Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-04
No. 10.

more"
| To account for this impolitie stern.
ness OF principle. men incapable Of so
Prec'atiag other motives of action, hav.
insiuuated that ] have private griefs q,
gainst the President, and that I have
been influenced by ambition. Thes..
charges force. me to depart from deli,
cacy which have heretofore prescrib-
ed to myself in speaking of certain
transactions, which were, however.
known to others at the time of their oc .
currence, and have thus become alrea-
dy, partially known to the public. So
far from having pirate griefs against
the President, there has been every
thing ia my personal relations with him
to fiatter and crafty me. il were apa-
bic Of being influenced by such consid.
erafioDs in the discharge of my public
duties. There was nothing in the way
OF Official advancement, which | could
have expected or desired, that was no,
not merely offered. but pressed upon me
IN the most earnest and fatteIing man
ner by the President. at the first mo.
ment of organizing his administration.
l preferred the service of my State,
where her confidence had placed me, to
any Executive station, and these offers.
however ilatteripg. were respectfully
declined.
In regard to ambition j? had ever en-
tertained the lofty aspirations which ara
gratritously ascribed to me by some and
were capable of weighing for moment.
The paltry Interests Of that ambition a.
gainst the great Interests Of my country.
how could | have more effectualIy pro.
noted its selfish aims. than by continu.
ing to act with the numerous and pow>
eriui party which then supported the
administration, and which formed at that
time, an admitted majority OF the people
OF the United States? had been as.
sociated with that party in some Of it's
most vital and important struggles, in
defence, as believed, Of the liberty.
union, and best interests Of the nation
and the taunts which ere now daily ad-
dressed to me, col the bright prospects
have forfeited by my impolilic oh.
stinacy, would seem to authorize the
conclusion that | enjoyed, at least, az
much of its favor, and was as likely to
obtain its future support. in aid OF the
ambitious aspiration ascribed to me, as
any other man. Every consideration Of
personal nature, then, urged me to sus.
tain MIR. Van Buren's administration in
whatever course of policy il might adopt.
1t had been capable of listening to the
suggestions OF selfish calculation, when
the highest interests of my country seem.
ed TO me at stake, | should have sup
pressed the solemn convictions OF nv
Judgment, and in silence, have reaped
the reward Of my acquiescsnce and ser
Witty. l knew too, from the bleeding
examples before my eyes, what fear
iul thing it was TO incur the denuncia.
ton of party. But the conscious salts.
faction of doing what believed to be
right, and of uphoIding, as far as nv
ice bic arm could aid in doing it, the
liberties and happiness of the people a.
gainst the mischievous schemes Of party
or OF power, priced above every oshe,
consideration. and resolved to perform
my duty TO the country, cost wha, il
might Of personal sacrifice to myself.
The first question which occurred uc.
der the administration OF Alr. Van By
rem was one of the highest importance,
and involved considerations intimately
connected with the fundamental princi.
pies Of the governmental a,iu6e. of
course, to the action Of The new Execu.
tive. on the subject of the celebrated
specie circular. That measure had beer
condemned by overwhelming maiorities
oil both branches Of Congress. A bill.
having for its object, among other things,
the anDulment of the circular had pass
ed The Senate by vote Of 4i to 5. snd
the House Of Representative by vote
OF i43 TO 50. it was, presented 10 Gen,
Jackson within the last, ten DAYS Of the
session OF Congress and Of his own ad.
mibis,raiion and being withheld BY
him until the adjournment of Congress,
under circumstances Of which il is DO
part oil my present purpose to speak it
la'led to become a law. But though it
was thus prevented from acquiring the
force of positive law, lis o,Gt effect, as
an authentic and imposing expression OF
The VIII ofthe people, manifested through
their constitutional organs, The two Hou.
SEES OF Congress, was full and undimin-
ished. II was, accordingly, ex pected BY
the great body Of Mr.. Van Buten's
friends that the first act Of bis Admins.
tration would be to defer to this expires.
sion ofthe Legislative will by resembling
or esso ntiaI!y modifying the specie cir
culaT. Many Of them, before leaving
Washington, united in written and
ioEmai representation urging him, in the