Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-25

sue. Ambition s guardian angel, was resolved to lave
It's glowing wing in the muddy current Of the Missouri,
for Bethesda's sainted waters were closed to IT'S aP-
preach. In that protracted and expanding excitement,
Il is not seen that MIR. Van Buren, did more than give
his vote for the Resolution of the Senate OF New York
OF the Goth of January, 1920; and to this duty he was
attracted with more than a magnet force, by that deep
and pervading will of the people, which held him in a
masters sway. If any evidence exists of his activity
in ia behalf. no trace OF it can be found where it ought
to be seen. His support of the reelection OF MIR. King
10 the Senate, after a failure to elect at the usual peri
cd, has often been urged as proof to his prejudice
Mr.. Kings reelection lay IN causes that had no reia-
ton with the Missouri question, and he was taken up
from necessity to defeat Mr.. Spencer's election, who
had been the Speaker of the Assembly and the candi-
date Of the Clintonian party.
The Legislature was cut into three unequal sections,
10 neither of which, did there belong a majority OF
members. The Federalists held the balance OF power
in the choice of Senator, as well as the eiecuon OF Inc
Council of appointments, then created by legislative
vote, and who held the whole patronage OF the ota'e.
Mr KINGS reelection was favored BY the Government
Journal al Washington of the Sd of March, lSl9--and
although MI. Van Buren, wrote a pamphlet for the sue
cess Of that election, and is said to have pledged HIM
self for its propriety, yet that pamphlet has been scan
nod. with no friendly eye, to detect in this respect some
evidence of a guilty ambition, pressing itself upon the
Missouri disturbance. 1t is silent as To that subject,
and cautiously forbears TO touch II. Written, too, as
that pamphlet was, in the heat of the battle, SIT masses
,luressire silence" Had victory crowned that terrific
STRUGGLE, il would have borne no quiet to MIR. Van Bu-
rem. The Crawford contest which quickly followed
with its throes and struggles, delivers It's history, as an
unerring witness TO the truth of this postulate. a
mind engaged in candid enquiry after truth, tor the sole
ends of Justice, may compass lis object at a glance
Let the resolution of the 29th of January, 1920, voted
for in the Senate Of New York, be placed in iuxta po-
si,ion with that written and advocated by General Har-
rison on the preceding third day of the same month IN
the Senate of Ohio, and apart from the more active
ngency) if the stronger language mark the deeper guth,
tho, p,,y Mr. Y Ruren trust the award OF truth and U.S.
t,ce. The Editors of Southern Journals, the newspaper
politicians ofthe day, and even the Statesmen who adorn
our national councils, are offering oblations and thanks
piyinrs in this behalf, s'ior the noble championship OF
General Harrison in the cause of the South, whilst a
cloud hangs over his rival, and threatens to waste ITS
rage upon his head. The South will yet deliver impair.
tial Judgment, in THE spirit Of that wise and stern
maxim which gives its moral lustre 10 one OF the dra-
mas of Publius Syrus: 'tJndcE damnatnr cum n0eehs
n5solretur.'' Each may learn, as there is mutual error,
a lesson of practical morality on this point, which was
said TO be engraved on his earthen lamp by the Phlo-
sopher Epictetus, as the light to his footsteps IN the
tourney of life: "To PEAR ana roRREAR, TO ENDURE
and ABSTAIN"
Gratitude is said to be the debt now due Gen. Harri-
son from the South. And, q word at closing on that
subject. If, in her cause, he has sacrificed his personal
o. political interests, the debt should be paid, promptly
and fully-not only in rctribution for his indemnity,
bnt for the care of those principles which are sacred to
Southern security. There is nothing, however, in
which our sensibilities practice such mischievouS dclu-
Sons over our UNDERSTANDINGS, as Ill lliS ariilInctc OF
the heart for public benetactors. Much OF that false
philanthropy which makes humanity its victim and lis
sacrifice, is the growth of this deluslon. And 1t IS
destined to become the conductor for that electtI-
cal spark 10 touch the mine, whose explosion IS
yct 10 shake into ruin the foundations OF this Con
iIderacy. Let, however, unQuestioned facts, acting
the double duty of witness and OF Judge, settle this
enquiry. We have shcwn the agency that he
bore, and the part he acted, in Congress and the
Senate of his State. And nothing that ought TO af-
-. a. ..at ..n,t.,n tapdarppss In iDroIyDtIrU Sgr-
,iiuae. can with Justice be asserted to his prejudice
He exchanged by his own choice the service OF the
same people in the federal, for that of the State Lcgis-
lature. After the penultImate census, ana following
The first arrangements that were made to conform with
IL, Gen. Harrison was again seen to prefer the service
of his country in the Congress of the United States.
The Missouri excitement was at rest, and the compro-
mise in which it was settled for ever, (f faith be sa-
cred and inviolate) must have kept that element ofdis-
cord far away from rational deliberations. And IN
truth upon the main questions, (s debated IN Southern
minds,j there seems never to have existed in Ohio, any
serious discrepancy of opinion. Her vote in Congress
on the passage q! the Missouri law hna!iy, was aisth-
ruished by perfect u.aninity.
Yet Gen. Harrison was defeated at that election for
Congress by his competitor, Mr. Gazlay. New ques-
tious had then risen on the public mind, aid their as
suasiye influence mingled in all the agitatIons OF the
popular viii. The month OF July, 1S22, preceded by
many moons the day for that election; and in that
month, the Legislature OF Tennessee had formally pre-
sented to the Union, for its highest office, the name OF
nm INDUSTRIOUS man, WUO udQ eel announced " LIN
earthquake voice of victory, TO be FIRST IL WAR, as he
afterwards proved to be FIRST IL THE HEARTS OF HIS
CouSTRYMES. Mr.. Gazlay was openly the friend OF A
Jackson, whilst Gen. Harrison as openly advocated the
election Of a different candidate; and was soon after.
wards chosen on the electoral ticket by the State OF
Ohio, to bestow the Presidential vote upon that oppos.
ING candidate. The people may have pressed into thai
canvass the wishes of that district for the Hero OF Or.
leans, and have made it turn the scale against General
n. They may have pressed into their thoughts and
Snr1a their decision ON the relative merits of the Hero
of the eth OF November, ISL: and him WHO had
canonized the glorious 9Th. They may have contrast
ed the tall hickory that lifted its triumphant boughs
over the father of waters, with ''the willows that
clothed The bank of the small stream, al Tippe-
canoe. Mr.. Gazlay was successful; but it is yet to
be shewn, that either of the candidates was a VIC
tim, or that any sacrifice was offered on the altar OF
Southern rights or Constitutional devotion. II cannot
be shcwn. For, in addition to the evidence conclusive
in truth, against it, General Harrison retained his po-
pular;ty which he had risked nothing to lose, and was
quickly elected to the Senate of the United States,
where he held his seat, in steady resistance by all his
votes, 10 Southern interests; until he voluntarily aban-
lnncd it, in lc2S, for the profitable mission TO Bogota,
bestowed on him by Nr. Adams.
Bat al this late hour for rest, whilst my temples throb,
and my limbs ache with pam, a newspaper is put INTO
my hand with the extract OF Il speech of tribute and OF
thanks from a Southern member Of Congress, for his
full aud glorious sacrifice TO the interests of the South.
That speech is in my hand, and the journal containing
The preamble and resolution advocated in the Senate of
Ohio, by General Harrison the Sd OF January 1920, is
now open on my table. The Journal assures me that
he waS doing The deed in the SenaL. Of Ohio. The
.ncmhcr believes that he was at that moment ''side
hy side in this House with those that led the van
9 in favor Of slavery The imprisoned orator adds,
-"Side By side with the Republicans of the South
I" he made a full and glorious sacrifice of himself, for
" the people of Missouri. Is the gentleman from Mis-
ao,ri in the House, Oh Missouri, ooh misery ~
| commend TO all praise, that noble sentiment, which
offers The homage OF the heart, in the ardour of its sc
ncrcus decisions: but | commend TO serious review,
the ~srhotU1a which is entered on the Journals of the
Senate of Ohio, and the corollary Of the Cheviot speech,
and if the Trojan horse be not seen, under the walls
Of the Constitution, too, will cxclaiIn, "Oht .niser'
qua tdRta iRSania, circs.t LAGOON.
See National 1ntclligenccr of that date.
See Gen. ilarrison's official report of the 18th November, ISL
Second .EReid, ime 42d.
-SIyTH CONGRESS---lst SESSION,