Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-13
~ uerp win 10


tered for the benefit Of party oil which The ffesdeh
is the head and grand aimonr.
Now. | wool ask, what there TO BIZ spprehende
from Mr. Cl.y's .lrctnn, which ought TO nave ~
w.;rbt of n feather IN the scale, when comFaf'a W
~ ia,,l aud destructive evils. pusoning the vital Gle
ae,,s of Republican ff. dom and virtue, we'll as tn
al sources of nutionaI prosperity and happiness
which we have every reason TO believe, would Inev'a
bly fellow the restoration Of Mr. Van buren,: we shai
doubtless have paraded before our eyes, IN Stereotype
horrors the old and threadbare APART on OF The larry
tbc Bunk and Distribution On the subject OF the
riff do n, hesitate To say that Mr.. Clays cred, DE-
yeooed in hiss recent letters, is IN every respect as
as san nd and that OF Mr.. Van Bh
rem and his practice Infinitely Oe.ter. WI Alay ui'
not vote for or approve the Iarh ot io2o cohsignt'
TO an odous celetr IT, under the name OF Tue bi'i
| abomihat,ons which Mr. Van Buren and his friend
curried by their votes 1t is rather unfortunate
coincidence, considering the professions OF Mr. var
Buren, that all the Tariffs. which have been most com
planned of in the South, owe their existence upon th'
Statute Book the OF himself or his TRENDS
i no want Of charity them but the result of the mos
candid and deliberate consideration when express n
decided opinion that Mr. Clay is Tar more 10 be lee
upon for practical adjustment oil this delicate ans
complex snbec,, on terms just ans satisfactory 10 al
sections of tue Union, tharmonslng their various IN
teress by the golden rule of moderation, which IS the
only pledge OF pernaneuce and stability in any ar
rangement that may be madeD than MIR. Van Buren,
The wis. and temperate spirit, so slriknsly exhibited
in his letters winch have been recently gwen TO tae
putI4c, sustained by his welknown influence with hi'
friends, aud his own high and unquestoned character
for frankness and decision, is guarantee, "A'ch n
portion of The nation will lightly regard.
With respect the Bank, il the country shol be re
duced 10 choice between the odious and grinding sub
Treasury Scheme, and National Institution OF r.
nance properly guarded against abuse by the Jealous
restrictions Of III charter, as well as oy Vgah' pu'
,c supervision and control, do no, believe that The
sober Judgment OF the people, under the pr ssure OF
such an alternative, would fad any cause Of quarrel
AGAINST those who, free from const tItona oiihcu
On the subject should 70 FOR the stler IN preference u
The former And as t, the Distribution OF the pro
c.. ds of the Public Lands that stands necessarily and
evidently adjourned practical question, TIL the re
venues OF tie nation, compared with us expenditures
and engagements, shall be in very different sua'int
from tat in hen they are, or are likely i" oe
for years I, come My own individual OPINIONS o.
these subjects been often and fully stated t'a'
need not repeat them here What | mean to say, al
present is That these are issues either Hypothetical
ard speculative or neutrazsd By equal and opposing
considerations on the other SIDE and should not dVer'
the mind, for n moment from. Those higher, and more
ur.ent and vital questions, which are the tests q
sound and correct decision in the pending Pres!den-
tai election. Those tests | have already a. !efteh
To. They are such as are nsepsrably connected with
the purity character and preservation OF the Govern
ment itself, and in my humble judgment, are over
whelmnsly conclusive against the PreiensIons OF MF
Van Buren,.
AS lite th,!l We permit ourselves, trust, TO be
..rri,b,ened from our prope,y by the old and hol-
low expedienl of sensees and arbitrary use OF par
~ names: These who prone TO ring fc changes
on the nomenclature of Federa.ist Gnd Republican
would do we'll to remember that they have men, read
nv and enquiring men, 10 deal with, and not chill
dfen. TRY Mr. Van Barren and MIR. Clay by any
test derived from the authentic history oil poiit'cal
parties in this country, or by the STANDARD OF those
great principles which ST IN the essential 'meh>
of our popular institutions, and MIR. Clay stancs ot-
fore the world the far better Republican OF The two.
In that great array and struggle of the two parties
of the country, (among the most memories III "u
his,oryD which arose out OF the controversy and war
with i.nrand in l-l2 where was Mr. Clay and whsr'
aas MIR Van Buren,: Mr.. Clay CALAMITY leading 'he
Republican hosts in the House Of Representatives, and
sustaining the administration OF MI Madison WIN
all the energies Of his patriotism and eioiuthce-
Mr. Van Buren, uniting with the Federalias 10 depose
tat usttious from power, and to suPpant ms at-
nns.rat,on Try them again by that standafo wh'cn
Mr. Van Buren himself, in most elaborate speech de-
liyered in the Senate of the w. ). IN lo9, declared 10
be lbe true and Legitimate distinction between tile T.
daral and Republican parties-the one seeking 10 a.
tend the other restrain, Erecntirs power Inc pup
lie have not forgotten the various schemes 80 sednoosy
devised or counenanced by Mr. Van Buren, during the
whole period of his administration, and fully exposed
at the time, to augment Executive patronage d'sc't
ton and power and nothing, surely has more em
nently distinguished the career Of Mr. Clay than ms
consan, and perseveng efforts TO restrain, and to pro
vide new dikes and securities against the enlargement
II The of s R9Tfs s o. isa, By M
Buren, own definition of political pares as correctly
laid down by him in 1873, bu, ot'lly lost sight Of in
his subsequent practice, let the s'ber and lmpar'a
nnent Of the country decide which is the Federal
ist and which the Republican.
1t is impossible for any rejecting man to conien-
plat. the actual and prospective condition OF the coun
try, without seeing in it already the germ OF new dl-
culties and troubles, which may IN Their approaching
de velopment egta,s glorious Union TO ITS centre
The OREGON and Texas questions in foreg rela
tions--at home, deficient revenue, with all ITS ordi
nary sources pressed up to their iarthes Prodneet
limit, and of them, there IS reason 10 apprehend
beyond; the Tariff controversy opened, with all the
conf ctng interests and PASSION which never fail 10
be awakened by it, and added 10 these, the re-kinded
fires of the Abolition e1citement-each and all oil
them are questions which carry IN their bosom the
fearful elements of civil dscord and intestine strife
The worst ard most dangerous aspect they pre-
sent, is that all of them bring into immediate and
opposing array, If not into angry and hostile col
slon the sectional interests and feelings OF the dif-
fsrent geographical divisions OF the Cnniederacy.-
Whose, at such moment, is the master spirit that
may have power to still the rising tempest, before II
sweeps with destructive fury over the face OF our yet
happy Union or should this prove hopeless and i'm
possible whose the commanding genius, "to ride in the
whirlwind and direct The storm? To preside over the
desnes of great Republic, IN crisis OF such com
dictated difficulty and peril, calls Tor something more
than the acts Of the party politician 1t demands
the highest moral and intellectual qualities of the StateS
man-courage, selpossession elevation of character
and elevation Of views, nobleness and generosity oil
osture that attracts confidence, and inspire enhu
sinsm the spirit of persuasion and the spirit of com
mand combined. Let the annals of the country in
some oil the darkest hours which have ever lower.
upon lis fortunes, be consulted ard they will
whether HENRY CLAY or MARTIN VAN BuREs is the
msn for such Crisis.
have thus, my dear sir, with the frankness due r.
our relations of friendship, personal and political gwen
you my views subject which s soon to absorb SC
large portion of The public attention, and 10 which
no good citizen be ind erent atter myself they
will meet your concurrence and that OF our Republican
friends who have acted with US in the trying scenes
through which have passed; but in any event, All
sure they will be received by you with the kindnes,
and cordially, in The spirit of which pray you to be-
eve me, most truly and faithfully, yours,
w. C. RlVES.
Col. EDMusD FoSTAIsE, Hanorer
In the speech alluded tnade the 18th February 1923
powers the Vice President, presiding officer OF the
Sehael Mr. Van Buren, comments on the attempt Of MI
Adams his inaugural Address ito trace the origin OF the tt
great political parties (which" he adds, have divided the
country, from the adoption of the Constitution to the present
day. rejecting Mr. Adams theory he gives hrs own
IN the following "1ley he great political pafties
Fede,a.t RepubIcanl from other and very d