Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-02-29

determining. but belray one Of the other
OF both. be must. Since though duplIci
lty may easily existin professions. ye. th'
same measure cannot at one. aud ID,
same time, be both vetoed and approved
But We doubt Il tie history Of pablo mer
exhibits 50 shameless an instance of pal
leriDg ~ a double sense" With Question
OF vital concern TO nation al u. large
bodies 81 men, pretending lothe slsghtssl
regard for principle. suppes,iAs tie same
man. al The same moment, rs the expo.
nent and representative Of principles sbso.
lutely inconsfstent!aDd contradictory. a
On the subject Of National Bank alone,
OF the public questions Of The cay. Mr.. Tan
Buren,. once petitioner Tor a Branch Of
! that Institutfon. and never heard TO breathe
aught against il ia The seas,n Of its popu.
Elarlity, at length holds a position wholly
unequivocal. Foreseeing lis inevitable
doom III the wrath Of him whose ire, orce
raised sever yet knew retiring eb5 2
aud whol Tor the time. ruled, as with a
trident, ;tte tides OF public opinion. Mr.
Van Buten FASTENED to throw himself on
the currentthen setting in agains, that la,
;ion, aud proclaimed 'nncoinpromising
Aostili,y TO- ihe United States Bank Z
The Bank put down. MIR. Van Buren,
aoated into power. on the better curren.
ey' bubble, which. however. 10. his terror
and surprise. at the next moment, burs,
hnder him. Cured thus suddenly Of The
better currency" delusiou--without the
moral courage 10 recant an error and 70.
sort TO The tried remedy Of Bank and
unable as tfflpgs were, to MAINTAIN the
faith, or conduct the fiscal concerns, OF
Inc govetpment-he bit on the sage aud
statesman like expedient Of having hard
money Tor the government. and paper no
neg 10: the people--snd usheFed il before
the country, masked. however, aud dis
gaised behind the innamerable provisions
and enacs,nents OF his famous SAD Trea
sury Scheme lie has always seemed
willing to stake his fortunes add bis states,
.nanship on this measure-and commit.
ted, as he is TO il. aud against all others,
he will doubtless have some right to.infer,
in The event Of his election, thai it has the
sanction OF the country.
Thus is this scheme, feunaed Ia the
gfossest ignorance Of the FIRST principles
OF currency--incongruous and imm,sci
Bile, save ibjnriously With any paper sys-
tenn, Of proved insuthciency except for
evil. with It's magnificent treasury house
at Washington, and continually lucgeas:
ing number Of subordiGaie establishments,
with their ksuiss Gad safes, aud 6oits and
bags, TO be erected all over Inc country. az
IseFfsat sxpense-its numerous sub treasur.
augmentation o. the s.1aIraaHsrs=.ils vast
power and patronage Of the Federal Exs
.ecuiive-cdious, above all. for providing
one currency for the government and an
other for tue people gold and silver for
pablo servants, ferSooth, cone what may;
deprecated paper. 10 seasons o: adversely
or nolhing,.fo The public. at large - thus
is this costly, cumbrous, mischievous, cor,
rupling and odicus scheme. for the pro-
lection Of Inc Government and Govern.
ment officers, only, on the one hand, and
some simple. cheap and safe National ln-
gstitution. designed as well for The usssof
the People as of the Government, oashe
other. submitted again 10 the public deci
sion.
Mr.. Clayis il favor Of distributing a
moug the states tie proceeds ofthe public
lands. So convinced was be Of lis jus
tice and exeediency, that. notwfhstand
ing the probability Of impairing BY 1.-THE
popularity be then SO largely possessed il
the new states. he did not hesitate TO la
zard that consequence byspresenting his
celebrated Report of 1892 in advocacy
Of The measure-and so disinieresied that
an allusion being made TO the occurrence,
as. in that. view. unfortunate, be. al Once
said: n viii never presume that any
man will lose he favor OF The people cor
advocating What is clearly just; but If /
kne v that such would be the case. SHOULD
not the less al@ays.support what thought
10 be right
Mr.. Van Buren, Il is fair to presume,
from bis often boasted- concurrence Of
opinion with Gen'I Jackson. once he'd
dis,ribntion 70 be just safe and federsi;'
and that, the National Debt being exln4
guished. the public lands should cease I'd
be source oI pAbitc revenue But the
safety Of advocating ii. al least To ! man
whose ambition never rose above The sci
fish lust Of power. becou ing afterwards
more than pfbblematical. we iud MIN d
gainst ii. and favorng5 graduating and pre-
emplion schemes and for ceding The nn
entered publlc1lsnds tothe New Ssa:es 10
which thay be--schemes devised IN the
main, under various disguises. TO hey up
votes :---and there, whatever that may
be, We think 9e hazard little. in saying. be
may be always looked for, in reference 10
thss imporlanhqnestion.
Mi. Clay. with lew professions on bis
lips. has gwen constant proof in bis life,
oi that gennine Rspubticaaisn which il
shewn IN answering fidelity to popular
rights, Ia unbsnding resistance 10 execu-
i've. ercroackmsnt The intrepid Tri
hume of the people. be opposed himself 10
the many acis:of despolic violence. sand
more than mopsrchial preisnsions Of the
Iron wiIled PresideDt. TO his assault on
the independence Of the Judiciary. on
1.-The constiiutionafprivilege Of the Senate,
on The iust auiHofity Of Congress and a,
bose alf. 10 The hig b handed claim Of pow,
er. which resolving The responsibility 81 al
A officers OF Executive appointment 10 tbs
laws and The CONSTITUTION. inio The slngls
responsibility II The President, would toll
then accoyGiableEio bin alone; and -
lduce, b. 50 audacio0s preiension, q Iarg,
body OF high and trusted public agents i
the condition OF slaves and. again, il
the closing scenes Of bis Se6ai0fis lifx,
Il NE see him ktfIl aefu;nr ths affemsstez