Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-05-14
TO MY CONSTITUENTS.

10 MY CONSTITUENTS.
1t has been my habit, on my annual return
from Washington, to mix SO freely with YOU.
thatlhave not found it necessary to address YOU
In the form of circular circumstances have
changed, and l now find myselfholdng opin-
Ions opposed to those of the undivided news
paperpress OF the State. Tits due tomyselfand
TO You that should not conceal these opin-
ions from you, nor withhold the reasons
which have led to them. have not made up
my mind hastily, as TO the course which it
was proper Tor those occupying the peculiar
position which do, to take in the coming
Presidential election. i have done so with
the utmost deliberation, and after the fullest
inquiry. Not that / have ever once though,
of supporting Mr.. Van Buren, YOU sent me
here opposed to him; all that | have since
seen OF the principles and character of his
Administration has only tended to confirm and
add energy to that opposition. But l had
doubts whether there were not grounds of op-
position to the other candidate, though not
equally strong, yet strong enough to forbid
my supporting him. There are differences of
opinion on important subjects between Genl.
Harrison and myself, butthere is no prospect
for the present, and | see but little for the flu
ture, OF the elevation to the Presidency of any
one holding my peculiar principles. l have
therefore to choose between the two, and
having decided preference, cannot consent
to withhold the expression of that preference
do not intend to GO into the canvass; but
between that and voting at the election there
Is wide difference. do not intend to be
forced into any position which will in any
way interfere with my placing myself in OPP.
position, if Gen. Harrison shall be elected, to
any measures which he may propose, or gen.
emily to his Administration, if duty shall de-
mand 1t of me. Not to vote is mere child's
play, and unbecoming the State. If it had
pleased the leaders of the old notification
party to have abstained from any participation
whatever In the contest, i should have been
gratified; but ii has not. Themost strenuous
advocates Of Mr.. Van Buren, that know are
politicians and leaders of the notification
party. That party has been indeed dissolv-
ed, and the largest portion in our own State
are notD distinctly mustered under the banner
Of Mr.. Van Buren,. / cannot enlist in that
service, and for the following among many
other reasons have always looked with the
greatest fears to the introduction into the pol
tics OF the Union of the system Of the Albany
Regency-a system commenced Immediately
after the close Of the Revolution, by Aaron
Burr, and of which Mr.. Van Buren, is the
acknowledged head. The great characteristic
OF That system is togovern men by addressing
the lowest OF their selfish passions, the love
OF money and OF office. The same system
upon which Sir Robert Walpole practised
with such corrupting influence upon English
morals, and with such fatal effects upon Eng
lish liberty. If for no other reason, i would
not sanction, by reelection, the influences
which brought MIR. Van Buren, into power !;
no iair man will deny that ne was brought
into office by the overpowering influence of
General Jackson. The first step in the de-
cline OF all free republics has been the nomi-
nation by the executive head Of the Govern
menS OF his successor. 1t is curious fact,
and will be SO regarded hereafter, that man
should have attained the Presidency without
having associated his name with one single
important period or measure in the history Of
his country. 1.-THE most proiiy and minute
historian Were to write the history of this
country previous to Mr.. Van Buren's cleo
ton, there is TO single point in that history
with which he would find occasion or excuse
for connecting his name. | regard as the ve-
ry greatest danger of the times in which we
live, greater even than the entertainments of
the Federal on the State Governments. the
alarming tendency to the accumulation in the
Federal Executive of all the powers of the CO.
ordinate department of the Federal Govern
ment. We have seen Mr.. Van Buren, persis-
ting In pressing upon the country his financial
schemes, after repeated decisions Of the Peo-
~" a Sulhot titlll, Ill utidHCC OF lnGlr fGIuOn-
strances, and in disregard Of their great and
universal sufterings. We have seen him ur-
giDg these schemes by all the vast patronage
and power with which he is invested, and
receiving the aid of those who have denounc.
ed these measures as destructive of the best
interests Of the country. What difference is
there between an acknowledged dcspotisrn
where the Executive makes the laws, and
such state Of things as this, where he makes
the laws through the agency Of others, many
OF whom are themselves opposed to these
lawsl
There Is one ground of objection TO Mr.
Van buren, which would forbid me to vote fo
him II approved of his measures, which dc
not; and If had confidence in his professions
which have not ! alude to the ferociou;
war which he has been waging, and which
IL reelected, he will carry on with increased
energy, upon the currency, commerce, ant
credit of the country. Never has the worlc
known people as prosperous and as happy
as ours when he came into power never Ina:
any people suffered more severe trials since
. 1t has been one unbroken series Of suffering
=. disaster, and misery. ] do most sincerely
believe that nothing can restore prosperity 4
the country but taking power from his hands
nothing else will restore public confidence
and confidence IS all that is now wanting.
is true that many Of the causes Of embarass
ment existed before the last election; W,
should have suffered somewhat but that TIN
troubles and embarrassmuats Of the counir,
have been infinitely aggravated by his meas
= ures, | do not doubt. We have had other ne
RODS ofderauged currency but they have pas