The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-07
AMENDMENT
OF THE CONSTITUTION.

Mr. Febsier's visit to Virginia constitutes an
era in the political history of this country. The
Globe saws, that the Democrats feel grateful to
him, and that it is only to be regretted that he
did not go little farther South, while many OF
Mr.. w, bster's own political friends in Virginia,
foresaw that it would give to Mr.. Richie and
others, the opp, rtunity OF appealing to the self
love, pride of opinion, and prejudice that were
known to exist ara inst him, and by making a
new issue on Nh Webster, arrest the political
revolution progressing in Eastern Virginia
One important feature of the controversy, seems
to have been entirely forgotten: very large
proportion of the Virginia electoral ticket were
original jackson men, who separated from him
upon the Proclamation. We refer to this, as a
proof, that many of the most ardent and efficient
supporters OF Gen. Harrison in that State, are
distinctly opposed to Mr.. Webster upon that
great measure, for the support of which he prides
himself, perhaps, more than upon any other act
of his life. His going to Virginia, therefore,
raised a question between these friends OF Gen.
Harrison and himself, as to whether he or they
were right in The construction Of Il e ConstItu-
ton, and whether he or they had changed. 1t
was in vain to tell the great body of the people
that their construction of the Constitution, in
this particular, was an incidental question; that
they were to choose between Gen. Harrison and
MIR. Van Buren,; and that that choice should be
made in reference to Gen. Harrison's and not
Mr.. Webster's opinions. The fact that Mr.. w
had been invited, that he had made speech,
and been received and treated with distinguish
h.,
great man in the party, and was sufficient for the
Richmond Enquirer and the Globe, and all the
Administration orators throughout the State, to
make the party responsible for Mr.. Nebster's
opinions, and to carry back the public mind to
its former prejudice against himj and, hence, at
a moment when the SANDERS against Gen. Har-
rison had been disposed Of, and the public mind
was rapidly settling down in his favor, this new
element revived the ancient feeling, and contri-
buted to increase the Administration vote the
Democratic counties of the State. We speak |
of these things they are; we the partizan
of no man, nor do we intend that this press shall
ever deserve that character; our condition is,
and will continue to be, conservative, and 1t is |
as much our duty to speak plainly of the errsrs
of our friends, as 10 censure the faults of our
adversaries. We do this now, reference TO
the condition in which the country will be placed
by the election of Gen. Harrison; and to the i'm
preston which prevails to considerable ex-
tent, that he is to be party President; and, es-
pecally, in reference to an able article address
ed to MIR. Webster in the Louisville Journal,
which will be found in another column. We
do not know that understand what the OBJ
iect of this writer is. That there is something
wrong in the Executive power, all parties must
admit. The writers remarks warrant the infer
ence that he would create permanent EXecu-
tive. We cannot believe that such was his pur-
pose, or that any one, at this day, would make
such proposition. We concur with him in the
necessity Of some modification of the Executive
power, and also in the opinion that Mr. Web
ster can exercise important influence in its
accomplishment The views which he presents
have great force; and, without further coinpro-
raitting ourselves, we submit them with the pur-
pose of inviting deliberate examination of this
subject, and expressing our qualification that the
public attention has been early called to it.
We cannot conclude our remarks upon Mr..
Webster's visit to Richmond, without express
ing our qualification, we may say our gratitude
to him, for the sentiments avowed in his speech
there; and we hold him to his pledge, to exert
tie influence which he has in separating the
Government from the Press. This we believe
to be among the most desirable reformations to
be accomplished. If Mr.. Webster takes hold of
1T in earnest, it can be accomplished; and, in
doing so, he will confer lasting obligations upon
his country. Fer our own part, we believe the
coming in Of Gen. Harrison will be favorable,
peculiarly so, to these reformations called for by
experience. He has pledged himself that no
one shall know whom he prefers as his success.
sor; the consequence must be, that in the organi-
cation of his cabinet, and his administration of
tine Government, he will disarm opposition, and
compel candidates for public favor, to compete
with each other in their zeal for these great
measures. And it is to be hoped, that the de-
velopements of the last few years, will greatly
promote concert even among rival candidates in
support of them.