The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-05-16
THE VICE PRESIDENCY.

The proceedings of the federal Convention in
relation to the Vice Presidency, illustrates the
truth of our remark, that Mr.. Van Buren, has
great tact party leader, and the failure to
make nomination is striking proof that he feels
his weakness, and is resolved to use every means
within his reach to accomplish his own. election
To use phrase, familiar to the turf, his object
manifestly is, to jockey. The opposition have
nominated their candidates-Harriso and TYLER
They are fairly In the field, and rely on the sin
gle voice of the people. Not so Mr.. Van Buren,.
His object to secure his own election and there
fore, instead of selecting one among the many as
pirants, he defeated the nomination of either, and
would thus combine the strength of ALL to aid the
accomplishment of his purpose. If he had nom
mated MIR. Forsyth, he would have given offence
to Benton, Polk, Buchanan, King and Col. John
son whereas, by defeating the nomination, the
friends of each of these gentlemen are left to in
fer that had the selection been made, and Mr..
Van Buren's wish been grati6ed, their favorite
would have been chosen.
1t is manifest, however, that on the part of one
of these gentlemen at least there is great dissat-
isfaction The object of defeating the nomination
was to strengthen Mr.. Van Buren, by placing on
his ticket Vice President, in the different sec
tons of the Union, the name of that candidate
who would bring Is it the most strength in that
particular district. Thus MIR. Polk was to bring
in Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina and
| Virginia. Col. johnson was to bring in Kentucky
and the ultra destructives of the northern and
middle and Western States. Mr. King was to
| take care of Alabama, and to Mr. Forsyth was
allotted Georgia, with such reyersion as his mas
ter might have it in his power to give. That this
arrangement indicates conscious weakness on
the part of MIR. Van Buren, is manifested by
the refusal of Mr. Forsyth to play the part allot-
ted to him, and the publication of his petulent
card
Mr.. Forsyth has long been an aspirant for the
Presidency--he has been taught to expect that at
the proper time, MIR. Van Buren's mantle would
fall upon him, and he clearly shows, by refusing
to permit his name to be used in Georgia, that he
has been disappointed and deceived. His card
shows further, that he despairs not only of his
own election to the Vice Presidency, but that
he despairs also, of the election of Van Buren,
He is the Secretary Of State; the confidential
friend and partizan of the President; the mea-
sure which he condemns was the action of the
Presidents party, assembled for the purpose of
consulting and devising the ways and means of
securing the Presidents election, and adopted,
as one can doubt, under the express sanction
Of the President himself; what but belief
that there was no hope of success could induce
MIR. Forsyth thus to come forward, and, in the
the face of the world, denounce the arrangement
which had received the Presidents approval, and
destroy the scheme by refusing toplay his part?
What but conscious weakness could induce MIR.
Van Buren, to tolerate, in his Secretary of State,
an insult so direct and unequivocal?
1t may be said that the arrangement has failed
to conciiate MIR. Forsyth, and that MIR. Polk
and Col Johnson are also dissatisfied, but it
does not therefore follow that it is not the best