The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-01-22

| his Administration, and fully exposed at the lime
TO augment Executive patronage, discretion and
power; and nothing, surely, has more eminently dis
tnguished the career Of Mr. Clay than his co1stan,
ana MS perseVerng efforts TO restrain and TO provide
new dykes and securities against the enlargement or
abusive exercise OF the powers Of that department of
the Government Judging them, then, by Mr. Van
burens own definition of political parties as cor
rec'ty lana down by him in ls2s,but totally lost sight
OF IN ms subsequent practice, let the sober and i'm
partial Judgment Of the country decide which is the
Federalist and which the Republicans
1t is impossible for any refecng man to contern-
plate the actual and prospective condition of tho
country, without seeing in il already the germ of new
difficulties and troubles, which may in their nprronch-
ing development, agitae glorious Union TO its
centre. The Oregon and Texas questions in our
foreign relations; at home, deficient revenue with
all It's ordinary sources pressed up to their arhest
productive limit and some ofthem, there is TO
apprehend. beyond; the tariff controversy reopened,
with all the conflicting interests and passion which
er Tail TO be awakened by it, and added to these, the
rekinded fires oithe abolition excitement-each and
all OF them are questions which carry in their bosom
the fearful elements Of civil discord and intestine strife.
The worst and most dangerous aspect they present is
that all OF them bring into immediate and opposing
array, II not into angry and hostile collision, the
ona interests and feelings of the different geograph-
ica divisions of the Confederacy. Whose, at such
moment, is the master-sprt that may have power TO
still the rising tempest, before it sweeps with dcstruc-
tive fury over the face of our yet happy Union; or,
should this prove hopeless and impossible, whose the
commanding genIous ito ride the whrwind and
direct the Storm" To preside the destinies of
great Republic, in crisis Of such complicated
difficulty and peril, calls for something than the
arts of the mere party Politician II demands the
highest moral and Intellectual qualities of the Siates-
mdn-courage, self possession elevation Of character
and elevation Of views; nobleness aud generosity
of nature that attracts confidence, and inspire
enthusiasm, the spirit of persuasion and the spirit of
command combined. Let the annals of the country,
ia some Of the darkest moments which have ever
lowered upon its fortunes, be consulted, and they
will answer whether HENRY CLAY MARTIN
VAN buren, is the man for such crisis.
have thus, my dear sir, with the (rankness due
our relations Of friendship, personal and political,
given you my views on subject which is soon to
absorb so large portion Of the public attention. and
to which no good citizen can be Indifferent. / llatter
myself they will meet your concurrence, and that of
our Republican friends who have acted with in the
trying scenes through which we have passed; but in
any event, | am sure they will be received by you
with the kindness and cordially the spirit Of which
pray you, TO believe me, most truly and faithfully,
yours, w. c. RlVES.
Col EDMUND FoNTA1NE, Hanorer
In the speech alluded TO- made on the / 9th OF Feb
ruary, 1923, the powers Of tie Vice President,
presiding officer Of the Senate,) AIR Van Buren,
nents on the "atempt'' Of Mr. Adams, in his inaugu-
raj address, to the origin of the two great po
tca parties,' (which he adds, 'have divided the
country from the adoption of the Constitution to the
present day." and. after jecting Mr. Adans's heo
ry, he gives his own in the following words: ''They
lihe two great political parties, of Federast and
Republican } arose from other and very different
causes. They are, in truth, mainly to be ascrbed to
the struggle between opposing principles, that
have been in active operation in this country from tho
closing of the Revolutionary war to the pres
ent day-the one seeking to absorb, as Tar prnct
cable, all power from its legitimate sources, and con-
dense it into single head; the other, antagonist
tnla lnbO Fin0n 10 IN ISf
croachments and limit the extent Of Erecutire
thorty.'