The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-14
MIR. CALHOUN AND MIR. McDUFFIE.

MIR. CALHOUN AND Mh. mcDOF lFi'
To the Charleston Courier and the Baltimore
Republican we are indebted for the perusal Of
two letters; one written by MIR. Calhoun, in
which he gives his reasons for supporting the
election of Mr.. Van Buren,, and the other by
Mr. McDufie, indicating his late opposition 10
Gen jackson and his measures, and his present
preference and support Of Mr.. Van Buren,.
We have often differed with MIR. Calhoun on
the expediency of his career, and have, from
time TO time, exercised the privilege Of friend
to demonstrate with him. We had hope tina
the present exciting election would pass by with
out imposing ON us the necessity of controvert-
ing his opinions or giving prominence to his pre-
sent position-so painful 20 his true friends, and
so fatal, we fear, to his future reputation and
usefulness. In commenting now on his unkind
and unwise interference, by thrpwing the weight
and influence of his name into the scale OF his
old and most malignant personal as well as poll
teal enemies, we will not forget what is due to
our present personal relations, to those ties
which bind US together as old political associates
1t is painful to us to see that Mr.. Calhoun has
fallen into the error too common to the great
men of every age-that he is under deluson
as to the influence of political leaders, and has
SO far forgotten what was due to the character
and intelligence of his old political friends, as to
suppose that his authority would influence their
preference as between General Harrison and Mr..
Van Buren,!
The fatal error of the politicians of the pre-
sent day IL, that they expect the people are to
follow leaders, and that the measures of the adj
ministration to depend upon the opinions or
principles Of any one man, or any set OF men in
power The delpsign which disturbs, and seems
to haunt both Mr.. Calhoun and Mr. McDuffe
is that the election Of Gen. Harrison is to convert
the whole country over to Mr.. Webster's prnei-
Piles. Whereas, the election Of Gen. Harrison is
to reinstate the power of the people, to break
down the discipline Of party, and leave Con-
: gress once more free to act under their just
responsibility to their constituents.
Their objections to General Harrison and their
preference for Mr. Van Buren,, is urged upon the
ground that the one is not pledged in advance to
veto certain bills, while the other is willing to
promise any thing-through the Convention seho
nominated him. Now, after what we know of
Mr.. Van Buren,, after his attempt to disown his
own official recommendation of Mr. Poinsett's
plan, of organizing the militia, what are we to
think of Mr.. Calhoun's argument that he is
pledged by the resolutions adopted by the Bati-
more Convention? Strange deluson! strange
credulity!!!
We will hereafter show that, to be consistent,
Mr.. Calhoun's friends must resist his attempt
to transfer them over to Mr.. Van Buren,, and
that there is not the slightest ground to appre-
bend the dangers which he sees in the election
Of General Harrison. As to Mr.. McDufie, his
letter furnishes an argument at once conclusive
against MIR. Van Buren,, we will hereafter
show.