Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-10-01

TESTIMONY OF An OLD RrrUB11cAy.-TLo
reader will find below, some extracts from tLe
letter Of Gov. Tazcwell Of Virginia. who n
shortt since declared his preference for Mr..
Van Buren,. 1t is scarcely necessary to saw.
that Mr. Tazewell is an o!d Republican Of ,bo
Jefferson school. lie says that when lie served
in Congress, with MIR. Van Burcn and General
Harrison, he generally agreed with the former.
and inrarinJiy differed with the latter. Tell ia
not after this. tHa: the Wing candidate for the
Presidency is disciple Of Jefferson though he
saysit himself.
81 have an acquaintance of some standing
with both the candidates, founded upon ser.
vice with each Of them for several success;v.
years in The Senate uf the United States. The
acquaintance lustifies ME in saying Of each
that he is q well.brcd gentleman, of mild and
amiable manners and department. and so far
as either knew or believe. of irreproachable
private charac.er. Gen. Harrison is nv senior
by several years, know, and therefore he
cannot be much short Of seventy: Mr. Van Bu-
rem is my junior by more years believe, than
Gen. Harrison is my senior. In their political
course, these gentlemen have generally differed:
a::d while we were all associated as members
nl the Senate of the United States, it was nv
fortune to differ sometimes with both. The oc.
casIons Of my difference with Mr.. Van Buren
were few and rare; but with General Harrison.
I do not remember a single subject, inroirinq ann
QUESTION Of ConStitutionatio,c, or of high political
erpediency. as to ,chich ,rc eeer concurred. And
OH the few occasions in which | differed with
Mr.. Van Burrn. he was associated with Gener-
al Harrison. Hence, it cannot be matter Of
surprise TO any, thai when placed in situation
where am to choose between two persons.
with neither of whom dn | agree entirely, [
shonld prefer him with whom have often uni-
ted both in opinion and action. to him with
whom have inrariaJly differed.
Il state these things. that knowing the effect
which Is sometimes produced upon human
minds by frequent and long continued conflicts
Of opinion upon subjects Of much interest, you
may appreciate as yon please the sentiment
have often uttered, and will there fore again re-
peat that in my judgment. General Harrison is
| both physically and intellectually incompetent to
perform the many. raricd, arduous. and important
duties ,chich must deroire upon ecery President of
the Unitcd States. That il is not prudent to ex-
ose our country to the certain perils which
must await it, should its destinies ever be COM
ntted to President by accident. in times OF
difficulty aud high excitement; and that such
catastrophe is always probable, when one is
elevated to the Presidential chair who has al.
ready reached The tnI term ordinarily consid-
cred as the limit OF mans life.
Ito kind lelrr from friends in n distant
SIa'e. inqulring what were my opinions of MIR.
Van Buren'S administration. have recently re-
Piled a copy Of this reply is now before me;
AMI rs it truly rrpr' sents my sentiments upon
this subject, will iranscrlbc my answer to the
enquiry prorounded. Il was opposed TO Mr..
Van Buren when he was first a candidate for
the Vice Presidential chair, and my opposition
To him was continued when he was afterwards
II candidate for the station he row holds. Upon
each OF these OCCASIONS there were candidates
who, rs lh"ught, agreed with my opinion
more exactl; and who therefore | preferred.
Entertaining sur h sentiments. Ihare eatchsdhis
caursc since he came into po,rcr aeiM a rigitancc
that might not perhaps hare bctn used by me an
der other circumstances. Yet, ,riM all this vigi-
Mnce. have not been able 10 detect single un-
constitutional act that has been done or proposed
by him. dHring his administration This is not
a slight merit al least in my eyes, and when
Win ~ tina, tho .-hnle srhnrna Of hia
policy in regard to our relations whether for
eisn or domestic, has evinred much sagacity,
prdenc. and fnrbearance. and this. too. under
circumstances ofgreat difficulty, cannot with
hold my appreciation from such q course J"