The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-12-08
From The Globe.
the sUMMERSET.

cessary to define their position their is
great reason 10 presume either that They
have abandoned the principles by which
they have hitherto boon governed, or that
their conduct has been, at least, equiyocal.
Those who pursue siraighliorwardcours
are seldom under 'be necessity of explain
iug antiquities; and those who never
change, are not often misunderstood. Ii
is only the lodging poIiiician--wio is
sometimes here, sometimes there some
times the tool Of one party, and anon the
leader Of another, and whose conduct is a
series Of contradictions and Inconsistencies
that labor under the perpetual necessity
of tasking his ingenuity in devisiDg pre-
texts to Justify his want Of faith and want
of principle.
( Defining positions has lately become
quite fashionable, and is bad sign in poll
tics. Ii is almost always either preceded
or followed by what is significantly called
rafting and decidedly indicates polit.
ical summerset Of some kind or other
The Secretary of War il a case IN point
having lately favored the public with on
ingenious and elaborate explanation Of his
reasons for wiring a very furious denunci.
alton Of the conduct aud measures of that
very Identical President under whom no
accepted seat in the Cabinet few
months afterwards.
This change Of position certainly re.
quires explanation, and the Secretary has
lately given one, not altogether unworthy
a man Of such extensive experience in po.
li,ical Regeneration. To us, however, il
is not altogether satisfactory. The Sec
Rotary has been known OF late years, in the
State of n. York, as very efficient lead
er in that party which, under all its naraes
and DISCUSSES, has been uniformly opposed
TO Democracy. A few months previous
to bis accepting office, and after the policy
and principles Of Mr.. Tyler's administra.
ton were as fully developed as a, the pc.
riod when that event occurred, he ucied
as the organ aud scribe Of convention
which denounced that high fuRctionary in
a bitter philippe, condcmning him add
his measures individually US well as col.
lectiyely, and spnring him neither poli,i.
cally and personally.
Such sudden conversions are apt TO OK.
cite suspicion at all times and, when coup.
led in close luxtcrposliion with honors aud
rewards, as in the present case, the rca.
sons avowod for change so little short Of
mlraculous-Ii any reasons are gwen
should be so conclusive as TO preclude all
idea tina, any personal interest whatever
aided the dictates Of conscience. We
must frankly ayow tina, the explanations
Of the Secretary do not come up TO this
standard. L, is true, that be now approves
what he before so vehemenily stlsmailzed;
but tue motives for this change are not
sufficiently developed. Certainly, Dir.
Tyler has not changed; since. To quote
tho words OF tho Secretary, REARED al
Tho feet Of Jefferson and Madison, in the
/ strlctes, principles Of Republican faith,
those principles had become a portion Of
himself; and he could no more depart
from them, than he could sever himself
from his morul nature
We have, therefore, ,Iic authority Of the
Secretary himself, tia, Mr.. Tyler has not
only remained unchanged, but ,ha,
change ls morally and physically ,mposSi.
Bile. Ii would seem TO follow, then, tha,
It Is the Secretary " no has changed. But
this the Secretary does not choose TO
vow and the only explanation youchsai,d
for this sudden transition from unqualified
hostility to cordial cooperation is the fol.
lowing. Speaking Of the " open outbreak
between the two branches Of the Wing
party, IN which he figured as tho author
OF the manifesto against Mr.. Tyler, he
says | should do injustice 10 nv own
feelings, did | no, express the deep congic.
ton on my mind, from thorough investi. I
gation Of the subject, and having become
'amiliar With the statements Of all parties, I
that there was much Of mistake and mis-. /!
apprehension between thrse who were hon (
csily willing 10 understand each other
some Of uceldenial, and more Of intention.
al, misrepresentation Of The language ofthc
President, IN the various conversations
held with him; and tina, throughou. he
manifested sincere, honest, and steadlss,
adherence to the great constitutional ob. .
lection which he had repeatedly, in public /
nnd private, announced as fundamental 4
article Of his political creed This is all I
the Secretary youchsales no more. 10 I
clear up mystery, he resorts to mystiti. /
cation.
Tho insinua,lon conveyed IL, that the /
Secretary mistook tho motives mot the I.
mcasures) Of the President, all Of which he
now approves; though, few months be.
fore, he condemned them wiihou, mercy.
Is the honorable Secretary sand blind or (.
high graycI-blind, tina, he cannot tell "a
hawk from hand-sawF Would he iusin.
ua'c that he could not fairly und Justly es.
Innate the measures Of Mr.. Tyier, with.
out comprchendng his motives I These
measures were by no means equyocal;
they were iairiy before the public, and CIV.
cry man OF common sense understood Them
except the Secretary, who Under The IN.
finance IF tbaao 4.