The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-08-11

trine and practice Of Thomas Jefferson, and
his distinguished democratic successors, rest
content that large majority of the people
of the keystone State, emulous Of the ex-
ample of their sires, and burning with the
desire to rescue their beloved Common
wealth from the disgraceGul thraldom which
accident, and, the late unfortunate division
in our own ranks, has for little time SUBJ
jected her to, will eagerly deposito their
votes in favor of the democratic candidate
for Pennsylvania executive chair DAVID
RITTENHOUSE PORTER. @.,
But custom, as well as propriety, de-
mands that some notice should be taken of
the respective merits and claims of the rival
candidates for your favor.
In drawing parallel between David r.
Porter and Joseph Rtner, we shall confne
ourselves to the contemplation of their
public characters and public acts, and will
deviate from this course, only, so far as
may be necessary to vindicate the fair fame
of our candidate against the malignant as
persions and "thrice refuted SANDERS"
which have been so laEishly poured forth.
We do not decline TO "cram your ears a.
gainst the stomach of your sense" with a
comparison between the private lives of the
two competitors, because we fear the result
of such a contrast, but because we believe
that such an enquiry, conducted as it must
necessarily be, under the influence of in
famed party feelings, always ends in the
adoption Of falsehood and the wide spread
circulation Of calumnious error. Export
ence, too, teaches thathowever, for time,
such course may delract ftom the strength
and overcloud the prospects Of the denoun-
ced candidate, there exists in the public
bosom an innate love of truth which even
tually causes a reaction, and the evil which
was intended to be visited upon the asper-
sed, more frequently falls upon the heads
of the traducers. We have all seen pub
llic men absolutely prosecuted into the af-
fections of the people; and, though dear to
them before, calumnv and detraction, long
persisted in, has throned them in their
''hearts core, aye in their heart or hearts,"
from whence all the eXertions Of their enc
mics have been powerless to pluck them.-
Thus it was with Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison, Andrew Jackson and Simon Sny-
der, and so it has been and will be with
the eminent man who now fills the EXecu-
tive chair of the Union. Thus may 1t ever
be, until men and parties discover that true
policy, as we'll as sorse of propriety and
honorable feeling, forbid the attempt to vii
ify the private character of private citi-
gems merely because he is nominated for
office by portion of his fellows. Enter
tanning these views, and therefore, in this
particular declining to follow in the foot
steps Of our adversaries, we say to them
"go on-however fertile may be your in
vention, and how numerous soever the
falsehoods you may fling abroad, the DEM
ocratic party stands ready to disprove
them"
OfJosephRitner, the present incumbent,
it may be truly said that nature never fash
ioned hin for that which accidental fortune
has made him. Without calling into ques-
ton his domestic habits, of which we know
nothing-or impeaching the existence of
the private virtues which his friends may
claim for him-it may be fearlessly assert
ed that he possesses not one statesmanlike
quality.
Adhering to his own opinions in cases
where his passions are aroused OF his inte-
rest involved, with tenacity Which no rea-
soning, however cogent, can relax, in most
other instances he yields himself, blindly,
to the guidance of others, content that the
dignity of his Office should be made the
stalking horse for their ambition, and that
his power and patronage as Executive Ma
gistrate, and his potent voice as constitu-
ent part of, the law making power, should