Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-03-09
Number 90.

4
my opinion Of its character. Yet | cannot,
| think, deceive myself in believing that
the Justice Of the censute which you have
pronounced upon those extraordinary
scenes, will now, at least, be recognised
by vast majorily of the American people.
However difficult it may then have been
to define with requisite certainty the polit-
ical objects for which our opponents
waged the contest Of 1910, there can now
redly be no room for Misrepresentation
upon that subject. The extra session, ioi-
lowing Immediately upon its heels, I'M
m sked INC objects too clearly TO admit
of their being again obscured or misrep-
esented. An opportuniiy--and it is earn
estly to be hoped that both parties will con-
cur in endcavoring to make il fair one
will, therefore now be presented for the
people of ne Unit q States TO make
choice between Two opposing systems for
the administration Of their government,
the influence of one, which will, in all pro-
liability, affect the interests of the country
for good or evil, for series Of years TO
come.
Nor is this the ONLY, nor even the most
IMPORTANT aspect in which the renewal OF
the contest of which you have spoken WIN
SO much emphasis, and in SO patrlouc d
spirit, may we'll be regarded.
Singular as il may seem TO those VINO
are not in situation to judge correctly Oh
the circuua,anc ., it is nevertheless true,
that condemnation by the people OF inc
United Stat 6, of many OF the means 70
which our opponents had recourse IN mat
ca 1vass, is not less important to the per-
m1nent welfare of our country and lis Poc
litical institutions, than the overthrow OF
the principles they laborcd to establish
While The effects Of the success OF the lat
ter we're in a mees1re limited and tempo
rary, the employment Of the former struck
at the very foundation upon which our po-
lit cal edifce was based 49,,
1t has hitherto been our prlie 10 i've
under poli,icli institutions which are ioun'
dei M, n reason and virtue, in tue cs'aD,
ljsbment of which neither force nor ltaud
was employed; and VIC have cherished lne
belief, that it is only by an lnhexipie 20,
scryance of the exalted principles whicn
preyai.ei at The period of its formation, mat
our government can be upheld Wi'lout
more particularly noticing the Illuminating
details TO which you alIude in your commu-
nication, can it be pretended that 'nefc
could be any expectation OF success luz
such efforts, unless founded upon the as,
sumption that the popular VOICE was nI,
"under the guidance Of reason and Vir'ue'
or upon the supposilon that the moran
principles Of the people to whom 'hose w
grading appeals were made, might DC COT
rupted by resort to such practices! no
belief that the use Of such means contrlo-
uted 10 the result of ls4o, must have low
cred the character of our people in the eS'
timaton of mankind; and ifso, how mucn
would their respect for US be dlmlnlshco'
should the coming canvass be so conuuI.
ed as to establish the impression ina. .no
American people are liable to be always
thus imposed upon. Liability to OCCASION
al error is an infirmity from which no III
dividual is exempt: What right have we'
then, 10 expect that communities shopla 20
infallible? But there is wide dIierenoo
between an occasional alteration. anu u
)nHfmeQ 0elect vi Ch"AoS
expect the people of this country to nam
tain the elevated standing in the eyes oil
the world which they have hitherto ENJOY.
ed, if, after the lapse Of years, and the
fullest opportunity for reflection, they SUI
fer themselves to be second time opera
ted Upon by appliances, from the use OF
which every friend TO free government
must turn with notification and disgust!
You do not, therefore, gentlemen. IN my
Judgment, over-estimate the Importance
which iho proceedings of ls4O are css'
tined 10 give to those Of ls44. Console.
rations will be brought into view by that
connexion, of greater magnitude than any
which have ever been involved in our po'
litical conflicts, and compared with when
all personal and party interests dwIndle
into insignifcance.
am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
Your friend and ob't servant,
! nj. VAN BUREN,.
Hon. James X Snowden, Pres'f.
Asa Dimock, Henry Buehler, &c. &c.
| A, orecdofe is told of q \ounp French