Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-25
ADDRESS
Ofhs Whig Members ofthe Legislature,
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

Bank, however, were yet an open question
what guarantee have we in Mr.. Van Buren,
past political history, that he would oppos,
It's incorporation, If he found il erpedient L
sanction liz II is impossible thai he can bt
more decidedly opposed 10 National Bank
now than he was 10 the Sub-Treasury Sys.
tenn in 1884; and yet, we now find him adj
vocating the Sub, Treasury with all the
powers Of his intellect, and endea voring to
coerce its establishment by bringing the
whole machinery of Executive patronage
and party discipline TO bear upon those who
may be bought by the former, or whose
coward nerves" may shrink from the latter.
Nor ia this The only marked change in The con
stituftonaI opin ions of that enileman which
his history tiscloses. One has already been
referred 10, in relation TO the application OF a
uniform bankrupt law TO banking corpora>
lions; and surely ii IS no: unchnritable TO
suppose shat, under like influences, like
change may be wrought in his opinions up
On this question, particularly as il is not
known tina, he had ever expressed the slight
expectancy of National Bank, until oppo.
stion 10 il became an article ia the creed OF
The Jack son party, Of which his plancy to
lis chiei had made him distinguished favor
lie, and ensured him the nomination of The
Convention of Office holders and political adj
venturcrs which assembled at Baltimore to
notify the people OF Gen. Jack son g de,erm,
nation TO throw the purple over his shoulders
III Mr.. Van Buren, opposed "the Bank"
because the creed Of his party accidentally
required it, and was willing for the same
sufflcIent reason, to support "G Bank" as it
10 presumed he was, when twas orthodox 10
draw this nice distinction, may we not, with
out doing him The slightest Injustice, inIer
that "Me Bank" will again, in his opinion,
become constitutional and proper, when, if
ever, il shall be his interest so to construe
the Constitution, and TO arrest The evil con-
sequences OF an impoten, financial system:
In relation to the power of the General
government 10 construct works Of Internal
improvement, it is known that MIR. Van
buren, at one time recognized il in its most
objectionable form. That he afterwards re.
canted this opinion, furnishes only another
Ink IN the chain OF testimony which goes 10
sustain the position, that the character of his
constitutional opinions depends upon the
particular occasion by which they are elici-
led, and the objects 10 which they are TO be
applied, and do not flow from fixed and de-
terminate principles of construction the
only sale ground of reliance, and destitute of
which no politician deserves the name of a
statesmen or can be safely trusted with The
duties of the Chief Maglstracy, in limited
Government Scarcely less Objectionable is
that mode of construction sanciioned by the
authority of Gen. Jackson's name, which
draws distinction between works of na-
ttonat and OF local character, and between
Improvements ab0Ue and belo,U ports of en-
try. Both admit of the most flag grant abuses,
while the latter involves the absurdiy that
law OF Congress, by establishing port of
entry where "God and Nature' have never
intended that one shall exist, may give new
me aiming TO the Constitution and indefinitely
enlarge The jurisdiction of Congress- The
recognition ofihe power 10 appropriate mon
ey unfortunately, is less indefensible, he.
cause less liable 10 peryersion and unius, dis
elimination, than these nice and impractical
BILE dislinctioEs-which under the legislation
OF corrupt and unprincipled men, will all
ways be converted into an engine of partial
| and sectional ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, to the exclu-
sion OF the South ofcourse, from all the ben.
efits oithe system, if system ii can be called
| which Is so indefinite in its character and so
| uncertain in IFS results. The pernicious and
extravagant effects OF this novel principle.
may be traced in The increased amount of ex-
penditures for this branch OF the public SER
vice. Indeed, il is admitted, by the friends
| OF the Administration, - that "the estimate.
for 1889, for improving certain harb ors, and
the navigation of certain creeks and rivers
amounts to Sl,713,0O0, whilst the expendi-
lures in this branch, ,ohich ,cere unknorn
until 1926, amounted in 1929, (the first
year OF Gen. Jackson's Administration. \ TO
only S5l5,000." So that, by their own
showing, appropriations for this single
branch of Internal Improvement, have, in
ten years, under an Antt Internal Improve
ment administration been more than trebled
IN amount! In truth, the appropriations for
this object have been much larger during
the Administrations Of Gen. Jackson and
Mr.. Van Buren,, than they were under any
preceding Administration
apprehension can be seriously enter
tanned by rejecting and observi ing men tina I
any attempt will be made to revive The poI>
icy Of protective duties. The manufaciu-
rers themselves, as we have before remark
ed, desire STABILITY rather than higher duties,
SUBJECT to perpetual and sudden change, e..
ven II The more exalted motives Of patriot
ism did not operate upon ali classes aud all
parties alike 10 avoid the renewal of con
troversy, which, al no very remote period
threatened TO light up the torch OF civil dis
cord. and to dissolve the political lies that
have so long united The several States of,bis
Confede-acy together The bonds of com.
mon brotherhood. But it may well be
questioned, whether, ifihe subject be again
revived, MIR. Van Buren, should be selected
as the organ Of Southern opinions and The
defender OF Southern interests, when il is
recoliecied that he voted both for the Tariff
OF 1924 & %, the latter, 10 be sure under Gin
struciions; >" BUTT is believed that those in q.
strUctloOs were IN accordance with his own