Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-08-28
From N, Alabama Tribune.
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PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES..

Ell InENIDEN llfL 49,
Having expressed in our last something OF the indignation
we feel at The vulgar aud unmanly attempt at dictatiOn made
In certain quarters, relative To the nomination OF n prcsiden-
tial candidate. and having defined what we conceive to be
the true position of Mr.. Calhoun and his friends, In case
this detesIable annoyance is carried into the national con
VcntiOn, we shall now proceed To offer u few reasons why
We consider him not only the most available, but the only
ht candidate at tho democratic party. The only Arguments
which seem To have universal force with the friends ot MIR.
Van Buren,, are
FIRSr-Thst he was badly treated by the people in the
defeat Of 1910; and that. as an act of gratitude, his party
owes il Ia him Ia restore him 10 his lost honors, aud rescue
his name from n ON TERM association with the Adamses.
Secondig-That the conduct OF the Wing party in 1910
was utterly disgracetul. To themselves aud the country; that
the history ufihc Harrison excitement is the history OF a foul
and disgusting debauch OF the popular mind, n wre,ched
humbug fhsnd cider and coon skins, the vulgar songs,
which wrought the overthrow of the democratic principles,
and the Punishment from office OF a true and long Tried
democrat.
Thirdiy-That Mr.. Van Buren, was n martyr 10 his prin.
eipleS, which were beaten down by these unworthy arts,
aud that the combined sentiment Of gratitude and repentance
wll work a thorough revolution in public opinion, and bear
him ttiumphanly back TO office.
This Is the substance OF Mr.. Ritchie's argument, through
correspondents. whom he endorses and recommends.
Fourfhiy-lt a. also urged by the same authority that NJ.
IAN Buren, has pre.eminenuy good temper, sound Judg.
ment, and great wisdom"
In what we shall say, we desire to let drop no single word
OF disrespectto MIR. Van Burcn. Lotus consider these rea.
sons. then, in order.
When analysed, the first three amount 10 the same thing.
Via: that Mr.. Van Buren, was badly treated by the people in
leiO, and that a sentiment of gratitude requires his res,ora.
ton.
That Mr.. Van Buren, was badly treated in 1910. there is
no denying. But the question occurs, who treated him sol
Now, we hold ii TO be as true as that we live under are.
publican torn OF government. that the people have an In.
dlsputable night Ia reject, or elect whom they please 10 any
once OF honor or proht within their giit. These Offices are
not the property OF politicians, or, If you will, OF patriots,
but Of the people. What authority. we should like to be
informed, has any man 10 call in question the night OF the
people 10 choose whom they will 10 serve theni That a
maloutyot the people Ofihese us did, in 1910, consider Mr..
Van Buren, as unfit for the office of President, IS beyond all
dispute. lie was beaten by Il vote of upwards of tro hun.
bred thousand
Another grave question occurs-who gave these votes ?
Party bignts lind 1t easy TO respond, fools and rogues."-
Perhaps what We shall say on This point may meet with liz.
tie favor from those who are accustomed 10 account for ali
party discontinue in this summary way. But we ate upon
a most serious business, and We beseech all hoat ST men ~
follow us patiently.
We repeat the question: What caused Mr.. Van Buren's
defeat by two hundred thousand yotesl
For our own part, we feel compelled TO say that we be.
hevc the larger portion OF those votes was composed OF the
honest, the deliberate, the well considered suiirlres of tbnsc
who cast them.
Those %suiiragos, conveying the will Of two hundred thou.
sand ct our counuymen, are not so lightly, nay so contemp-
tuouslly to be considered. The zeal Of Mr.. Van Burcn's
friends IL one thing; the settled opposition and repugnancc
OF an overwhelming majority OF his countrymen ae quite a
different thing. Are the popular feelings which, in 1910.
shook tins nation like Il tropical tornado worthy Of no re-
spect' The revolution Of 1910 had indeed a deep meaning.
which those who look upon the surface of things only have
read with little profit.
For our own part, we stand at all times awed before the
Wouseu majesty OF the people. As Tor that great popular
movemcnto OF 1870, We must pluck from our bosoms every
Democratic instinct ere We stand up TO spit upon and Scotr
at the power which proclaimed the will of self-governed
naton-thc sovereign thundcrs OF a free independent sui.
irnge which roared in is resistess strength across the length
and breadth OF the land. We may have dcspiscd the eXhi.
biuons oftony and excitement which characterized that cru.
But what great and general oXcitementis without them .
These were the trash and weeds which hoatcd upon the
surface, but he must be n shallow reasoncr who fancies
,Ehgt they contained the force which dashed the ocean into
AeomTnoton 50 terrible. The revolution Of 1910 was 4
manifestation OF public feeling not 10 be disguised.
A caucus nomination Of a rejected candidate, is an ex.
IRENE liberty with the natural impulses and the profrssed
principles OF the democratic faith, which considers the will
OF The people ITS ever.prcsent law. The arrogant urging
OF such n nomination /. in no wise to be tolerated. The
manifestations Of popular repentance, to Justify such a pro.
cedure, should be strong indeed; otherwise whilst a party
does homage, the nation receives insult; otherwise, while a
ioIIed anu impatient minority shows gratitude, An Indignant
people, too insolently rebukcd, may reassert their contemn.
ed independence. II We believed, with some, that coon
skins and cider, or even British golda and impudent lies. could
Iash this nation INTO fury, we might perhaps approve the
wisdom which would run "rough.shod"o over a people desek.
wing no better treatment. But they will find themselves sad.
ly deceived whose begotted and intelerant opinions delude
them with such vain imuginaiions.
We repeat, II caucus nomination OF a rejected candidate
IL an extreme liberty with democratic faith, nor less 80 witt.
the popular will itself. The democratic party have ever
protested to respect that will; nay submissively to yield TO
ITS mandate. Perhaps the sentiment on this sublect preys.
lent ~ our party IL carried too fnr, But a hasty Disregard
OF that ioiH, will most assuredly and deseIedly be robuked.
such a nomination may he tolerated, when II clearly eX.
presses a reformed sense ui public Jus,co-H plain and un.
deniabIc acknowledgment by the people Of wrong commit
ted, repentance felt, and utOnement demanded. On no 9th
er ground can't be received but as nrcproach and a stgma1
which the same indignant majority will more deeply resent.
In a word, n party which, IN such n case, attempts to speak
Tor itself, had better look well that II speaks also for the peo.
pie. II had better look well that the firm accents OF party
gratitude mingle tremendously with the trembling tones Of
popular repentance.
''But the elections indicate tins repentance. CHANCE e
manifest" We shall consider this. with other not less
weIghy matters, in our next.
DIED,