Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-09-19
Vol. 4

House 10 Pearl street, in which the President oil
the Old Congress had resided. After the removal
of the seat of Government 10 Philadelphia, Pres-
dent Washington lived in house in Market
street, in that city, which had BEEN leased by Ro
bert Morris to the Government, at an annual rent
of $4,000, The rents and all the other expenses
of the Presidents establishment were paid out Of
the Treasury, but General Washington received
no pay whatever for his services. On the contra
ry, be considered that he was in duty bound to re-
linquish to the people Of the U. States two hun
bred thousand dollars, the amount Of his salary
for eight years services as President, in consid.
Grafton OF the rents and other expenditures in.
Cured by the nation in maintaining his establish
ment while ia their service. How does the con-
duct of George Washington contrast on this sub
iect with that of Martin Van Buren,? Washing
ton and Van Buren, Bless my soul, what fall.
ing Oft Loud laughter.l Yes. What fall was
there my countrymen! Then you and |, and all
Of us fell down. After looking back, down the
long line of illustrious worthless who have occu-
pied the Presidential chair in this country, is 1t
not enough to make the heart Of patriot bleed,
and to cover his cheek with bushes, to see in
what that illustrious line ends! What has Martin
Van Buren, ever done? Who can tell me? | can
inform you, sir; he has not only taken twenty five
thousand dollars in gold and silver, for his annual
salary, but he has compelled the People to pay
for HEMMING HIS DISH-RAGS into the bar
gain. Why, sir, he knows no more Of the hon
orable and high minded feelings Of patriot than
he does Of the hardships Of a soldier. | think
can tell about all he knows on that subject; and
it is expressed in the nightly prayer of an Irishman
impressed as a marine: "God be thanked that
never killed any body, and that nobody ever killed
mel God bless the world, and huzza for the ma.
vyr' Loud laughter do not see why it is that
such nation as this should ever have made so
much OF so small pattern of man. He never
originated any thing to benefit his country he
never fought to secure her glory; he has done moth
ing but plot to elevate HIMSELF and yet are we all
thrown into turmoil about one little man, as if he
was a hero or a statesman--as if, in the hour of
his country's extremity he had been the first to
face her foes and present his body to their bullets
and, when her danger was past, had retired, like
Cincinnatus, to his plough, and had shone yet
more in all the peaceful virtues of private life
than he had before shone in the field. Placed
by the side of Harrison, what is he? and what has
he done? Let him read General Harrison's letter
to Bolivar, when that pure-minded patriot pointed
out to the great liberator the path of true ory and
immortal fame, recommending him to take Wash.
ington for his model, and to become, like him,
the father Of his country. This would have sent
him down 10 posterity with a shining brow. My
soul reoices that we are at last going to have a
President something like the Father Of the Revo-
luton. Why did the American People advance
Gen. Washington to the Presidency! Because he
had been the Father of his country, living and
acting only for her. Why did they then choose
the elder Adams? Because he had been the elo-
quent defender Of Independence because his liv-
ing words had stirred the fire and blood in the
hearts of his countrymen, and had inspired them
to do and die in the cause Of freedom. Why did
they make Jefferson their Chief Magistrate! Be-
cause he had been the eloquent writer Of the De.
claration Of Independence. And why Madison?
Because he had been the able, the profound ex.
FOUNDER OF the Constitution. Why Monroe?-
Because he was the last of that band Of worthless
who had shed their blood in our Revolutionary
struggle With him ended the revolutionary race.
Why had they then appointed John G. Adams!
Because Of his diplomatic experience, his known
political wisdom. Why Jackson? Let New
Orleans answer. And why Martin Van Buren,?
Echo answers why? 1t is true he put on General
Jackson's coat, and drew on his heavy military
boots and tried to straddle into his footsteps, and
that is about all.
had a mind to turn the attention Of this com.
mttee to a description of Martin Van Buren,, by
his loving friend and cousin, Alexander H. Ever.
EFT of Massachusetts, but will not do 1.-THE
man is small enough already. Let his friends here
point out any one act he ever did to benefit his
country-let them lay their finger on one single
bright page in her annals which has ever been
illuminated by deeds of his. When we would
talk Of Harrison, we can say, and say truly to all
the People Of the Northwest: he was father to
your county. He saved it from d savage foe.-
He made all the Indian treaties by which you hold
your lands in peace, and he promoted the i'm.
provement and well being Of all your settlements
after he had first rendered them secure. Under
his government there was no Indian war, like the
contest in Florida, Matched in fraud, and prosecu,
ted in reckless improvidence. The Indians them.
selves admitted the fairness and equity of all his
proceeding. They could rely on his word; they
trusted his sincerity; no army was there to march
to remove them from the lands they had sold to
the white man; they retired voluntarily and peace.
fully. But how is it now? You cannot negoli,
ate single Indian treaty, but what your demo.
cratic commissioners turn out to be such fraudu.
lent raScals that the Indians all complain that they
are cheated, and being themselves for the most
part men of uprightness and integrity, they be-
come indignant at the wrong and set your power
at defiance. What was the history of your Greek
war? How did it originate? and were you not
obliged 10 rcmoAe the Cherokees by the bayonet
thus compelling them to observe a treaty they had
never made? Is there not at this hour storm
brewing amongst the Winnebagoes in the north
west because like the Seminoles, they were cheat.
ed in a treaty? 1t will not do TO saddle the blame
OF the wars upon the Indians and when charged
with all the millions you have spent, to say: We
cannot help tit is not our fault, You coull
have hel ped it, and it is your fault. Your owr