Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-07-07
MIR. HUNTERS LETTER.

and Federal standard. Which then will YOU prefer
Harrison or Van Buren,:
MR.. HUNTERS LETTER.
We hasten 10 lay before our readers the following Ad.
dress, which we received BY yesterdays Washington
Mail from the Speaker of the II. of R-We canno,
fnrbcar the expression Of our regret, that Mr.. Hunter
should have thought il necessary 10 take such Il course.
Ills position ON the political chess board, is somewhat
unique. He "cannot vote for either of the candidates:
but If he svoted at all, he "should vote for Mr.. Van
buren, He can on no account vote for Gen. llarri.
son, for the reasons which he 50 iorclbly pnts forth
and which may be pretty much sumu ed up in this EN-.
phatic declaration, that q know Of no question on
which The State Rights party have divided from
the latItudinaran school upon which General ilar-
rison has been with us" The objection is az irresistible
rem, because he understands him, as well as Gen. liarri.
son, to have approved the Proclamation and Force
Bill'-because he believes him, as well as Gen. H.,
'to be in favor of 4 protective Tariff and because he
believes him TO be committed on the subject of Internal
improvement, though not 50 deeply as Gen. Harrison.
4 few words only as to these positions: lst. The
Proclamation and Force BW-We have no idea, that
Nj. V. B. approves ofthe Proclamation, as it was origi-
nally INTERPRETED by Mr.. Webster, and so strongly APP
proved by Gen. Harrison. The world will rccollect,
that il was subsequently, explained by Gen. Jackson, in
an exposition which he authorized TO be published in
the Glohe. In THIS last sense only, do we presume II
TO be approved by Mr.. Van Buren,. AS TO the Force
Bill, we are unable to say, whether II was approved By
Mr.. ' an DuFen. lllOunn we ali X W from the lDtNlOl
Speech how strongly it was %eulogrsed by General H.
Cd. The Tarif-Mr. Hunter refers to Mr.. Van Buren's
votes for the Tariff OF 1924, as well as 1c2., on which
last he was instructed by the Legislature of n. York.
As we are aware las we have stated IN another article
of this paper which we wrote several days since) that
the history of these days, of his Albany Speech of 1c21,
and his subsequent vo on the Tariff, is 10 become
the subject of a full and public exposition, and many
errors and even frauds cleared up, We forbear touch
ing those themes at the present time. But on the
broad principles of Mr.. Van Buren,, there can be no ms
take. We are warranted IN saying, that he goes Tor no
higher duties, than are sufficient, in conjunctIoirwith the
Proceeds Of the Public Lands, TO meet the expenses OF
the Government most economically administered. We
know that this is his position. In his letter to the
Shockoe Committee OF 1882, he adopts the following
maxim Of General Jackson "a modification Of the
tariff, which should produce a reduction of the reve.
venue TO the wants oil the Government, and an ADJUST
ment Of the duty upon imports, with a view TO equal
Justice in relation to all our national interests, and to
the counteraction OF foreign policy, SO far as 1t may be
INJURIOUS to those interests. And he presents the iol-
loving as his solution Of the maxim "a sincere and
faithful application of these principles to our legislation,
unwarpcd by private interest or political design; 4 re-
striction of the wants of the Government TO u simple
| and economical administration OF lis atialrs-the only
administration which is consistent with the purity and
stability Of the Republican SYSTEM; a preference IN en-.
courageIuent given 10 such manufactures as are essen
,ial to the national defence, and its extension to others
IN proportion as they are adapted to our country, anc
of which the raw material is produced by ourselves; with
a proper respect for the rule which demands that al
n ives should be imposed in proportion TO the ability and
condition of the contributors, would, | am convinced,
rIye ultimate satisfaction 10 a vast majority OF the Peo-
Die ofthe United States, and arrest that spirit of dlscon'
tent, which is now u~nhappily prevalent, and which
threatens such extensive injury to the institutions OF ouI
country But we forbear-as we shall probably have
Mr.. V. B..s past position better defined IN the course OF a
few DAYS. Sd. Internal Improvements. On this SUBJECT
there can be no comparison between the candidates
AS Mr.. Hunter remarks, General HARRISON "has voted
for the system in all its forms--whilst Mr.. Van Buren,
places a constitutional inte rdict upon almost every form
and would place the whole under constitutional rcqust
tons, with verv narrow exceptions IN relation 10 isht'
houses, buovs, piers, DC. For, he says IN his ShocKoe
letter, "Subsequent reflection and experience nave con
frmed my apprehenslons OF the injurious consequence
which would flow from the resumption OF apProPrla
tons for Internal improvements, with no better ruieio
the government of Congress than that OF winch l nave
spoken: and | do not hesitate 10 express It as my OPT
Mon, that the general and true interests OF the country
| would be best consulted by Withholding them, with the
exceptions which | have already referred 10, until some
constitutional regulation upon the subject has been
made
On the great question of the Currency and a National
Bank, the last, the great point OF issue now before the
counrvD Mr.. Hunter recognises IA marked difference
in their opinions Mr.. Fl. contends, and no.impartial
man can deny it, that I" Gen. II. acii sign a bill for a
u. S. Bank, should Congress pass it, (who doubts ~
"whilst Mr.. V. B. would veto such a charter. Hhen
there is so marked difference on SO many important
questions between the two candidates-and such dii-
ference in their qualifications, in the political complexion
Of their friends, in the force of circumstances by when
they are surrounded, and especially in their pledges ano
relations to the fell spirit of Abolitlonism, we are sur
prised that Mr.. H. should consentto occupy an attitude
so useless and SO indecisive. Surprising even that nc
differs in some respects from one Of the candidates.
he never prepared TO select between a choice OF eV'is:
Is he eternaliy to hold off, until he should be fortunate
enough to meet with a perfect politician Suppose nIy
The loss of his vote it should SO happen, that Gen. II
should be elected President of the U. Sand that IN
consequence a Bank of the U. S. should be established
an ultra Tariff introduced, a wild system of Inter
nal Jmnrosements fastened upon US; and every great
nr;nc;nle of the State Rights school should be pros
,rated in dust and ashes, would Mr.. H. ever forgive
himself for his neutrality and indecision' We d'fte'