Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-11

events that have surprised and disappointed many the
most familiar with The workings ofour social system
and with the springs that move and lmpcl the masses
1t is at best an unsolved problem, that a people na;u-
rally right thinking, moi easily led away by superficial
causes, Democratic in their feelings, principles, and
associations, looking To the great and Just ends OF
government, should become in an instant as it were
the playthings of those who had all their lives secuted
their independence and intelligence, had insisted that
they could be easier duped by q ~pretence than convinced
by argument and reason, and that log cabin minstrelsy,
the stuffed skins of quadrupeds, and the iuane rawlings
Of men who were scarcely akin TO their brethren oithe
carniyerous order, were more potent in swaYing the
minds of the people, than an open and direct course OF
public conduct, founded on truth and right, and main
tanned with an flexible adherence 10 that erect, severe
and simple standard. II is at any rate an event that can
rarely happen in the history of a free people. Once in
the course Of half a century, fortuitous circumstances
may give apparent potency TO things the most grotesque
and ridiculous, and which under all ordinary circumstan.
ces of renective comparison in the patriotic mind, would
repel rather than invite the popular favor. But scarcely
oftener than that. At all other times, the very stage
trick and buffoonery, by which the opponents of MIR. V.
Buren, sought the attainment of power, and through
which many of them TO this day firmly believe they at
tanned it, would cover the authors and az Is OF such
acknowledgement vain coHceits and ribaldNolly-with
defeat end indelible infamy. AT all other times, the
attempt would be regarded as a libel upon the
good sense and discernment OF The masses, winch
few men, even the most desperate, would haye the te-
merity to venture upon. With US and for The present
quarter of a century, that day OF folly anSs eelusion-
and the causes, which, less obvious, but far more influ.
entail, were effective in the great movement which
brought in for the moment, the Candidate aud Policy
hostile to the Candidate and Policy of the Democracy
have passed. We do not propose, as we said, to dis.
cuss causes, or to speculate upon the philosophy and
origin of results. Ii is enough to know thut, like phe-
nomena in the natural world, they have com nO'
pissed on; and that he TO whom they are mos. appJI.saa
BILE, stands at this moment stronger in the sober = -
A~ecting thought of the American people r ="
hence Of moral and political grandeur-m s.easiL
altogether more enviable-than at any i""s' pefou
Of his lie. o..aa.,, Cab
Whether Mr.. Van Buren, be again d q ~ nla :. lme
popular suffrage, or remain in rnvace l''e, ~ mh,uus
he will derive strength =, fF Judgment I'm te of his peerswthe
American neonie~an1 on the records of posterities,-
than ;f comnliont = yielding, he had given up to poll
cy or the hone orpersonal advantage, the well-balanced
and decnlv re,olved opinions and positions, an adhe.
rs !" se 81 yysi &c it is believed, deprived h(i Of station
md nowvr. A return to public life might adl.much to
bs cre, but could add nothing to his lame. That
is .mperishable. Every day will add Is tribute to
strengthen and mature it. Should the American
Democracy choose to vindicate themselves and their
honest opinions, and the only principles on which
this or any other free government, can be securely ad
ministered, from The reproach Of doubt or desertion on
their part,-or, desiring 10 recall TO the public service
that profound civil wisdom, which the world %nccords
to Mr.. v. B., and which his opponents, during his adj
minisiration conceded in one Of the most signal in
stances of the ~beslowment of all power and discretion
-dtmand his return 10 the Chief Magistracy for a Sc
cond and final period, personally he can iiaye no wish
in the ma,ter-none certainly that is not Fnbervient to
the popular will and the public welfare.
(From ,As " i. Fir. pol)
Tnr Next PREsIDEST.-lt is The fault OF most Of
our political controversies, tina, the moment The candi
dates of the different parties are named and presented
to the people, personal topics begin too i4ncl to occu.
py the journals; attacks, determinations and deiences,
involving the character, private and public, OF the can
didates. Their previous history is ranoacksd, such
portions of it as will bear an untavorahle construction
are made public; terms Of ridicule and opprohium are
sought out and pointed against them; while, on the
other hand, their friends vindicate them with The same
zeal that they are assailed, make the most oil their vir
tues, e~xpatiate in praise Of their talents, and parade
their services before the public Oh every OCCASION. In
this way one portion of the community become over
excited, another portion become wearied and Disguised,
and q third portion become indifferent to political con-
troversies, thinking them a mere struggle for Office.
The good sense Of the Democratic party, or some
other cause equal propitious, has hitherto, since Tie
last presidential! election, kept It from engaging In con-
troyersies of the kind, and left it free to give It's atten-
ton TO the great objects for which its members are as
sociated- principles Of public policy, an measures in
which these principles are embodied. y the present,
state of parties, the Wings disagrceing amongst them
selves, it is important that the Democratic party should
keep i,sel in a condition 10 act Us a judieious and i'm
partial umpire between the two divisions OF the wing
party-giving a ready and liberal support TO all the
good measures proposed by the friends OF Mr.. Tyler 8
administration, and resisting, as 1t may do efiectuaiiy
for the most part, all The bad ones. This will give our
party enough to do, for the two next sessions OF Con
gress. Ii is 10 be hoped that nothing will occur during
that time to throw them from their due poiSc, 10 disturb
their self possession, or to engross their attention with
the comparatively trivial discussion o, the merits ano
qualifications of men.
In the mean time, public opinion ydl have time TO
ripen in regard to a candidate for the EcSt presidency.
We should be glad 10 see a nominat'oN sprlnglng from
the people, forced upon the party by INC popular voice,
and not procured by management, as IS generally the
case where public opinion is not very decided. This
popular nomination we may have if we will wait Tor II.
We must provide ourselves with a candidate at last;
the thoughts of all, as we approach the time oil the
election, will be turned to that question, and we shall
not be surprised If the people deciJe u Tor US long be-
fore q convention meets to ratify their decision in form.
We perceive that an article which lately appeared IN
the Albany Argus, giving some account oi Inc manner
in which Mr.. Van Buren, passes his time IN his retire
ment at Undertook, has attracted the notice OF various
journals Of both parties, all of whom Seem TO regard 1t
as a sort Of nomination of Mr.. Van Buren, for The pre-.
sidency. In this we do not think they ne just 10 the
writer. Coming from n visitor TO that distinguished man,
an admirer of his character, and full ct the recollection
of his public services, il was natural enough TO say that
a great error had been committed in dtsertlng so faith
fnl a public officer for such n man as was elected in his
place, and to express a confidence that the error would
vet be universally acknowledged. The writer went q
little further than this, it is true but stili, we can only
regard his language as an expression o. individual par
tiality. such as we often hear in conversation. The
time, for reasons which we have already given, has not
arrived for the discussion of the pretensions, either of
Mr.. Van Buren, or OF any other mana
fFrom The Albany .avsu<, D9.G)
We ventured a few days since To Sketch MIR. Van
Buren, in retirement; and to speak Of his present way
Of life as en- exhibition Of that true elevation and dig
ni,y of character to which few public men, under ap.
parently adverse results, attain. We spoke OF his re-
| cidoncp his pursuits. his habits, his phlloSophlc quiet
and contentment, and his graceful acquiescence in re.
results-the browning e~hulgence Of q life of eminent
siatesmunship,-as topics not only agreeable in them
selves, but interesting. it might be supposed, to the
American people. All this was done, in the spirit
which the contemplation Of such a character, and the
events by which its return TO private life had been pre-
ceded, were calculated TO inspire; and with such free
dom of comment as became a Democratic press, the
subject, and the occasion-but with no motive beyond
the simple record of an example, the admiration Of
friends and the praise of all candid opponents.
But the nose Of Slawkenbergius could othave caused
a gteuter or wider commotion. Already the press