Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-06-11
TO MY CONSTITUENTS.

TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
1t has been my habit, on my annual return
from Washington, to mix SO freely with you,
that I have not found il necessary 10 address
YOU in the form of circular; circumstances
have changed, and now find myself holding
opinions opposed to those of the undivided
newspaper press the State. It's due TO my
self and to you that should not conceal these
opinions from you, nor withhold the reasons
which have led to them. have not made up
my mind hastily,as 10 the course which II was
proper for those occupying the peculiar posi-,
ton which do, TO take in the coming Presi-
DENTAL election. have done so with the ut
most deliberaiion, and after the fullest inquiry.
Not that have ever once thought OF supper
ting Mr.. Van Buren,: you sent me here oppos
ed TO him; all that | have since seen Of the
principles and character of his Administration
has only tended 10 confirm and add energy to
lat opposition. But had doubts whether
here were not grounds of opposition to the
other candidate, though not equally strong, yet
strong enough to forbid my supporting hun.
There are differences of opinion on important
subjects between Gen. Harrison and myself,
but there is no prospect for the present, and
the Presidency ofany one holding my peculiar
principles. have therefore to choose between
the two, and having decided preference, J
cannot consent to withhold the expression oil
that preference. do not intend to 60 into the
canvass but between that and VotIGg at the
election there is wide difference. do not IN
tend to he forced into any positions which Will
in any way interfere with my placing mySel
in opposition, If GenlIiarrison shall be elected
10 any measures which he may propose, OF
generally to his Administration, II duty shall
demand il of INC. Not 10 vote is mere child
play, and unbecomng the Sate.r. u 1t hat
nleased the leaders oil the old notification par
~ 10 have absained from any participation
whatever in the contest should have heel
pra,iGed; but it has not. The most strenuous
advocates of Mr.. Van Buren, that know arr
politicians and leaders Of the notification par
". That party has been indeed dissolved, ah'
the largest portion in our own State are ho'
dis,inctIu mustered under the banner Of NJ
Van Buren,. cannot enlist in that service
and for the following among many other rea
sons: have always looked with The creates
fears 10 the introduction into the politics oil tn
Union of the system of the Albany Regency
a system commenced lmmed'a'el! ai'er ~
close of the Revolution, by Aaron Burr ana q
which Mr. Van Buren, is the acknowledge
head The great characteristic OF ihat Sy'
tenn is to govern men BY addressing me loves
oclheir selfish passions, the love OF money al
OF office. The same system upon which ~
Rober, Walpole praclised with such corruptn
influence upon English morals, and WIN sue
fatal effects upon English liberty. II Tor T
other reasons. would not sanction, by n
election. the influences which brought Mr.. Va
Ruren mo power; no fair man VIII deny TN;
be was brought into office by the overpowe
inc influence of General Jackson. The fir
slep in the decline OF all free republics has bee
the nomination by the executive head OF II
Government of his successor. 1t is curIot
fact, and will be so regarded hereafter, that
man should have attained Presidency wliho
having associated his name with one sing
important period or measure in the history
his country. Ii the most prolix and mlnu
historian we're TO write the history of III
country previous to Mr.. Van Buron's eIectio
there is no single point in that history wi
which he would find occasion or excuse for co
meeting his name. regard as tie very gre'
est danger OF the times IN which we live, grea
,er even THAI the encroachments OF the Re
eral on the State Governments, the alarmll
tendency to the accumulation in the FEEDER
Executive ofall the powers Of the co-ordna
department of the Federal Government. '
have seen Mr.. Van Buren, persstng in pre-
ing upon the country his financial schema
alter repeated decisions of the People agall
them, in de6ance Of their circumstances, and
disregard OF their great and universal sulli
ings. We have seen him urging these schen
by all the vast patronage and power with win
he is invested, and receiving the aid Of Tho
who have denounced these measures as
structlve Of the best interests Of the country.
What difference is there between an ackno'
edged despotism, where the Executive NAL
the laws, and such state OF things as II
where he makes the laws through the ageo
Of others, many OF whom arethemselves opp
ed to these laws2 t
There isone ground ofobjection 10 Mr. V
Buren, which would forbid me 10 vote for j
i'll approved Of his measures, which do n
and IL | had confidence in his prolessio
which | have not allude to the ferocious v
which he has been waging. and which, if
elected, he will carry on with increased ener
upon the currency, commerce, and credit
the country. Never has the world known