Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-02-23

~ WV. C.. RivEs. in his late letter delin-
ing his position with reference to the next
Presidential campaign. after expressing pre-
ference for Nj. Clay, says:
.Could ANYTHING inAict deeper wound on
the cause Of Republican Institutions. than such
spectacle Of levi'y and instability, on the
part Of the constituent body, as would be ex-
hibited in the restoration Of OF Mr.. Van Bu.
rem, after the overwhelming condemnation OF
his administration. pronounced BY the almost
unanimous voice Of the country, but three
short years ago! Would il not render popu.
lar government itself .by-word and taunt' a.
mong The nations! 10 1910, the American
people, upon the fullest and most deliberate
hearing Of both sides Of the political contro'
versy--of the friends as well as the opponents
of Mr.. Van Bnren-recorded their votes a.
cainst him BY such majority as never before
signalized the retreat of any minister from
power, and was Unit! then utterly unparalleled.
and even unapproached, in the history OF our
Presidential contests
In reply to the intersoga.o,y of MIR. Rives,
we are not the leas. afraid Of stating an unlru'h
in saying tina. the election Of Mr.. Clay would
''inAict deeper wound on the cause of Re-
publican institutions" than the ''restora,ion Of
Mr.. Van Buren," Al the next contest for
Representatives 10 Congress, after the ''over-
whelming condemnation Of the administra-
ton Of Mr.. Van Buren,, the sober second
thought Of the people taught them tina, they
had erred in their pact course Of opposition. so
they took the earlies, opportunity of acknowl-
edging their former error, by casting their suf-
frages for the friends and supporters Of the
same principles Of the man whom they had
rejected for their chief magistrate. If, then,
j, be ga spectacle Of Ievi'y and instability, on
the part Of the constituent body" TO correct
their errors in three years, would no. the evil
dence Of '.leyity and instability" FIJI with one.
third the heavier weight by correcting them in
two! And if because Mr.. Van Buren, was
once defeated, his return would inAics deep
"wound on the cause Of Republican institu-
,ions," would it not be three times as deep,
were the thrice rejected candidate to be the
successful one! Would not the election Of
Mr.f Clay ''render popular government. itself
sby-wcrd and taunl' among the nations"
afiar-haui,n henn three limos reierioa fn-.tfs,s
office by the people. and once by the bankers
bankrupts, brokers and Spectators Of his own
party, composing the so.called national con-
vention which assembled at Harrisburg b
The friends Of Mr.. Clay should be the las,
ones TO speak Of the wound the election Of a
rejected candidate would inEct.
While the fac, Of the apos,acy Of Mr.. Rvcs
is enough 10 show ,ha, he is deficient in The
bump Of caution, or discretion, there are bu.
few TO whom his reference to the "fullest and
most deliberate hearing Of both sides Of the
political can'rosersy" at the last Presidential
election, could have come without exciting
surprise. Few there are, even among the
wings, who can or will deny tie fact, that, du-
ring the las, Presidential campaign. no printi
Piles were discussed, the wings relying alto.
ge,her upon hard-cder carousals 10 keep up
an excitement, drowning all reason and renec-
tion. When reminded Of principles at stake,
low doggrel, 10 be found in Tifpecanoe song
book.
If Mr.. Rives had taken the trouble 10 look
over The liable Of votes cast for President at
the several contests in which Mr.. Clay has
been before the people, he would have discov.
cred that Mr.. Clay has received smaller
number Of votes than was cast for Mr.. Van
Buren, at the last election, aud might thereby
have saved bis friend from comparison not
very aartering to his prospects, If defeat, as
he presumes, has SO much weigh, in the pub
lie mind.
Of last week, we quoted, from Democratic