Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-25
No. %.

Out, when the ycas and nays were called hi
name was recorded against the South. L
was on that occasion that the Virginia Sena.
tor remarked TO Mr.. Van Buren,: "Sir yo,
have deceived me once-,hat is your fault
u you deceive me twice,it W i'll he mine"-,
remark which might be- addressed with ..
quail perlinency 10 MIR. Van Buren, by the
people of Virginia now On this subiec,
indeed, aso on every other important qucsiio
which has arisen, Mr.. Van Buren, has opal
tered with us in double sense His
changes OF opinion may have been tho hon.
est counsel OF his Judgment but, we repeat.
that, ii they were, they betray tes,itution
OF tred principles wholly incompatible with
the character of an enlightened Statesman.
and dangerous in the Chief Magistrate of a
free people, governed by written and limi-
ted constitution.
On the Abolition question, Mr.. Van Blu,
rem IS said TO be ga Northern man With
Southern principles" and in an Address
lately promulgated to the world. under the
authority of imposing names, the people Of
virginia are gravely assured that she de-
ciared before his election, that he came in
10 the Presidential Office, he would feel
himself bound 10 veto any bill which inter-
Tered With the rights of shareholders ia the
States where the institution Of domestic sla.
very existed. or IN the District of Columbia,
and Ills added, for the purpose of giving
point TO this assertion, "He did not wait to
see whether he cosld derive any personal
advantage from that isnaticai spirit which
was spreading SO tspid'y," sc. The fact is
otherwise. He gave no such assurance he.
lore his election. Not until after he ,oas e.
fected, did he give any such pledge. That
pledge was contained in his INAUGURAL
Speech. But of what value is such an assn.
rance, whether given before or after his G.
lection
whenever the period arrives, if ever IT.
shaii arrive, wien majority of both Hou>
ses OF congress shall be prepared TO pass
such law, The South will not calmly await
The Glow action OF a Presidential veto. She
VIII take her own defence ink her own hands
onu she VIII enter the lists nth weapons of
diiiercnt temper. But there is question in.
cdenlaliy connected with this vitality impor-
liant subject. and which has an Immediately
practical bearing upon which Mr. Van Buren,
mas gwen no recent pledge, and IN reference to
which his Southern friends, strange as it
may appear, have made no efforts 10 ascer-
tam his present opinions. That question is.
the admission of new States into the Union.
wihout requiring them 10 Ienounce the
tight to tolerate slavery within their limits.
as condition precedent Ii iswelI known
what Mr. Van Buren's opinions ,cere on
this subject, when Missouri applied for adj.
mission into the Union. Mr. Van Buren,
was then member OF The New York Legis-
'atore' and IN that capacity, he voted for a
series OF resolutions affirming the Constitu-
tionai power OF Congress to impose this con-
u!''on, asserting The eXpediency of exerci-
sing that power, in the broadesI terms. ard
insiructing the Senators of that State. in
Congress, TO insist upon that condition. go
offensive TO the South, and so incompatible
win the right OF each State to frame
lis own organic laws, without any other re-
stfictIon or Limitation than that iml,osed by
The Federal Constitution. If Mr. Van Bux
rem opinion has undergone no change, as it
IS TAR 10 presume that il has not, since no
change has ever been avowed, be must of
course veto law, il such an one be passed
-as II Mill, in all probability, be during his
term OF service-admitting Florida into the
Union, without the inhbi,ory clause which
he endeavored 10 impose upon Missouri
ibis, therefore, IS question OF practical and
pressing Importance, and il behUoves the pen
pie OF The Southern States to ascertain the
True position in relation to II Of "Ibe North.
eFn man with Southern principles before
ihey determine 10 "sink or swim" with him,
In preference toa Southern man ,cih South.
ern principles. And il is due TO the occa-
slon TO remark, that, among the leading
Wings who are now branded as Abolition.
isis,or denounced as iavoriies Of that faction.
are many who signaly illustrated their de-
vusion TO the South and 10 the principles of
the Constitution, when Mr. Van Buren, was
sowing the seeds OF that fearful ianalicism
which has already contributed TO ALLEVIATE the
Two grea! divisions OF the Union from each
oiher,, and whish If il be not check ed in the
growth, must ultimately terminate in the
dIsmeinbermeD! OF the conederacy.
1t has been semi officially announced
within few days past, by the organ of the
a Administration, that one of The tissues ins
VOWED IN the next election Of President.
VIII oe The policy most proper 10 be pursued
by The General Government il, relation Ia
The disposition OF any surplus which may re-
main IN the Treasury, aier the payment Of
The ordinary charges upon the revenue. Ii
is we'll known that the Wing party are of
opinion that, il the expenditures Oft the Cows
eminent be reduced 10 that economical sia nd
ara from which they have so widely depart-
ed since the period Of Gen. Jackson's cleo
ton, the duties on imports, accruing under
The Compromise Act will be fully adequate,
should no extraordinary emergency occur,
10 deIrsy Them. They contend, therefore
that he Deit proceeds of the sales of The
Public Lands, which, in that event, will
constitute a Surplus, should he divided a.
! mong the several States, according TO some
equitable ratio Of distribution.
The Administration, on the other hand
claim that this surplus shall he appropriated
| TO The purposes OF "defence," as they STYLE
u; and they present, as an antagonist prop
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