Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-11-05

the self sacrificing spirit with which he
came to the support of the leading mea-
sures of the late Administration, at the
called session of 1887, by which he lost
his elevated position in the ranks of the
opposition, have healed the breach which
separated him from some his Republican
friends during the Modification era, and
have won for him the admiration of De-
mocracy. He is now the acknowledged
leader of our party, the embodiment of
Democratic principles, the able, eloquent
and consistent upholder of the Constitu.
ton, the unflinching champion of State
Sovereignty. Bold, ardent, fearless in
the maintenance of his principles, open
in the avowal of his opinions on all qucs.
tons Of public policy-having no thought
to his personal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
by no selfish aim.-abcve all party inAu-
ence-lrowning with the lofty scorn of a
noble and upright soul upon intrigues and
chicanery, he marches forward 10 the ac-
complishment of his purposes, governed
alone by the conviction of their purity,
and that devotion to his country which has
given the stamp Of patriotism to every act
of his public life.
Mr.. Calho1n's Indifference TO his own
interests, was never more S ignally display,
ed than in the act to which we have al
ready adverted. In coming to the aid Of
an administration, the signs of whose de.
cay and dissolution were apparent to eve.
ry one, he mad nothing to gain and every
thing to lose. His eminent talents and
active opposition to some of the measures
of the preceding Administration, mad Sc.
cured for him a position in the affections
of its enemies, and had he chosen to take
advantage of that cfisis, in all probability
he could have commanded any office in
their possession. His independence on
that question threw him into a new and
strange attitude, changing his associa-
tons, provoking the savage and vindlctive
abuse Of his late colleagues, and forcing
him into the support of an Executive to
whom he had been for years personally
and politically hostile. These things
might we'll have startled man Of ordina-
ry boldness, from his proprie,y, but they
moved not the Southron. Conscious OF
the recttude of his purposes convinced
of the salutary tendency Of the great
scheme OF financial reform, he brought his
giant strength to its support and by his
powerful efforts ensured its success.
A more striking instance of attachment
to principle has never presented itself,
And Ire is now reaping his reward in the
respectful admiration OF rig ht-minded peo-
pie. And now that the public eye is look
ing 20 the next Presidency, we see every
where popular movements in his favor.
Almost every breeze watts to us cheering
evidence of the estimation in which he is
held by the masses.
Indeed, the fearful cncroachments that
have been made by the dominant party
during their brief period of power upon
the rights of the States and the people,
heve naturally directed the eyes of the
Democratic party to Mr.. Calhoun as the
great exponent of the Southern school OF
politics. The inevitable tendency of the
measures of the Opposition towards cen.
tralization, and the consequent prosira,ion
of State severe; gnty, and their evident
determination to realize, if possible, the
old Federal idea of strong Government,
indicate the necessity of casting our hopes
upon him, who has so long identified him
self with State Independence. That the
signs of the times are favorable TO his G.
lection by the party, cannot be question
ed. A large portion of the Democratic
press has already espoused his cause, and
without any concert, popular assemblages,
in different sections Of the country, have
with singular enthusiasm demanded his
These circumstances argue
we'll for the general virtue and intelli.
gence. They show that the people are
weary of being guided and controlled by
mere ooliticians--men who have great
ness thrust upon them by cliques, and who
move into power by caucus machinery.
We have been too long, indeed, both in our
State apd Federal Government, managed
by intrigue. 1t is too true that the ''pipe
laying system" should be abandoned; and
we thank Heaven that the people them
selves are fast awakening to the necessity |
of applying a corrective. We need some
one at our head who stands aloof from all
has naught to do with
midnight caucuses''--who is independent
of all mere party trammels, and whose
nomina- ion must come, not from the dicIa
of a few self styled leaders and wire pull
lers, but from the just appreciation of his
principles and motives, by the great body
of his fellow citizens.
Such man is John c. Calhoun--a man
Of elevated thoughts and noble impulses
a patriot in the fullest and broadcast sense
a Statesman, the lustre of whose talents
has shed glory over our common country;
whose enlarged wisdom and ripe judy
astute intellect-whose ex-
political sagacity-whose en-