Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-08-04
POLITICS..

Through the solicitation of my
friends in different parts OF the district, and on their as
surance that it was desired by their n%cighbors generally
have consented TO continue in the Legislature, ifelect-
ed by your ~sutfragcs, in October next.
During last Spring Court, and on Sale day thereafter,
1 was informed that a large portion of my constituents
were very much dissatisfied with certain acts Of legisla-
ton which had been passed at our last session, and that
they had determined, without enquiriny whether their
members were in favor of those laws, to change their
representation. Under these circumstances, | withdrew
from the canvass. Long had enjoyed the confidence and
good will Of the people Of Grccnvil!e District-they had
ever been kind and ~indulgent to me, and already had
honored me far beyond any merit of my own. was
therefore not disposed to thwart their views or oppose
their feelings and wishcs-much less did | feel inclined
10 thrust my services on them, unsoughtand undcsired.
| was willing, nevertheless, 10 suffer IN their good OPT
mon without z hearing, and consequently published 4
vindication Of my course in the Legislature. This vim
dication have been informed, and have reason to be-
lieye, was entirely satisfactory to those who saw and
read It.
Let me now, fciiow-citi2ens, give you my views on a
subject which is beginning to agitatc and deeply excite
our country, and which | believe is oil infinite impoT-
lance to every Southern man, to every one who che
rishes a love for the Union, and who wishes To sac
maintained the domestic Institutions OF the South. |
will premise, however, before | touch on the PrcsIdcn-
tial election, that my sentiments and opinions relative
10 tae currency, against the Sub treasury, and a Ma
ttonal Bank, and in favor Of State Banks, founded on a
specie basis, have undergone no change during the last
two years. | have seen nothing TO alter o. weaken my
opinions on these subjects, hut much TO strengthen and
confirm them. But although am opposed 10 the pre-
sent Administration on the subject OF the Sub-trcasury,
am unwilling to see Mr.. Van Euren superseded by
Gen. Harrison. Because ! d fer with the one on a most
important measure Of public policy, it is no reason !
should take up the other, with whom | differ Oh u half
dozen subjects Of equal or greater importance.
l will compare and contrast the claims OF General
Harrison and Mr. Van Buren,, fairly and dispassionate-
ly. | am not disposed to do the one injustice, nor the
other pnDrp than JySy;rc Tn. inflammation ,na1a
Of in this comparison has been derived from documents
entitled to the highest credit.
General Harrison is an old mani might say a su-
perannuated man-border;ng on his seventeen year,
and not likely to be able TO administer the affairs of
this Government, and discharge the duties, laborious
and arduous as they arc, OF President of the United
States for four years TO come. 1t IS not i'll the ordinary
course of mature that he should be. Mr.. Van Buren, IS
a much younger man, in the prime and vigor oflnanly
intellect, endowed by nature with great talents, which
have distinguished hun through life, and he is in every
way able to take upon himself the discharge of those
high duties for which lie has been entrusted for the
last four years.
General Harrison has been brought forward, and is
supported by all the Fcdcralists Of the country, by Ell the
Tariff men of the North, by all the friends Of Internal
improvements in the West and East, by the Bank men
OF the South, and the AbolI;ionsts OF the non slave
holding States. These are the men into whose hands
the Administration of the Government must fall i'll
Gen. Harrison should be elected. The Aboli.ionists
t,ocs: OF, ms nomination over MIR. Clay, as : triumph of
tRelr pOhP- ana influence. The circumstance under i
which General Harrison was nominated for tie Presi.
dency, show conclusively that he IS the mere tooi of his
party, the instrument by which the Hh:gs are 10 rct
into power. On the other hand, Mr.. Van Buren, is Inc
acknowledged hedd of the great Democratic party In the
United States, and is sustained and s,pported bv III.
South, and the friends Of the South a. the North He
IS sustained every where by those opposed to a Bank Of
the United States, by those in the North opposed to
the Tariff, by those in the West opposed 70 Internal
Improvements; and he - perfectly odious to the Abo-
l.ttOnIStS every ularo ip pnnSpppDpca 81 ia, ,.Ilo
stand he has taken in favor of Southern Institutions.
1t General Harrison gets into power, his Cabinet
must necessarily be selected from his friends and sup.
porters IN the North and West, The will have brought
him into power, and must share with hi!l the spolS
The Cabinet of MIR. Van Buren, is composed in part Of
Southern men. South Carolina has riven the Sc..ciary
OF War, and Georgia the Secretary of State. Sir. For.
syth and MIR. PoinSett are decidedly the ATTEST members
office.
General Harrison is IN OLD Fedcralist, was twice ap-
pointed to high Offices under the administration ofJohn
Adams. lie supported The administration of job ! Ad- !
aula, was Charged with the fact in the Senate of the
United States 50 recently as ISIS, and frankly confess
ed the same, but attempted to apologize for il. He was
found voting, whilst member of the Senate
with the Federa!sts, and against the Republicans. MIR. ,
Van Buren, was born a Republican, commenced his no
litical life in opposition to the Federalists of New York I
and the first vote he gave after he was of age, was for r
Davis, in opposition to Aaron Burr. He was
n member of the Senate of New York by the d
party, ana received from the same party the /,
appointment Of Attorney General. He was elected a !
in Congress by the Republican party IL lS2l :
He had been the bold and uncompromisiEg advocate of a
he War in 1872. He has always been'a- State Rights :
nan Of the true Jeffersonian school. InHS2l he was !
un on the Crawford ticket for Vice President, and was :
he intimate personal friead of.Mr. Crawford. He has !,
cen elected Governor Of New York by the Republi- !.
ans ofthat State. He was appointed Secretary of :
BY Geperal Jackson, and received from him the {
Ypoiatment of Minister to England. The Senate, 4
opposed to Jackson, rejected his nomination, and he =
sturned home, and was Immediately elected Vice Pre- y
dent by the Republican party oftLe United States. ~
General Harrison is a Tariff man, in the very worst NJ
In 1919 or 30, he introduced Resolutions in Of
e Senate of Ohio, instructing the members Of Con- We
to procure the passage of "a Tariff for the en- all
Of Domestic Manufactures and Internal m
and TO 'stop the inundation Of foreign
He also voted, in the same Resolutions, no
the capital invested in manufactures 10 be exempt ed