The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-06-22
VARIOUS MATTERS.

VARIOUS MATTERS.
FIVE were compelled TO decide upon the me-
rits Of MIR. Calhoun by what the Globe says Of
him, and of MIR. Benton by what the Spectator
says Of him, we should feel very much at loss
to determine which should be hanged highest
Yet the Globe and the Spectator are each the
sworn friends of Mr.. Polk. The points of differ
ence are chiefly two, viz: the Globe charges
the Spectator with be ng leagued with band of
confederates in the reasonable design to dissolve
the Union; while the Spectator, on the other
hand, charges the Globe with the treacherous
purpose Of defeating the Locofoco party. These,
however, are minor differences, and can doubt
less be adjusted amicably The grave questions
that may arise pertaining 10 the division Of the
spoil, which, by the way, are remotely possible
In the estimation of all reasonable people, are
likely TO keep alive the fires of discord for much
longer period. Our own private Judgment is,
that the Globe INDUCES reasonable jealousy Of
It's young rival. The Spectator is no better than
an interloper in the ranks of Locofocoism. The
editor of that print disdanfully held aoof from
the party so long as the star of the Magician was
In the ascendant, and, 10 all appearance, could
not have made the PERCEPTIONS leap, from his
lofty position, down upon the platform of Van
Buren, Locofocoism, without imminent danger of
breaking his neck-poli,ically. He may thank
his stars, therefore, that the "chivalry" were
successful in their very democratic efforts to con-
troll the numerical majority of the Baltimore
Convention. But for that suspicious event, the
Spectators occupation" would never have
come. The Globe, on the contrary, was ready
for any emergency. He could conscientiousy
support Mr.. Van Buren,, with his ncomprehensi-
Bile, indefnable views of the Tariff policy or
he could as cheerfully support Mr. Polk, who
has declared himself against all protection. He
could go for Texas or against Texas and, at
different stages of the controversy, did take both
Sides and denounced all those who did not. And
will it be pretended that the Spectators claims to
the confidence and support of his party could be
compared with those of the old sailor upon the
sea of Locofocoism, who can adjust his sails 10
every breeze? The editor of the Spectator, ac-
cording to his own account, (and who could de-
sire better authoriiy,) would, to borrow phrase
from friend of ours, "perish upon an abstrac-
tion," and is consequently very unfit represen-
tative of the progressive Democracy" The
editor Of the Globe, the other hand, only looks
to the success of the party" and it is, Of course,
matter Of no consequence to him what it is the
party is successful in. The "spoil y is the only
abstraction which he would not throw to the
winds whenever his party required t-whenever
the Democracy should think proper to make
one Of those progressive steps from one point
OF the political compass to the opposite.
With reference to the dement's of Messrs.
Benton and Calhoun, which seems to be an issue
OF some moment between the Globe and Specta-
tor, we decidedly prefer Mr.. Benton He has far
more straight forward consistency of character,
and has, after all that has been said for Mr. Cal
houn's towering genius, achieved more. Mr.. Cal
houn is doubtless wellbehaved gentleman. but
we have yet to learn what action of his life will
stand forth in history TO vindcate his title to the
character of patriot or great statesman. He
has printed vast deal upon various subjects, in
which the diction is rather better than common
Tor politician of these days; though falling far
behind that of Webster, as well as of several Of
our earlier statesmen The argunentative abili-
ty Of Mr. Calhoun is vastly overrated, vet it can
not De denied that he possesses much ingenuity.
lie las IN general exercised his faculties in that
way upon topics connected with political ECONOMY:
and the subject being abstruse and reco,dte
whatever he says upon il, though it be princin,e
familiar to the student Of The science, which h.a
been thousand times illustrated, it is reco;vod
~ The gaping multitude of bis friends with mi,