o, n candidate iorPTes-
ident. Ii is a fact also, known 10 many anti
ma sous in this state that, while Gen. Flint
pretended 10 be opposed To the administration
of General Jackson, and AT the same time,
knowing that Mr. Van Buren, had pledged him
self, thrt if elected, he would curry out what
General Jackson had so goriousiy begun, he
General Flint, was perambnlatlhg The STATE
and performing an eleconeerlns tour just
previous 10 the said Convention, try ing to con-
vince his aninasonic friends, that il was best
10 nominate Mr. Van Buren,, and was holding
a correspondence at the same time, and upon
the same subject, with some of the leading
! Jack son men in the State and IN contrina-
lion of this, Gen Flint appeared ut said Con-
venton, and there stoutly advocated the NOM
ination of Mr. Van Buren,, and assigned, as a
reason, that he would make the best candi-
date to thrash masonry WITH But 1t seem;
that the antmasons of that Convention, altho
willing 10 iollo'7 General Flint, when going
straight ahead, and in the right direction, coult
not make SO short a turn; and MIR Van Burer
W
had tailed him--that the influence that he hat
been able TO exert so successfully, in worthy
cause, did not avail him here. Ii Turned on
that al. his labors 10 convert The state 10 Jack
son-Van Burenisni, by turning traitor 10 hi
party had all ended IN smoke, and Gen. Har
rson was nominated by great majority. Nov
then again came the tug OF war in his owl
mind. w hat was 10 be done? He could no
bear 10 be in u mnority;-for IN republican
Government, all elections and appointment
10 office are made by the majority. maj
that has as much devotion, pure settled devo
ton TO principle aad consistency, as Genera
Flint has, cannot bear 10 be in the minority
and upon the whole, lie came 10 the conclusion
that he never was Van Buren, man the no
| lion that lac was ia favor Of the nomination q
Van Buran was all misiakc-'l am 10
Harrison saws he Iiurrnh for Harrison
Il 90 for Harrison land again he was mos
arveously conscientious III opposition L
Jackson and Van Buren,. IL should be remem
bered in connection with all this that IN sept
I following there was TO be Congressional Z
lection, and it had been thought that Genera
Flint look ed with a single eye TO that even
This NAV be one reason too why he did nc
choose 10 be in the minority. Well, somethln
must be done, for nothing valuable can be &C
complished without some sacrifice and labor
do not mean sacrh re of principles for
man cannot sacrifice that which he has not go
, It is TO be borne mind, that al this time, Ger
Fiut was a Harrison man, or he never woul
have written that letter TO Judge Strong JUS
before the election in which he says that II
can better carry out his anmasonly Ni
Gen. Harrison Than with any other candldat
in nomination. Nor would he have sent NV
8 or three hundred votes for Martin tllnP I
5 Judge Strong for distribution, II he had ne
been Harrison nan, and republican OF III
old school nor would he have got up at hi
n.,.,, .xnnnan lhn nnnrr cnllrn Ihn CnnsIIII