The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-19
(ConcluGei from 4tk page.)

they obeyed the laws and no longer. The wings
Were their enemies willie they obeyed the laws and
no longer. Their friendship icgau when his ended.
lie desires to see them bjectGd TO the laws the
country they do not yet they claim to be the
special friends of ''lhe aconsluon and laws -
They charge democracy with being opposed to II
sound currency Of which they claim to be the eA-
elusive friends and yet they recommend and sus-
tain the issue of postnotes by The banks, thus de-
frauding the peope and deprecating the currency,
while the democrats insist that banks shall be re-
quired by redeenling their paper on demand, to
keep II at all times al par with specie.
They represent the leaders of the ncmocrae
party as DESTROYS Of reducing the price Of produce
and labor when the only objac, is to secure paw
ment to thu farmer and laborcr in Il currency which
shall be Ola fixed and certain value when they
get it, and not liable 10 become worthless IN their
pockets.
The President is represented in one place as an
abolionist, and i'll another as an advocate of slave
ry, when in fact he Is neither; as an enemy to the
rights of suffrage, when he was one of the most
efficient instruments in procuring its extension as
an enemy TO the last war, when he was one of the
most decided supporters.
There is indeed scarcely word of truth in all
that is said in the Federal Wing papers about the
President, his principles practices, or designs
While they represent every thing about him as
selfish and corrupt, there in fact, purer
and more disntelesed administration, or one which
has kept the rights, interests, liberty and happiness
of the people more steadily in view.
FEDERALCANDIDATE FOR THE Presidency.
Ifdecepiion is the game Of the Federal party in
relation to men in power, it is no less so in relation
to men in their own principles, design and mode
Of operations. 1t is well known that a vast
majority of the party preferred Henry Clay, and
very many of them Daniel Webster, their can
didate for the Presidency. The proud, uubend-
ing Federalists, the survivors of the John Adams
4" reign of terror preferred Webster, because he
was The consistent, unchanged advocate of their
ancient principles. Considering MIR Clay as an n
postate Democrat, they never looked upen him
with the same confidence or respect. But as Clay
was not alone III his apostacy, and the younger
members ofthe Federal party scarcely remembered
him az Democrat his bold and decisive charac-
ter gave him advantages over the timid Webster
which made him the iavori,e of the party. But
that party had no hope of success upon its princ-
pies. Its only chance was TO induce, by some
controlling motive, portion of the people who
really abhor It's principles, to vote for its cand-
dates The antl-masons would not vote for Mr.
Clay because he is mason; the aboi,onis!s would
not vote for him because he is slave holder
compromise was hit upon. There was Il superannu-
William Henry Harrison. TO the Old iederlists he
would not be unacceptable, because he was
bimselsa federalis, of the old school having APP.
proved the high -handed measures of John Adams
administration lie was not mason nor slave
holder, so that he could not be peculiarly rcpug-
nunt TO anti-masons and aholi,iOnsts. He had more
over been n General in the last war with Great
Britain and although he had not achieved ~ VIC
tory Of New-Orleans," or anything Ike it, the
glowing pens aud flaming tongues of Federal whig-
gerry might be able TO magnify him INTO hero of
the first magnitude, and thus catch little of that
popular enthusiasm which they supposed had raised
General Jackson to the chair ofsals, and sustained
him there against all their corrupions, panics, and
denuncaiions. For these reasons, Notwithstanding
the horror of the Federal Wings for "mi.tary
cheitains,' the weak and the vain old General
was selected by the convention at lIarrishburgh as
the candidate Of their party
And upon what principles did this grca, convcn-
lion recommend the support Of their 'mi itary
cheham," to The American people: Upoa none
,ghatSoerer. They gave to their country no rea-
SON for their choice they Published no address
setting forth the principles of their candidate and
the policy he would pursue, ifecyalcd to the chief
nagistracy. Perhaps the task Of doing so was not
easy, To catch the votes Of Fcderalists and Dem
ocrats he must appear to he neither tie one nor the
bank men, he must no, be committed on that point
TO secure the votes of nnsCns aud anti-masons he
must appear to be neither. But above all as he
was to be the candidate OF slave holders in the south
and abolilionists in the north, it would not do to !
say word on that subject.
But the precautions Of orr modern Federaliss
did not stop here. Some of the freemen of the
Republic, not caring 10 vote IN the dark, might
take the not unusual liberty inthis country, Of ask
ing the candidate for their suffrage, what were his
principles in relation to the leading objects now I'M
der public discussion and the old man might
,lwart the objects Of the party by giving honest |
replies A committee was, therefore, miernpsrd !
between him and the people 10 prevent thciI APP
proaching him They receive letters addressed TO
him and reply to them: hut instead Of Satisfying
the anxious inquiries of an honest pcope, they tell
them that the policy OF the committee is:
"THAT THE GENERAL MAKE OFURTHER
DECLARATION OF HIS PRINCIPLES, ron THE
PUBLIC EYE WHILST ocCupiING HIS PRES
EMIT posITIoH."
These were the words of DarH Gmvnne, j. c.
Wright. and o. W. Spencer, a committee at
Cincinnati, in reply TO a friendly letter of nqui-
~ from the Oswego Union Association in this
state.
Here we have candidate Tor the highest sta
ton in the peoples gift cut of from all intercourse
inquiries in relation to his principles, or even to
permit it TO be done by others Whether the old
General has willingly mterposed this screen be-
tween him and the people, or whether his support
crs have forced him into this position for the pur-
pose of conccaling well his mcapacitv. as his
principles, it is equally degrading 10 him and III
suting to the freemcn on whose votes he relies To
place him in the presidential chair.
And what have we in lieu Of that free and mo-
BILE interchange ofopinon upon the subjects of high
public concern, between the candidate and the
people which become n free country, and does
now, as it ever has done, desng uishCd the Dem
ocratir leaders and their partyi Il
We have degrading appeals to the presumed
ignorance and prejudices of the people, as if they
were as debased as bad governments have made
the popuace of London or Paris. Instead Of an
address, appealing 10 high principle as the guide Of
those who were 10 rally under The Harrison BAN
ner, the Harrisburg convention evident, prejcct-
cd simultaneous movement throughout the coun-
try, by meetings and conventions, catch words and