Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-04-18


vital objections, To what else can IL Be-
aserbed. but 10 that 6xed and invineibls
purpose. svinced by 90 many sess and
upon 50 many occasions. BY himssif and
his 'illustrioos predecessor" to enlarge
the sphere Of Federal authority. and 10
! cloths wfh more than monsrchical power
the Federal Exeeotivei And 1t is q pol.
i,ieian whose opinions are thus loose and
muisble. that the people Of Virginia are
called upon 10 support rs the advocate Of
literal construction OF the Con stitu,iou -
az the defender Of State Rxh,s-ss the
champion OF the principles embodied in
Taylor Revolutions and Madison's Re-
port p
But We are grsvely informed that Mr..
Van Buren, is opposed to q National Bank,
to Internal Improvements by the General
Government. and TO the Ta'iG-and that
h's hostility to these measures. gives him
an irresistible claim TO the confidence and
sutiIsges Of the people of Virginia. These,
fellow citizens. are the stsreoiyped phrases
BY which cunning tAc,icians hope 10 de-
eeive and mislead you. All candid me- 1.
OF ell Psiiies. admit that they have ceased
TO be practical questions. All idea of
chsrteung q National Bank, has been re.
lin9uished by its former most san suine
advocates, as unnecessary and inexpe-
dien, IN The present and probable future
monetary condition OF the country {; the
necessity Of Internal Improvements by
the General Government has been en-.
t'reiy superseded by the energetic appli.
cation OF the resources OF the several
States to that object; and the Tariff is
settled by the terms of the Compromise
Act Of l>.S3. unless IL siaH be rs.opensd
ia, political purposes By those ,-io affect
to dread The rs-,sfaIi.sin.nt of AipA pro-
fsc!ire duties. These duties. indeed. are
no longer necessary. the stability Of our
manufacturing establishments enabling
them 10 msintain . competition with 10.
reign fabrics without q resort TO this sx.
frAneous supports support which, iluc-
'uaiing with the altern ate rise and (al! of
parties. is far from being desirable, even
were II any longer essentiai-for, with
that branch o. national industry, as with
every other, stability Of Legislation is far
more impor;an, than temporary advsnta-
ges, Of which they NAV. when least ex.
pecied. and when their withdrawal might
operate most disastrously. be deprived by
the result Of annual election.
II the policy of re .char,e ring Nation al
Bank. however. were yet an open ques.
ton, What guarantee have We in Mr. Van
Bu'ens pa, political history. tina, he
would oppose It's incorporation, if he found
II sTpediem to sanction IL. Ii is impossi-
be that he can be more decidedly oppos-
ed % National Bank now than he was
to The Ssb-Trcasury System in 1891; and
yet, We now find HIM advocating the Sub
Treasury with all the power. OF his intel
lec'. and endeavoring 10 coercc its es,ab.
lishment by bringing the whole machine
~ OF Executive patronage and party dis
eipline 10 bear upon those who may be
Dough. by the former. or whose coward
nerves" NAV shrink from the terrors OF
:he latter. Nor is this the only marked
Change in the constitutional opinions OF
that gentleman which his history di,elo.
s's. One has alre lady been referred TO,
IN relation TO the application of uniform
bankrupt law to banking corporations;
and surely /; is not unehariiable to sup
pose that. under like influences, a like
change may be wrought in bis opinion,
upon ni' question. particularly as it is
not known that be had ever expressed the
slightest doubts either Of the constitution.
atty or expediencv Of q National Bank.
until opposition 10 IL became an article in
The creed of the Jackson party. of which
hrs pliancy to rs chief had made him a
distinguished iavori,e. and ensured him
the nomination OF the Convention of Office
holders and political adventures which
assembled at Baltimore to notify the peo.
pie OF Gen. Jackson'y determination 10
throw he purple over his shoulders. II
MIR. Van Buren, opposed The Bank" be
cause the creed Of his party accidentally
required II, and was willing. for The same
sufficient reason. TO support "a Bank. a,
1t IL presumed he was. when il was oyfho-
dor 10 draw this nice distinction, may we
not. without doing him the slightest inius.
tice, infer that THE Bank" will again, in
his opinion. become constitutional and
proper, when. IL ever. IL shall be his inte.
rest so TO cons;rue the Constitution. and
10 arrest the evil consequences Of an im
potent financial SYSTEM
IN relation TO The power Of the General
Government TO Construct works of Inter
IA! improvement, il is known that Mr..
Van Buren, at one time recognized IL in
rs most Objectionable form. That be az.
forwards recsnted this opinion, furoishe,
only another link in the chain Of iestimo-
ny which goes TO sustain the position, tina,
the character Of his constitutional opin.
iohs depends upon the particular occ aston
By which they are eliensd. and The oh.
jecis TO which they are 10 be applied, and
do not flow from fixed and deierminate
principles Of construciion-ihe only safe
ground Of reliance, sod destitute OF " hieh
no politician deserves the name Of a siaies.
man, or can be safely trusted with the
duties Of the Chief MsgisGIssy, 10 limit
ed Government. Scarcely less objection.
able Is that mode Of construction ssnclion.
ed by tbs suthoriiy Of Gen. Jackson
nsme. which draws q distinction between
works OF a national and Of local charac-
ter, and between t-unrovernenfsoI o,~e n 4