Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-06-20
From he Albany Atlas.
THE MAN AND THE TIMES.

unon il that candidate should and prob
| abIv will be the nominee Of National
Convention. The position that New York
shall assume 10 that convention must, from
her power of example, be regarded with So
Gciude. Will she adhere to MARTIN VAN
| BUREN? He is the first and only demo-
cratic president ever denied re-elec' ion.
| The times in which he was to discharge
| high responsibilities, were repete with
causes Of his failure. We need look no
! farther than the fact, that in the first year
! of his administration, eight hundred banks
suspended specie payments
bankruptcy prevailed.
The President, disregardful Of his per-
sonal interests, convoked the Representa-
! tive wisdom Of the nation, determined to
safety. Had he declined to consult Con-
gress, and left the government and the
| bank to the operations Of the law Of 1877.
and the resolution Of 1916, he would have
done better for himself. He did otherwise.
! He put his fate upon the hazard of d cast,
freely, periodically. He proposed the
great measure Of delverance and liberty,
the Independent Treasury freedom Of
the government Of the people from the
wedlock Of sponsible corporations. But
inveteratc federalism, always rising rs the
| country sinks, and vasscillnting, treacher-
Gus rotten conservatism, combined, PLAYED
high and took the sake Of power. The
disailection Of Congress was the fatal blow.
| The country did indeed rally and carry
through the measure, but too late to save
the devoted and lIustrious man.
We solemnly believe we do but antici-
pate the Judgment Of faithful history, when
we say that no president has ever admin
! istered the government IN so strict and care
! full conformity with the Constitution, as
1 did Mr.. Van Buren,. Democracy COM
planned Of Washington, the great and good
for the exercise of undeIogated power in
signing the bank bill, and for the procla-
nation of Neutrality; and Of Adams, the
elder, for approving the Alien and Sedtion
and Stamp Acts. Federalism charged
Jefferson with usurpation in the purchase
| Of Louisiana, and the abrOgatlon OF judi
cial sentences. Democracy has lamcnted
bitterly the signing Of the second Bank
law by Madison, the only marked deriiec-
| ton Of that wise magistrate: and the era
Of good feeling'' cherished by Monroe. who
winded at federal notions, and opened the
way for the restoration of the House Of
Braintree. Adams. the younger, dcmol-
| ishcd by one felI2pasSage Of his inaugural
address, every limit Of the constitutional
power Of Congress, Democracy discarded
him. In the opinion of state rights men,
and Iatitudinarians, Jackson exercised pow
er in "derogation Of both" law and consti-
tuition, in reference to treaties, to the reve-
nue.. and removals from office.
Against Mr.. Van Buren, no such COM
plants or charges will ever be made by
considcratc and intelligent men Of any par
tv. And yet he discharged the duties Of
the Executive office under the most appaI-
ing circumstances, and exhibited a bold
ness, frankness and ability in his commu-
ncat,ons with Congress unsurpassed by
any Of his predecessors. His messages
are monuments. A statesman of the
school of Macon, cool and dispassionate in
deIiberation, discriminating and cautious in
the application Of means to ends, serene in
victory, unsecured by defeat, faithful to the
Constitution which was ever his guide, end
full Of abiding confidence and faith in the
ultimate Justice Of his countrymon, he pre-
scnts to the future, in his official charac-
ter the model Of an exemplary Republican
magistrate. Amid the most exciting party
conflicts. unanimous Congress entrusted
to his discretion the armies and treasures:
the "sword and the purse" of the Repub-
lie, to preserve and defend it against the
threatening contingencies Of the Northcas-
tern boundary controversy.
Public calamitics are the crucblcs that
try the virtues Of statesmen. A brave man
is as necessary in the cabinet as in the
field. In the year 1897. before alluded to
Mr. Van Buren, was subjected to the seve-
rest ordeal. Doubt, dsmay, confusion held
dreadful sway over the public mind
Friends, till then regarded as true and
steadfast, were Fastening by thousands
into the ranks Of the opposition. Eight
hundred banks, with their presidents, cash
icrS and clerks; their ten thousand direc-
tors and millions Of debtors, stricken with
panic, dcluded by false clamOrs, by open
or secret cXertionS, or by a chilling apathy
added an irresistible weight to the move
ment against the administration. But as
no dishcartcning demonstration could move
the President from the path Of duty and
democracy. He took his position with
full appreciation Of the consequences to
himself, but with martyr like devotion to
the principles Of the Constitution.
"We cannot (said hey know how the
! immediate convulsion may result, but the
people will eventually come right; and pos
terity at least will do me Justice. BE TIE
present issue for good or for crH, It IS for
postcrity that IrW writc this message"
A brave and true man only is equal to
| such a resolve and such a reliance on the
] - l.. e.