Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-04-14
move every bar that would prevent a full
view of his character, and reward him &C.
cording to his merits.
ZION HILL.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIoN.

i
for the third time within nine months, I
choose our representatives to the nationa
legislature. The causes Of this unprece
denied frequency Of election are wei
known, aud the questions arising out q
them have been amply discussed. Fur
Their investigation would therefore be usy
less; and the only practical question nod
is, whom shall we vote for on this thirt
occasion?
Ii is understood that Colonel Caiborn,
and a General Davis are candidates 70
one party, whilst Messrs. Prentiss ant
Word will be run by the other. or al
these four gentlemen, have never, be
lieve, seen either, except Col. Claiborne
| can, therefore, have no particular par
tiality for any but him. For him | have
such partially, and should be happy Il
crafty it on this occasion, if could do il
consistently with my sense ofpublic ex'
pediency. | shall not withhold my vote
from him because he is a Van Buren, man
for have voted for him when | knew
that he wasa Van Buren, man. But this
was before the currency question Che
great question of the day. had assumed
its present settled posture, as real party
question. II is true | knew that Mr.. Van
Buren,, obsequious to the views of General
Jackson, had committed himself on this
question; but this did not warrant me to
conclude that Col. Claiborne would COM
nit himself in support Of all the measures
Of Mr.. Van Buren,.
Expectations were INDUCED at the July
canvass, that Col. Claiborne would be in
favor Of national bank; but whether he
authorized such expectations, was after
wards question Of much unpleasant al
iercation. Be the truth what it may. he
did, after the election, declare himself de-
cdedIy and unalterabIy opposed to such
an institution; and he now stands commit
ted as irrevocably against 1t, as does Mr..
Van Buren, himself. These gentlemen
may both be very sincere in their oblec-
tons to national bank; and it is possible,
though not probable, that the currency OF
the country may be restored without such
an institutions; yet they cannot be justified
in pledging themselves, without reserve,
against measure, which greater men
than they have found TO be necessary
Mr.. Madison was a distinguished and pre-
eminent opponent of the first National
Bank; but although he argued ably and
zealously against it, he was too prudent to
pledge himself to an unalterable course Of
opposition; and when the bill establishing
the late National Bank was presented for
his approval, he had the magnanimity and
the patriotism TO decide practically against
his former opinions. But there is some
thing more than opinions in the way Of a
change, shuuld change be necessary, on
the part of Mr.. Van Buren, and Col. Clai-
borne. They have pledged themselves as
to future action, without the least reserve
as to any exigency that may possibly
arise; and if all parties should hereafter
see, and confess Na'ionnl Bank to be in
disponsable TO the salvation of the country,
neither OF them could concur in saving his
country, without positive violation OF
sort Of political oath.
have put Col Claiborne in juxtaposi-
ton with Mr.. Van Buren,, because the for
mer has chosen TO chain himself 10 the
system Of the latter; and thus chained, he
must take the track and go the gait Of the
locomotive, with, oicourSc, the same me-
chanical compulsion and precision OF inc
other cars ofthe train. Ofhls fellow can
didate, Cen Davis, have never heard
until the present occasion. presume,
however, that he is respectable man, as
we all know Col. Claiborne to be. But
The probability is, that he also is bound TO
specific course, that is to say, TO follow
the footsteps OF Mr. Van Buren,, as Mr.,
Van Buren, is bound to follow the foot
steps of General Jackson. And here we
come at the source of the hard currency
system, and the main cause Of the hard
times which Cypress us. A general cur
rency is essential to the prosperity OF eVe'
ry State in the Union; and this currency
must consist Of the paper of a National
Bank, or gold and silver; but both would
be better. The mortal hostility OF the
late President has put an end o'the tor
mer, and his unmericiIul specie order has
suspended, at least, the circulation oil
the latter. think it is about two years
since this famous order was Issued; but
instead Of restoring the precious metals as
a medium ofexchange, they are now ban,
ished from commerce. We know and leel
this to be the case here; and infer that II
is the case in most, if not all the States,
from the fact that their legislatures gener,
ally are authorizing the issue OF small
bank bills, to say nothing Of the shinPlas
tiers which inundate the cities, and flow
, through the country This is the colder
r age which the specie order was to intro
. L,.Iel