Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-10-21

violence ofcivil commotion, or we settle down
in the still and deathlikc calm Of an iron des-
potism.
VAN BUREN,,
After this revolving picture Of official profit
gacy, let US turn TO Mr.. Van Buren's private
life, and endeavcr to discover some features
which, whilst they attract admiration, may
serve to account for the devoted zeal with
which he is supported by his partizans. But
vain and fruitless is our effort, not one brill
liant achievement, not one elevated trait, not
one innobling virtue is found TO relieve his char
acter from that disgusting tissue Of artifce
and deception, of political intrigue and instinc-
tive cunning, which have marked and dis
graccd his whole life. What is there 10 re-
commend him to the support of the people in
his bubble life before he arrived at his present
elcvation-an elevation solely attributable TO
the rejection Of his nomination to the court Of
St. James, and the decided preference man
Tested for him by his illustrious predecessor,
whose footsteps he scrvilely promised to fol-
low SO openly we're the patronagcs Of The
government, and all the power ard popularity
Of the president brought 10 bear upon the elcc-
ton Of this fawning sycophaut that distln-
guished member of Congress from South
Carolina, now a supporter of the administra-
ton, pronounced "that we have been base
ly dcluded by all the arts Of intrigue, bargain
and corruption" and Indignantly asked, if
we confirm by reelection, this fraudulent ap-
pointment, viii not posteriiy say, we too, are
only free in name z" What is there in the
course of this democratic candidate for the
presidency, to induce confidence in his pres
ent professions Of democracy, when he was
exerting in conjunction with the federalsts
during the war-all his acknowledged talents
for intrigue to'defeat the election of Mr.. Mad
ison, the democrotic candidate and the poo
pies favoritc, and TO get De Witt Clinton
elected, for the express object of arresting the
war, which terminated SO gloriously for the
honor and interests of this country? What
is there in the opposition which he maintain
ed 10 the Convention of New York, TO the es-
Enlistment of universal suffrage, and to the
principles of the people electing their eXecu-
tive officers! What is there in the part
which he took in 1870, whilst in the Senate of
New York, to recommend this northern man
with southern Il elngs to the support of the
South, when he voted for instructing the New
York Senators TO oppose the admission of
Missouri into the Union as a slaveholding
state, aquestion which was then agitatmg
4 no fo nd
dissolution of the Union! What is there in
the vote which he gave in 1921, allowing free
negroes the right of suffrage in the State of
New York What is there in his vote in
1922, whilst a member of the United States
Senate, restraining the introduction of slaves
into the territory Of Florida What is there
in his vote for the tariff of 1924, and what in
his vote for the tariff of 1898, that bill of
when after his repeated pro-
LESSONS to the southern members, of his deter
to sustain their views, he basely de-
serted them, and hypocntically affected to
have been controlled by instructions from his
State, instructions which bis own instruments
had gotten up TO cover his duplicity! 1t was
On that occasion, that a distinguished south
ern member ofthe Senate, in reply TO his al
eged excuse for his apostacy, made use ofthis
expression to him, ~ you have de-
,eived me once, that was your fault, If you
deceive me again it win he NINE" Let us
adopt as our maxim this biting re3roof which
has been abandoned by its author, and resolve |
lot to entrust again our country's destiny TO
he guidance of that hithIess pretcnder 10
genuine Democracy, who has advanced by
such rapid strides towards converting our no.
bic and free institutions into practical despo-
Iism By the corrupting influence which he
has spread over the land like blighting pesti-
encc ne has silently and secretly sapped the
foundations Of our republican Government,
md is rapidly destroying this splendid temple
# liberty to erect in its place dark and gloo-
ny abode for desPotism. BY the unlimited
,owcr Of dismissal from Office without respon-
,ibili;y, which he has exercised, he has made
VERY officer Of the government, the humble
,roature of his will, and the servile instrument
Of his powet: The construction which he
puts upon his duties TO carry into effect the
constitution and laws as he may choose to
,onstrue them, though that opinion may be in
opposition TO the views OF every other individ-
nal in the country, and to the contemporaries
BUS construction of thSt instrument, is an as
sumption at once of supreme power; and by
placing the funds of the government into the
hands of creatures holding their official cXis-
lcuCCs upon luS COuullOH Oh AIClI DtIllB tlC
servile tools TO execute the schemes of his dc
tatlon, he has effected the union of the purse
and the sword, which has ever been consider
ed the cOnsummation of executive usurpation
lfin the approaching election you sanction by
pour votes, these repeated acts of systematic
encroachment, this concentration of power in
the executive, you may for while longer re-
tain the names and forms of free government
but you will realize all the evils of practi-
cal monarchy-your country may still be call
cd republic, and the form ofyour government
may remain unchanged, but the spirit of liber-
ty which animated its system and gave beauty
to its features, will have fled.
fE.Tis Greece, but living Greece no more"
A ROLITIONI ISM.
Not content with this act offoul inius-
tice to the character o. a patriot, whom
the unsolicited voice o. his country has
called from his retirement lL, lend rs as