Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-29

o,,;on Of the constitutional power which rghtfully
belongs to them; and if by giving effective power 10
State minorit,es in the NOMINATION, "heh they nave
none u hneyer in the election, one man be nominated,
hen another is the obvious choice OF The State ma
;orities which control the result is to be appre
heoded that the decision of the Convention will De
disregarded Indeed, we cannot but look upon pro-
nos,on which necessarily tends to such result as IN
fT.rt ,houph certainly rot in design, blow al the
n,act;ce of nominating candidates Tor PRESIDENT and
Vice President by National Conventions, The adoption
of which must later, break u up altogether
To render their decisions authoritative or even worthy
or they must their NOMINATIONS strictly con-
form 10 the principles Of the election, concedng 10
each State the same relative power, without addition
or diminutIon
What sacrifices the Democratic party in the several
States shall make for the sake OF We VIII not
undertake 10 saw Our sole Objects, by candid argu :
mont without denunciation, 10 convince South Caro-
lima that she is wrong asking OF olher States sur
render of any portion of their constitutions power, not
doubling that on due consideration, she will recede
from the demand We have too much confidence ~
ber i,.,ice and devotion 10 the Constitution and State
Rab,s 10 consider what will be the duty of the De-
mocracy of other States, if she should persist in 1t as
the only condition upon which she WIN meet them IN
Convention "Sullicient TO the day Is Inc evil there
Of" and that day, we oeVouty hoPe a"u conhoen'y
''u''' ""' - MR. VAN buren,.
IN awning our preference for Mr.. Van Buren, the
Democratic candidate for the Presidency, we shall no.
nresent him comparison VI va eoH"oS VIII apy -
his Democratic competitors. 10 oispafage hun or
,bem 10 the necessary effect of such proceeding, and
that cannot be done without producing realization, NJ
blood and alienation five compare Nir. Van Buren,
virtues with theirs to prove his superiority, or II we
undertake 10 contrast his merits with their dehcien-
o,oo wbat can be expected, but that their friends
eborld initiate our example With whatever good
feeling and honest intention such proceeding may
begin WILL the end, be productive oi nsche', as
certainly as error exists in The human mnu ana passion
r Ig 4.
800 hv oono n little further offence becomes an
Icuse for another more aggravated; blind lend ice
, assnmes 10 lead in path which none but dear and
perception can safely tread; passion enters
and thus,s aside discussion degener'tes INTO
recrimination; dislike becomes hatred deadly hostility
and relentless opposition divide those whom every
pr;ncple and the most sacred duty require act in
concert Let US avoid the first step in this progress
and we shall be in no danger from the last
independent OF other considerations, Is u wise 10 IN
dicate 10 the enemy, among ourielves our us
50 liable points, and furnish his magazine with wea
mons, If Democrats exhaust their industry ard talent
m hunting up and recording all that he adduced 10
prove their candidates weak or nndeserung, Do they
not perceive that as soon as the Convection has Sc
leced our man. the Wings will take up he weapons
thus furnished and sharpened their hands, and use
them with deadly effect in the great ans final battle
And what can say in reply TO our own arguments
and assertions Let not fabricate and sharpen
swords to cut own threats, or furnish pals 10 spike
our own artillery.
Be the conduct Of others what it may, however un-
generous unjust or outrageous towards lin man whom
we prefer, we shall entirely refrain froma course sc
dangerous and suicidal Others may murder with
malice prepense, or kill IN maddenlng exctement-bu
our hands shall never be red with the Hood Of civil
war. Uns,ained will we lt them, if it must be so
over the grave of Democracy slain by itsown child
rem as raise them 10 ahure our friends OF every
class and clan to desls, from the discussion
already begun, and reserve their strength and then
: ammunition for the common enemy. Beassnred, we
are not 10 have uncontested field. compact host
well appointed, we'll disciplined, well arrd, and vel
paid is already wheeling its Formidable squadrons
into the field, upon which than KINGDOMS are te
be fought for, and shall meet them win an array as
compact and formidable as their own a in separate
clans, Sowing al each other win halulg chieiS ahe
broken weapons
We are in no danger from the selection Of our can
didae, if il be Gispa ssiona,ely made. Whomsoever
our Convention shall deliberately nominate, we car
triumphaniy elect. But If the NOMINATION be made u
a storm, desolaton will follow. What lvailS the all
nourishing rain, if it come with the haiand the whr
wind, which destroy the growing crop We call or
every true Democrat, who regards measures more thar
men, 10 nterpo.e for the purpose OF aresting The no
bloods who already aiming at each other their ira
ircida spears Leave il to the Wings to prove tina
our leaders inconsistent unpopuhr not TO be re-
lied on, or not available. If, when The Convention
has spoken, the principles of the nmnee shall be
than Whigism, let those who think so, 60 apenl,
hypocfcsay sly. s NJ dsatS wa! s not my Fault
In the spirit we recommend TO others, proceed
10 give the reasons why, in our opinion Mr.. Van
Buren, ought TO be nominated the Democratic can
didate for the Presidency.
HIS PRIVATE CHARACTER
In hdehty 10 moral obligations, Mr. Van luren has
no superior In the uniform integrity OF lie some
what extended he affords security more renle than
bonds or oaths for faithful administration of he Go
vernment. He has not one set Of morals for private
life, and another for public life. He regards his Off
cial acts as transactions between and man. to be
subjected to the moral tests, and governed BY the
same principles.
Too little good morals regarded in our selections
for public stations. gambler in private life, viii be
gambler in public life The man who does not iesi.
tate to cheat his neighbor, whenever opportunity
presents itself, will seek opportunities TO cheat the
public. He who d,surbs social relations and breaks
up families 10 crafty his appetiies and uss, is lot a
safe guardian Of the laws and institutions which form
their basis And he who, in eating drinking, makes
himself beast, is not fit TO be trusted with the ,tars
Of men.
Not only in MIR. Van Buren,, but in the olhe: De-
mocratic candidates, have the Democracy Just cause
for congratulation this score Not in cum,arng
them with each other, but in contrasting them with
The men whom Whigism delights 10 honor, may we
fnd not only sources of just pride, but elements of
power.
HIS PUBLIC CHARACTER.
From his youth up, in peace and in war; in private
life and IN public lile has Mr. Van Buren, been dis
tinguished for devotion TO the true Interests of his
country Always Democrat, he has looked upon
party merely as means TO advance The happiness OF
man and hrs countrys prosperity, freedom and glory
10 say that he has never been Mistaken or has never
changed hts opinions, is to say what probably cannot
be SAID with truth in relation 10 any honest man who
has attained the age Of fifty years If Mr.. Van Buren,
has changed less than others, it is because his
original opinions were generally correci but he
belongs to the party IF progress that the party
Of change. Like Jefferson and Jackson. he is better
Democrat the longer he lives. And here ugain we
find matter for congratulaon in The contrast whirh,
in common with his Democratic competitors, he affords
with The leaders OF Whigsm They are either Of the
old Federal school who "learn nothing and FORGE no.
thing or are men who in youth, with hearts uDcor-
rupted and zeal never yet chilled, started with the
party of progress in the career of human improvement,
but aferward disguised with others vices, sedu:ed
by their own, turned back and oned those who would
base Government mans defects instead Of his viz
tues.
HIS POPULARITY.
few politicians are endeavoring to nculcate the
belief, that Mr.. Van Buren, is unpopular They even
attribute 10 him all the disasters of the Marty in 1870