Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-24

was dissolved, lar a. understood It's object and all
its members, composed well known To be, OF
dsc"rdant materials, were naturally left at full liberty
10 determine Their own political course to rcassuIc
If they pleased their old party connections, and were
prcsuinptvely 10 ;ud sc The President by hs
acts, rather than those cf his predecessors In my in
dividnal case the question simply whether should
rc-un:;c with the party had uniformly acted with the
last ionr years Of Gen. Jacksons time excepted, at
ZACH myself permanently to politicians whom had
uniformly opposed with the exception Of the pc
rod, from the honest belief that their principles and
policy were sulvcrsve of The Constitution and
nous to the country. Ii is quite true, that did
not instantly assume nv present position ]
CURED, as every of Common sense would ma
turally have done, some evidence 10 satisfy me,
both that one party meant Ia avoid its former
rors, and the other TO pcrsevere in them | feel
overwcening confidence the correctness of my
opinions, and willingly admit it has not been strength
ened, by observing that many gentlemen, OF when
think very highly, have pursued dlfrrent course.
must nevertheless, be permitted TO follow the path of
duty, and conscience, III despite of the authority Of
Names the abuse oil the press, the mandates OF party
After the experience Of three years, | find myself
compelled 10 applaud the administration of
whose elevation 10 power ! opposed. With anticipa
tons and preJudces operating To i:s disadvantage,
am now forced TO think Mr.. Van Burcns course
President, has been 50 prudent, and his exercise OF
power so moderate, that his enemies
sign satisfactory reason for the clanlsr against
him without going back to the times of his predeces-
sor If he had really toorcd IN Tic toois.cps should
have seen him denounced in the Wing as rash, vio-
lent, obstinate and arbraryrevivIng and proc!aming
old Federal doctrnes-aunually increasing public
notwithstanding an alliance with the moncd nsti.
uions of the Sates-caimng officially the custody of
the people MISUNDERSTANDING the right OF the people
immediate agents to enquire into the conduct of public
affairs undermining the integrity of the Representa-
tive body and the freedom OF the press By the corrupt
use of his patronage. These of the charges
you made against former administration, and now think
proper to abuse me, because am not equally willing
with yourselves TO censurc the moderation and pru-
dence which united in believing untnrtu
natey wanting the character OF the predecessor. Ii IS
certain, that similar offences NJ the present time could
not have escaped the notice OF such vgant guardians CT
public and private morality, yourselves; and feeling
of charity towards the offender could have induced you
to conceal the acts the evidence from the public eye.
! Your own silence acquits Mr. Van Buren, OF any
overt act of treason against the Constitution and Laws
of his country and impartial men will probably think
that his efforts diminish expenditure and TO dcs.
troy governmental connection with Banks, by lessening
the Of corruption, 90 far to dsprovc the lnGei-
mite charge of practising lis arts We agree IN one nm
portant measure recommended by hum.
i My own unwaverng appreciation OF the Sub-lrca
sury scheme stronrly confirmed by able letter
hearing the signature of one OF the Editors OF the
Wing. | continue to think that any union between
the Federal Government md the monied power q: the
country is fatal the pure and healthy action Of both
our banking and political systems These are objects
parr mount the partisan contests q the day, and
Shall accordingly support the party pledged 10 the
paralion, instead oil the one opposed 10 IT.
You charge Inc with being a corrupt and trading po-
cian-a seeker Of Office, dc. One of you is person
ally acGnainrd with me- and if !" is the writer of the
article, must frankly say, that can scarcely think
him sincere. II is sufficient 10 reply by observing that
| hardly consider of my domestic and "rctring
habits politician Of any kind; that whenever | have
been candidate have yielded my wishes 10 taose
of others that when Mr.. Hunter first elected to
Congress from this district, voluntarily declined a
canvass with the knowledge that he would have sup
ported me- and that though solicited since, have
stany refused to permit myself TO be Nominated III any
way, except White clrctor.
Several other passages i'll your publication require
notice \ letter from Caroline written after the one
attributed i. me-, informs you that can influence but
four votcs-and that Corhn can beat Samuel or the
new convert either" This etter-writ.r gives me just
four times influence than know Of am utter
" unable TO understand his auson to pcrsons-but if
he means 10 insinnate that ever attempted 10 exert
any other influence than that of open public CONVERSE
ton and discussion he like, yourselves, too much
pursan to bear in mind the common duty OF justice.
He is probably very right in the assertIon that Corbin
can beat me- am quite Indifferent The subject, and
too rarely attend the large meetings of NY countyinen
TO be willing able 10 contradict HIM Whether The
same assertion true in regard to Col! Samuel, vii
soon be settled and very possibly not much 10 the pro-
phetic credit ofthe writer. am inclined to think hun
quite too positive to be much relied on and that ms
premature boasng IS an evidence OF alarm, rather Than
Of assured hope. Remember, Gentlemen, how often
you have made the most confident predictions OF the
same kind, and how rarely they have been verified.
| quote again from the Wing ''lhIs gentleman IS
one of the corporals guard in Virginia. that Mr. Cal
oun faces the right about at every Presidential cleo,
ton" My vote was given to Gen. Jackson twice and
10 Judge White once-and without knowing how Mr..
Calhoun voted, am much disposed to hazard a con
lecture that we together only on the three
occasions During the last five years, have had
no communication of any kind with HIN, except
for about three minutes three years back, when
the ordinary salutatons passed between us But
| will not be deferred by the little sarcasm OF the
Wing from expressing publicly high opinion Of HIM
as man and statesman and from aging, that whale
yer his influence may be-, 1t is voluntary and
Just tribute 10 his talents his principles and his services
VIII one of the editors Of your paper tell US, when II
happened that he took active part upon any import
ant political question: or for or against any conspicuous
politician in opposition to the known views OF Mr. Clay:
Does lie not this very time think with Mr. Van Blu.
rem and Mr. Calhoun upon the ub-lreasury question,
and act with Mr.. Clay against 1t:
"1he coalition between the Sulliter and the Proca-
matiunis is another theme of and violent de-
uuncation designed to touch me, though principally
aimed at far tighter than am. might safely rest
nv defence upon asking the question, II IT would be
fairly answered. how could have improved my pollt'-
cal association this respect by coaicscng with Gen
Harrison: Ii not grossly mislntor'ned he has
said tina, this country much indebted 10 President
Jackson for the Proclamation, to Gen jackson tor the
victory at " Orleans have an impression that one OF
you is understood to be srong nctured with the here
sv of Nucaton if heresy be, and yet he has never
had the slightest difficulty i'll supporting Procama-
tonis, in the person of Mr.. Clay or General Harri-
SON. If there had been equal objections on this score
to the two candidates for the Presidency, my choice
would have still fallen the incumbent, from the
force ofmy old relations to the principles ana party oil
the Democrats and from the feeling that the Temporal
nv causes ofestangement having ceased to operate II
was the natural and proper course for me to resume my
former position But, gentlemen, despisc the charge
too much fear it from yourselves or your party by
what name do YOU call yourlae extraordinary arrange
mrnl with Mr. Rves Had he expressed any contrI
ton for his proclamation, force bill, expungng errors
promised any amendment performed any acl OF rePa'
ration or given any security for his future good beha
viour Posterty will pronounce It to have been unmit
gated dicta.ion on one side and cowardy submission
on the other At the first summons, you the sentnels
II on the watch tower surrendered and Internationally