Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-06-14
From the Kentucky Commentator
THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PEOPLE

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The true sovereigns, the great peo-
PIE OF the United States, have been in
motion, and, when they move, broad
path is made which can be seen from
afar, and followed without danger OF de-
WAITING into crooked ways. Unlike the
footsteps Of General jackson, that I'll
lustrious predecessor" Of Martin Van
Buren, they do not tread down the rich
products Of a nations industry-they
do not crush the many, that the few may
rulc-thcy do not break up the barriers
erected by patriotic caution against fac
tious ascendencies-thcy do not make
the land solitude and call it peace
but they move to increase the general
sum of happiness, or to prevent the sue
cess of schemes, which if consummated
would make confusion worse confound-
cd, and pollute the very fountains Of
liberty by concentrating all that was
corrupt in those high places which soon
CT or later in every country give tone
to manners and mould the social ethics
Of the nation.
This popular movement has not, like
the Gulf stream, commenced in one lati-
tude and increased in impctuosity as it
whirled around capcs and promontories,
but it has broken out, simultaneously,
in various sections, and its collected
energies will soon be felt laundering at
the gates of the presidential palace. If
we look to the north, we find upon the
verge of the national boundary, the
state of Maine arraying herself against
the favorite policy ofVan Buren. Mas
sachusctts stands where she did when
every foot ef earth was made holy
ground by the master spirits ofthe rcvo-
luton. Rhode Island has just come out
of the conflict, and, as has been wittily
said, has discharged her duty Con-
necticut, tired Of notions, comes back
again OH her steady thoughts and hab-
its, and the first fruits of her rcgenera-
ton are whig senate, whig house of
representatives, and whig governor
proof sufficient that her pcnitence was
sincere, and her conversion real. Yer
mont needed no awakcning-thc Green
Mountain boys could breathe no other
atmosphere than that of fpurest freedom.
NEW YORK, the Empire State, ma.
ton within herself, like the Spartan
mothers of old, looks upon her dwarfsh
bantling with revolving sensation, and
loathes it. She has made her fooisiep,
and mighty one it is. 1t makes the
earth to tremble, and perplexes ill-got-
ten power with "a fear of change New
Jersey-who has not heard of the tJer-
sey blue, to his country true!' and the
supremacy of the whig shows that the
old stock has not failed in the new
Delaware, whole souled little Delaware |!
who could keep her from forming in the
line which is marching to Washington: :
the little star, like the little corporal,
makes up in lustre what it wants in size.
Maryland has long contended with all
odds against her, and so far from relax
ing her exertions, has but few days
ago, recovered her ancient capital, and
the whig banner waves in triumph over
the monumental city. But here comes
old Virginia-the mother of states and
of statcsmen-thc birthplace of Wash
ington, of Madison, ofJeflerson, ofPat-
rick Henry, and of HENRY CLAY
Sampson has awakened and his locks
are unshorn! woe be to the Philistines
for the strong man is up and upon them.
Virginia makes her footsiep-measure
Van Buren's by the side of it, and what
a figure does it cut? In the Carolinas
and Georgia, Mr.. Van Buren, holds n
doubtful supremacy-he fears the day
of trial, and would gladly put it off to a
more convenient season. Mississippi
has also asserted her rights, and bro
ken all the trammels which bound her
to the victorious car of ofJacksonism-sh
too, has made her footstep, and ere now
Prentiss and Word are in the federal
city, with the official statement and
sign of the whig victory. Louisiana,
Ohio, and Indiana are against the loco
locos and they know it. The Ohio riv-
err, throughout its whole extent does not
leave Van Buren, space OH which to put
his foot.
With Kentucky and Tennessee we
will conclude our note of the movings
Of the people-these two states so uni
ted in interest, in similarity of climate,
in qualities of soil, in physical aspect
| VI CouHtiy, uhO, uuONC dluOSt
perfect identity of mental constitution
each being remarkable for indomita-
bic courage, bold enterprise, impatience
of control, and withal. equally imbued
with fervent love for the American
name, principles and glory-these two
states are standing shoulder to shoulder
in the whig ranks. See ye the footsteps
of the pcople!-do you hear them Mr..
Van Bureni-do they sound like the
feeble pace of imbecilc age, or arc they
more like the lustry tread Of the young
warrior going forth to battle? Attend
to them ye who have so long spurncd
them, and get out Of the way Of their
majestic march.
From the National Intelligencer. II