Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-02-29


becoming afterwards more than predetermined,
we hnd him against it, aud favoring graduating
and preemption schemes aud for cedng the UNI
entered public lands to the New States in which
they lie-schemes devised in the MAN, under va
rioos DISCUSSES TO buy up votes ;-and there,
wherever that may be, we think we hazard little
in saying, he may be always looked for, i'm refer
cOce to this important question.
MIR. Clay, with few professions on his lips, has
given constant proof in his life, Of that genuine
Hepubcanism which is shewn in answering f.
deity to popular rights, in unbending resistance
TO executive cncroachment. The intrepid Til
bune OF the people, he opposed himself 70 the
many acts OF despo:ic violence, and n.ore than
monarchial pretension of the iton-wiod Presi-
dent to his assault on the independence Of the
Judiciary, on the constitutional privilege of the
Senate, on the just authority Of Congressman,
above all, TO the high-handed claim, of power,
which resolving the responsibility of all officers
OF Executive appointment to the laws and the
Constitution, into the single responsibility of the
President, would hold them accountable to him |
alone; and reduce, by so audacous a pretension, !
large body Of high and trusted public agents, to
the condition of slaves: and, again, in the clos
ing scenes Of his Senatorial life, we him, !
still deiying the attempted dicta,on OF the Ike
cutive, and, planting himself imniovahly on the
firm platform OF constitutional duty and privilege,
successfully vindicaing, by his latest public act,
the just Independence and authority Of Congress.
Nncn ulu inc ilauliiuen oil democracy oppose
himself to any act of despotic authority? Not
the imperial claim OF the President TO be "the
Government'-not his violent and Illegal remov-
! al OF the deposites-not his attempt TO dragoon
the representatives OF the people into submission
tc his sovereign will, or break down judicial in
| dependente-not his contemptuous dismissal Of
brave and virluous advisers-found, in this fam
ing Democrat, this Wanted champion of Republic
cansm, the least whisper of opposition. But, on
the contrary, still bending the pregnant hinges
OF the knee, where thrift might follow iawnng"
we find him whispering in the of power the
ignobe and sycophantic words " for me it is glo-
| ny enough TO have served under such chiefv'
| and even when clothed by the popular voice with
the dignity and power Of President of the United
States, still, in the meek and humble tones of
viceroy, pedging himself "to follow in The foot
. steps OF his i'lusrious predecessor"
( AS regards tho power of removal, Mr.. Clay
gave sufficient evidence during his connection
with the Executive Government of the modera-
tion with which he would exercise it land that no
man would be prescribed by him merely for OPT
MONS sake. But not then had been avowed or
acted on, the shameless principle OF - rewarding
! friends and furnishing enemies'-nor the yet
more revolving doctrine, subsequently promuged,
that to the victors belong the spoils"-nor had
| The corrupt practice, as yet obtained, Of com3ro-
missing with public pecula,ors for party services.
On these false, vicious and corruptng grounds,
many most worthy public officers arc known TO
have been put in their places. While, then, we
have right 10 infer that Mr.. Clay would remove
no man from office merely for opinions sake, he
will doubtless know how to discriminate between
a just adherence TO that principle, and the sane
tionng of injus,icc-and may well be expected,
I as far as may be in his power, TO reinsiate wor-
thy officers causeless!y removed, and to remove
unworthy ones, without pity or hesitation,
ruptly appointed.
! MIR. Van Buren, seems not only to have fully
recognized the principle Of prescription for OPT
MONS sake, established by his predecessor, but
left on retiring from the Presidency, the foul and
neiiaceable blot on his name and administration
of having, with full knowledge of their delin-
quency retained public deiaulters in Office in con-
sideraiion OF active partzan support. When the
people shall by their voice elevate TO power one
thus known 10 convert the patronage of the Co
vernment into moral poison to pervert and cor
,rupt the free and honest exercise Of the Elective
franchise, they will, by shelving themselves TO
be wanting in Virtue, eyince, at the same time,
that they are unfit TO be Free.
MIR. Clay, ever true to the Constitution, has al
ways alike defended the Rights of the States, and
the Powers of the Federal Government. He
/ powerfully vindicated the principles of State
Rights in the case of Missouri, when Mr.. Van
Buren,, the chosen State Rights candidate, sought
TO strike them TO the earth and, in later case,
was the known defender of the inviolibilIiy of
the Broad Seal of the State Of New Jersey, a.
gainst the contempt offered il, and the dishonor 20
which 1t was subjected by the friends OF MIR. Van
Buren,, without rebuke from him, and we have a
right to infer, with his full concurrence.
! Twice, when our glorious Union has been
placed in imminent peril-(by the Missouri ques-
ton in 1919, and the Tariff controversy in 1889
menaced with dissolution, amid strife and blood,
to bury under its ruins the happiness and Iiber-
! ties Of millions, the hopes of word-twice has
! il been the high and singular fortune of Mr. Clay
ever lorgelfu of self, thoughtful but of his
counry-to avert by his wise, conciliatory and
Staesmanlike counsels the threatened convusion;
and to win for himself name on the rolls of
fame, and in the heart of every true lover of his
country, which the highest station cannot exalt,
nor the humblest obscure-thai of Saviour Of the
! Union.
Where, in these moments of his country's need,
was Mr.. Van Buren,! In vain, when the battle
RACES, may you look for him in the advanced posts
/ Of danger or responsibility. In vain may you
| fortunes, capable OF rising to the height of the
occasion; of assuming any responsible or indie
pendent attitude,-or playing any part higher
than that of party chief, still pushing on others
into the breach, still! himself fixing an intent eye
on the "spos of victory:'' So in the instances
referred to you will find him in the one opposing
no open resistance TO the course of those passions
which seemed fast hurrying the Union to a bloody
close-and in the other, allied to, and urging on,
| the larger party TO the preparation of wrong
| fatal to the equality of Southern rights, and to
the practical balance of the Government.
4 friend of Peace, Mr.. Clay has ever sougl. TO
avert the evils of War when 1t might possibly be
done consistently with the national honor. At
! Client, he successfully lent his wise and patriotic
aid to bring TO satisfactory termination diff
culties with Great Britain-ever opposed the hot
and violent counsels which SINCE at several times,
would have embrolled us again with that power,
and may, In an especial manner. receive the Gre