Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-06-02

-oLLu kIlOW 1lttlI W UC d OtUC0 Iudllt /
true patriot and a capable statesman;
and, knowing him as | do, had | ten
thousand votes they should all be his
in preference to Van Buren,. lift was
necessary, / could go into detail in
giving reasons for my preference Of
Gen. Harrison. But | expect to meet
personally with most of my old politi-
cal friends and associates, and will with |
great pleasure explain verbally why
am constrained to sustain Gen. Harri-
son. For the last year / have been
dissatisfied with the course of meas
ures pursued by the Administration,
and considered the legislation of the |
Van Buren, party in the State Govern
mentas peculiarly Objectionable. And
much as have disliked the course Of
the leaders of the Wing party, [ have
longed TO see and do hope to see Mr..
Van Buren, leave the White House on
the 4th of March next. To many of
my friends these feelings and wishes
are not new. Yet, so strongly have [
been bound by the chains of party,
that | confess | have been wanting in
nerve openly to proclaim my opinions.
I had been persuaded myself to slip
along until the election, in silence and
inactivity, unless (which I supposed
would probably be the facD | should
be called on to be the Van Buren, can
didate for Congress, which would
make it necessary to declare my opin-
ions freely and frankly. But being
oppointeda member of the Democratic
State Central Committee, found that
neutrality was no longer possible. l
therefore, again reviewed the two pO-
litical parties (the extremes of both L
abhor) and came to the conclusion that
there was, indeed, SO little difference
between the honest men of the two
parties, as | had served two campaigns
under the old hero of Fort Meigs and
the Thames, [ would 60 on and serve
a second under Van Buren,. In this
conclusion soon found [ had erred.
There were differences, [ found, be-
tween the Central Committee and my
self, on subjects of vital interest to the
country which could notbe reconciied.
When l again reviewed the late Mes
sage Of the President to Congress, his
former dictatorial messages and the
destructive measures of 4 cannot say
true Jackson Legislature, butt the
Ohio Legislature, which were bringing
ruin upon the country, il was apparen
that, if retained place in that Com
mittee, l should be compelled to sane.
ton with my name what my Judge
ment condemned and my love ofcoun
try abhored. Under these considera
tons, ] plucked up courage las hat
often done before under the "Ol'
Granny and Coward as some ca
him1 and resigned my membership i
/ said committee. | now only regre
e that l had not acted with more energ
e and decision, and at once followed tn
: dictates Of my conscience which b
4 day and by night admonished me of m
a duty, in regard to this important ma
v ter, until almost hated myself fc
i hating so long between two opinions
d Perhaps, | ought to ask pardon of tn
4 Democratic State Central Committe'
i for my wavering conduct-but tn
r shackles are broken, and, thank Coz
- | am once more freeman And
!. long as ] live intend to be so.
1t will only further remark, in col
l clusion, that with my decided appr'
n, baton of the old chief and m
ID determination to support him by
,e proper means, | cannot share in al
IN proceedings which smack of dictate
Sc to the people. The people in n
or opinion are abundantly capable, wit
ty out the help Of 'dictators, to choo
er their own officers. Idesire further
ii. say to all my old Jackson friends
ur this city and surrounding counties, IL
ire my house is open from this time TO
Presidential election-and that | W
N esteem it a favor, if they will all c
lot on me, whenever they find it conve
~ lent. "They will never find my dc
81 shut and the string Of the latch pull
- in" We will confer with one anott
ost and reason together touching our CO
- mon interests and those of our co
" mon and beloved country.
i. l am, sir, your obe't serv't,
10 JOHN McELVAlNE'