The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-08-07

with which they made their lbations TO their mock
hero, are fast evuporating. Reason is resumina
her empire, and many who have been allured by
the parades and professions and mottos and ban
ners and music which have streamed before their
eyes and ratified in their ears from the period OF
the Baltimore Convention until the recent fourth
of July celebrations, begin to turn their thoughts
inward, and to ask themselves, why have we been
led away by this ridiculous mummery and childish
pageantry. As some, perhaps, cannot answer this
question, we will attempt the answer ourselves
Man is naturally gregarious animal; fond of herd
ing and uniting with his fellow men; easily acted
upon by external influences for the time being, and
most easily affected when in a crowd. Numerous
instances, ancient and modern, can be adduced to
prove the truth of this from the shout of the
assembled TO listen to the exhortaions of Peter
the Hermit, " 1t is the will of God," to the pres
ent war cry of the wings, +" Huzza for old Tip"
The leaders of the wing party understand this prin-
cipc of human nature, and have not been back
ward in taking every advantage of it, Instead of
temperate and manly discussions of principles,
their conventions and meetings have been charac-
terized by shouiings and leaslings and revelry,
whilst the air has reverberated with their horrid
yes, making night hdeous.' The leading
wings themselves, do not hesitate to declare that
this is part of their plan to run in their candidate.
They say that the great majority of the people re-
qure these parades and shows, in order to create an
interest and enthusiasm in the cause of their hero.
And they justify themselves, by ascribng similar
measures to the friends of Gen. Jackson during his
canvass for the Presidency. Let us now compare
the two cases aud see how they agree, Gen. Jack
son was taken up by the people, and in both terms
elected by them by triumphant majority, against
the combined forces of federalism, and all other
isms. lie was democrat from his youth,
and endearcd to the democracy by his long and
faithful services civil and military, and by the
shameful and infamous abuse he received from his
political enemies. Gen Harrison, on the contrary,
is supported by the very part, that so bitterly OPP
posed Gen. Jackson. lie is now and ever was a
itdcralis and an enemy of the people. His seryi-
cess such as they are, have been more than paid
by 10000 dollars of the peoples money which
he has received or owes the government. We do
no, wish to say any thing deroaatory to his military
services, but we hunbly conceive, that ilhc coun-
try owed him debt for them, over and above
what he has received in his pay proper, he has
been munfccnliy rewarded and paid in his present
To- If Tlnrl Of ,,h inlI - ,,ln
~ of from six TO ten thousand dollars.
The difference between the hurrah for Jackson,
and the hurrah for Harrison, is, simply thls:-lhc
former was raised by the people to destroy the po
li,ical power of the frdcralisls, which was fast
crushing them under the worst of servitude the
servi,ude of mnmmon; whilst the latter is raised
by the icdcralis,s, the enemies Of The people, 10
crush them with their own assistance, and reduce
them once more to the CALLING letters of the Banks
In getting up this hurrah, and imagining for II mo-
mcnt that it will have any permanent effect upon
an intelligent and enlightened ycomanry, the wings
have committed an insult upon their understand
ings, which they will not be slow to perceive and
resist in proper manner at the approaching cleo
ton. The honest and Independent lrecmcn will
perceive that time arrives, that the present con-
test is not mere personal contest between two in
dividuals, to be decided by their relative moral,
political or social characters but contest of prin-
cipIc-a contest which will determine for the next
four years, perhaps forever, the political complex
ion of the United States. II is TO determine wheth-
cr the people are to keep the government in their
own hands, or are to surrender to an unprnciplcd,
prohigate, moneyed aris,ocracy, to be administer
ed for their own profit and aggrandizement,-
whether the peoples money Is TO be in their own
control, or to be delivered up to Bank to be used
in speculation, bribery and corruption whether
we are to have splendid government, supported
by large standing army, to provide places for
"youngcr sons" or to leave the protection of the
country to its only constitutional defence, the ma
Adams on the subject of internal improvements are
to be followed out, and National debt contracted
in order to complete them, or whether internal i'm
proyements are to be left with the States, where
the constitution PAGES lneIl,-WhclheT i've eilor-
nous amount of State debts contracted in Europe
are to be assumed by the general government and
funded, thereby creating National debt, on the
old federal ground tibet " a national debt Is ma
tonal blessing or whether the States are 10 be
left to pay their own debts us best they may.
These are some of the important principles which
the intelligent, ircemcn will discover divide the two
individuals now in the political arena candidates
for the highest Office in the world The one, Mr..
Van Buren, is not only pleigei to 90 with the pco-
ME in this contest, but he has given earnest Of it
by the hghmindcd and upright course he has pnr-
sued during his administration. The other, Gen.
Harrison, refuses to give any pledges, or even to
explain his views on those points of national poll
cy and demands that the people shall support him
with "gcncrous confidence in his friendship
for them. VIVA, has he ever done TO en;itle him
to this generous conidenre' Was it his approval
of that Infamous act of Indiana Legislature con-
demning the people TO be sold as slaves for fines