Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-07-13
LyNcIIBURG, INV ~, 1910.
MR.. SPEAKER HUNTER.

Speaker Hunter 10 his constituents deiairg his po-
sitioD, relative TO which there has been for months
past no litlle speculation. lie goes against both
Van Buren, and Hanison; indicating. hawever, a
slight shade OF preference for the former, Who al
though not in his opinion State Rights man. (yei
the LEADER OF TIE STATE RIGHTS
PARTY y is less iatitudinous in his construction
Of the federal constitution Than the lalterl Mr.
Hunter makes very candid analysis Of the opinions
Of the two gentlemen. dedueed from their acis
and we readily concur with him in opinion, in re-
ference 10 at least Of these acts, that neither
Mr.. Van Buren, nor Gen. Harrison comes up pre-
cisey to the old Virginia. standard. But where
will Mr.. Hunter find such man among oni pfom-
uent politicians if acts TO he the test Of prin-
cjples? He admits that even if such man could
be brought before the people lere would not be the
remotes prospect Of his election: but where.
peat. such one be uud We have o.
vef, in minds, the names Of our most celebrated
Statesmen, aud we have not been able recall
memory one whose escucheon IS in this respect free
tiom stain. In tic practical administration ofthe
Government, even Jefferson and Madison, Que the
great Apostle aud the other hen less eminent Elk.
FOUNDER and Defender OF the State Rights creed,
]
themselves erected, and to exercise powers which.
according TO their own doctrines had mol been confer
red upon the general governments and which
Of preserved 10 the States respectively TO
the people"-Mr. Jefferson. for example, in refer
ence to the purchase of Louisiana, aud Mr.. Madi.
son, in reference TO National Bank-and both,
perhaps, if all The # tcir respective admnslra-
| tons were closely sctutnized, in relation other
points Of constitutional Interpretation. II they were
not always faithful 10 the construction gwen to
their own doctrines Of 90 where is the living man
whose fidelity has waveled--
Faithful among the faithless, onlybe ?"
| Is it John c. Calhoun Let his support ofthe
U. 9. Bank from 1916 to l634-hs splendid scheme
of Internal Improvement, communicated to Congress
in an official Report, while Secretary of War--bis
rdiculc Of the doctrines Of the Virginia school, as
fit only fofa metaphysical thesis, and FOR boy
dspuation-and the open aud ayowed grounds of
his opposition 10 the election OF Vim. II. Crawford
to the Presidency, answer The intefrogaiory If
Mr.. Hunter then. be looking FOR IN an who has al
ways walked his hair Inc With uutalter.ng aud unde-
waiting steps, nclnn neither to tie right nor to the
ler--one who. the language of MIR. jefferson.
determined To "maiatain the federal government
in all lis Constitutional sigor,' has been not less
determined prevent ercfoachments upon the
rights of tie several parties to the compact OF
Unon,--we verify believe, thai. like the Cynic he
will be compelled 10 light lantern AT noon-day,
aud that, alter all, HE search like that Of Dogenes
viii be labor in vain.
But puzzled to conceive the process by
which Mr. Hunter reaches the conclusion that Mr.
Van Buren is less laudinous Than Gen. Harrison.
The latter may, indeed, Lave ven a greater num-
her Of votes in favor OF objects which Mr. Hunter
bel ewes TO be unconstitutional than the former but
we have yet to Team that the character of mans
principles is 10 be inferred from The number rather
than the quality OF ais votes. Cen HARRISON, for
example, mas have recognized a dozen times, BY
his votes, BE constnutionality Of appropriations by
the federal government to works of internal I'M
provemen; and Mr.. Van Buren, ma, lave done the
same te six times, only once--bot SO Ear as the
cOaStttutbnat p0Ger is concerned il is impossible
that ous cen be less laluduous than the olher-
One may lave violated The constitution, in the opin-
ion of thoe who dissent from their intel pre- alton
Of that inrument, ojtener than the other probably
because her respective positions compelled him
more ffqueniy to act upon i; but the assertion of
constitutional lower precisely as laitudnous-nei.
ther nfre nor less son the OF the six cases as
10 lhe dozen. Both having feoog nzed the potcer the
frequency Of us exercise by either obviously depends
ulon contingencies and is certainly not to be re-
grled test Of the character Of their principles.
The true Point OF view, however. in which this
subject ought To bereeaded by practical men. is The
course which both gentlemen Will hereafter pursue.
Gen. HARRISON declares, for instance, that. although
he has voted for these works, yet he Will sustain
hem longer, because the STATES, in their indyid-
lal capacuy, have shown their ability ell then
to improve then own channels of inter
communication with ST flicieni vgor and energy to
ender the all Of the general government, one
line deemed so essential, wholly unnecessary. II
Mr.. Van Buien has made such declarations
,r if he has hoady denied The power, we are not
aware of IT, Nay, Mr.. Hunter expressly points to
instances inv hich he has recognized II within the
last three years, and one in which he even ,
ild so in opposition to the rule of construction lad
Town by "his lllusrious predecessor in that cele
rated humlug, the Maysvllle Veto. And so, if we
Iad room, We might &C on with tue other points OF
comparison ndducedb by Mr.. Hunter between the Ii h
al oandidatis for The Presidency.
The postum assumed by Mr.. Hunter. is, in a
plnion courary to the dictates of sound, practical y