Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-13
fr,ou me Richmond Haig.)

Rvs nc will be seen from lis face, was written 10
ersonal and political friend in Hanover but ano,ne
gentleman having learned, IN conversation WIN W
R,yes that he had written such let en- CONTAINING
e ex nression of his views the subject OF Tue res
J.nt;ai Election has obtained copy oil the ster' WIN
nsrm s,ion 10 have it published as the best means o.
,tfyng all enqurers, and removing oil dou'tS' a. :
/ The course Mr. Rlyes will pursue III the approaching
contest - =, ,c,,
/ NV Dear Sir: 1t seems II be now dehnuvtiy s.t'eu
TIM, The country be called upon 10 retract me SC
omn decision pronounced by 1t In le4u, upon tae DC
h 1T, of Mr. Van Buren's Administration, and TO re
tore him TO power without solitary alonement io
t.a r,e or rlsdoe of amendment for the future The
nd;sa,,ons which have been gwen here, nee Inc u.s.
semblinr of Congress- are too significant 70 DC mSun
dersood The Convention at Baltimore WIN nave 10
thing TO DO bu: TO register ana p'oc!a'h "s e''' "
the Caucus in the Capitol
i In This state of things, we, who have so oiteh
testified in the face Of the world our deep ana eanes
convictions Of the fatal and democrat zlns %
Mr.. Van Buren's whole system oil polcai ac''oh' u
sl,,d aside with folded arms, and TO shrink into an III
,Inr,ous had almost sud- reasonable neutra' ty be-
c,nsa of some differences OF opinion, on questions OF
nnbic policy from Mr. Clay, winch wise sp'rit OF
moGeraon and the recognized aibi'rament OF the Pho-
! l,c viii, are daily narrowing VI "'as "''uue gu"
| humby think not -: :;
The election Of Chief Magistrate of the nation, is
one of those vital processes, provided by the Costu
lion Of country, for the periodical regehefaoh VI
our system by fresh infusion INTO II, oil Inc elements
of nonular health cod virtue IN which no COCO cllz+b,
unless under circumstances OF very pecuhar chafae
Tor can oropery refuse 10 take part and II Inc tS-
toni of his influence and example, decided ara flll-
Gent part When tie vast moral and p't''ica' iniu-
ance OF the oce well as It's direct Attributes OF Fo
sitlve and controlling power are ccnslaefeo, y 'a ne
yer be mater of indifference, or even oi an eIua ~
l.nro of couniervang motives OF preference or ooec-
INN who shall fill 1t. There 10 always choce anu
thon,h the making of that choice mny sometimes De
.mban assed by conflicting consdefa'ns' arising od'
of want of enlire coincidence OF op'n'oh "'th ei"e
If the opposing candidates. Is only Inc more ihcu-
hor, n, NJ 10 determine our preference with care nnd
deliberations according u the best IL MS oi our uhoet-
standings; and when once conscie"'ioua!y ioraieo'
| Gsaressly and unilesitaingly 10 act II out
| In the approaching Presidential contest men, We
oucb, not and cannot be neutral; and 1t, as every
thar now indicates is be the case, that contest snail
| h. between Mr. Van Buren, and Mr.. Clay, have as
little hesitation in saying that there Is bnt one ne
OF acton by which we Gun acqu't oufSsl OF .he
full measure cf our duty TO the couhtry-ano 'hal
is, waving all minor consioefa,,'ns " give
maoly and determined support 10 Mr. Clay IN pre-
ference 10 Mr. Van Buren,. For myself, can con
eeiye of no greater calamity II the na"n, or ceep-
er dscredlt t. the cause and very maze Q! poph
| lar Government, than the Reelection o' M'' IAN
Buren, would be, after the signal and oyef"hf I'm,
ing majority by which he was 50 recently d@posed
from power, upon the iuliesl cahFass W I'' 'iS'
policy and conduct ,
The host OF vindiciive passions winch ioo| IN the
! train of restored Goyernments-the crowds OF nun
pry rct,ners pleading The merit OF past ssfV Gee,
wo press forward claim the reward OF thef hdelily,
mr. Indemnity for sacrifices and losses incurred IN the
common cause.-the Infatuated and peftlnacous At
tachment 10 ancient abnses-the arbitrary ana sen
wiled habits nGruicd III the former possessions OF
pcwer-the commitment to tavorIts but perncious
SCI cmes of policy have ell concurfcd t. give so't
Of oroverbial currency the remark OF celebrated
English salesman End historian, that the worst ana most
dangerous Of all rcuo'ons is Restoration ihat an
these evils would he realized t. the widest extent ano
in their mos, unmittgatsd vtuence IN The restoration
of Mr. Van Buren,, none doubt who have been at-
tenllvc observers Of the selfish and vic ous system OF
party policy exemplied IN the creed and conduct o.
himself and his friends, who have not forgotten tha'
memorable motto Of party rapacily, so boldly emoa-
zoued on the shields of his followers, which, IN
proclaininr "lo the vc,ors belong the spos Of vcto
ry lessly pointed 10 the Offices and public trusts
oil the country the rghful plumber of political war
fare!
But to return TO the remark | have already made
81 Kfpnorthh fhjnfdSoRs ffRh' tRo"nc On Inc cause
witty and instability, the pat of the constituent no.
dy as would be exhibited in the restoration OF Mr. "
Buren,, after the overwhelming condemnation 1T has
administration, pronounced by the almost unanimous
voice OF the country, but three short years ago: Would
It not render popular government itself bye word
and iaunt among the nations In lS40, the American
| people, upon the fullest and most deliberate nearing
Of both sides Of the political conlroversy-o me 'rehos
we'll as OF the opponents of Mr. Van Buren-re
corded their votes against him by such majority as
never before signalzed the retreat OF any minister
from power and was till then utterly unparalleled
and even unapproachcd in the history of our fres
dental contests OF the tweny-sx States composing
the Union, he received the votes Of but seven, ana al
of these excep. one the smallest of the Conederacy-
of the 94 votes of the Electoral Colleges he obtained
brt sxty-and of The popn!ar srtlrcges, majority O
l45 GOO, out Of the free and enlightened citizens
America who voted in the election, gave IN their accu
mulaed verdict against him. And, yet, in the lace G.
this solemn finding of the great inquest OF the body o.
the na,on-whle the echo of the general voice whcf
p.onou need it has yet died upon the cara hold at
tampt is made TO induce the people TO take back the
own settled and weconsidered judgment, and IN ele
waiting again TO the highest office OF the kepubhc the
ndiv dua whom they had recently and deiberntelJ
deposed pronounce fragrant sentence of stu!t'hca
ton and incompetence upon themselves know no
in what linht other minds may view such proceed
! ing but tn me il seems contemptuous sporting
with The sovereign constituency OF the county,
sheer mockery ard insult to the public intelligence
/ And by what is Mr. Van Buren, to be agaIr
presented the legitimate and Amounted candidate o
the Democratic party Net certainly by the will o
the great body of the party who, we have every reason
TO believe depreca:e and plore the madness and folly
of the act but by the and invisible agency o.
secontituted conciares and cQucs, controlled, with
absolute sway, by few bold and adoIt political mana
gers run risk in saying that, if the individuals
composing the party throughout the Union conld De N
i
prefer as the Presidential nominee of the party three
ourhs of them at The least, and probably iar larger
proportion woui unhesitatingy declare their preference
for some new candidate. And yet, IN utter contempt
of tie popular sentiment Of the party, and dls
dancuy eecng the only equitable as well as practica
bic mode Of arriving the viii OF the majority through
the mediua Of fair, equal and uniform popular repre-
sen,a,ion in the nominating convention, the TRENDS OF
Mr. Van Buren,, (hoding on to that old 'naeh'nrg Of
party discipline and subordnaiion, derived to them
from the cunning order of the Jesuts through the
bloody Jacobinca Clubs of Revolutionary France, by
which one or active spirits enabled to suppress
the will and CONTROL the movements of vast and entire
bodies of men, mperously declare that he, and ne on
w. shall be the candidate of the party Is 1t not time
that honorable and patriotic men, as they respect The
dignity of their character the privileges OF Tree
men, and the sacred principles of Republican Govern
ment, should unite in generous and vIruous srug
gle to overthrow, efec,uay and forever, the tyranny
of system, which, if now submitted to, must finally
convert noble popular institutions into the wors
of all domnations-lhat OF inscriptions and sordid
party oligarchy'
And what are the wise and benignant measures o
administrative policy which are promised US as the
fruits of Mr.. Van Buren's restoration' return to
the glories and blessings of the Sub-Freasury system
"a renewed war upon the currency, commerce, and