The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-10
JAMES MAGOFFIN, Postmaster
From the Boston Daily Times.
MR.. VAN BUREN'S CLAIM TO A RE-ELEC-
TON

We propose in q few remarks 10 consider very
briefly, and, we trust in spirit of candor and good
feeling, the claims Of Mr. Van Buren, TO reelection
to the Presidential chair, from which the American
people, by an overwhelming majority, elected him in
1910. We propose to do this, without bringing into
question the merits dement's of any rival candi-
dates for popular suffrage. If Mr.. Van Buren, de-
serves TO be supported at ALL il be for his posi-
tive merits and personal fitness for the office to
which he aspires.
This is especially true in the present case, for we
obliged, in supporting Mr. Van Buren,, not only
to show good and sufficient reasons why judgment
should not be rendered against him, but good and
sufficient reasons why the judgment already render
ed against him should be reversed. He has been
tried by Jury OF his country and socmnly convicted
Of un6lncss for the Office OF President His friends
must in the outset, successfully impcach the court
and jury must 10 speak pl lin, convict the ma lority
OF the American people of dishonesty or of incompe-
tency TO sit as jurors. This has not as yet, been
done. The American people have not yet been
WINGED that Mr.. Van Buren, is any more fit for Prcs-
dent now than they regarded him in 1910. Here is a
preliminary difficulty, by no means easy TO surmount,
and which imposes double labor his friends
Before they can present him a suitable candidate
for the Presidency, in the eyes Of his countrymen,
they must rs we have said convict those coun-
trymen of dishonesty, or Of ncompe,ency. To bring
him at this time before them for their sufIrages is
direct insult to them. For the case ia not that the
majority refused merely to elect him, but a maiori-
ty decided to ,isei him.
The judgment of the American people recorded
against him, is not mer, ly 1--WE do not ehoo. hin,
but, 1--WE condemn him. IL is not negative iudg.
ment but positive conviction and, on the auihori.
| ty Of the Democratic Review, the pet Of Mr. Van
Buren,, for good and sufficient reasons.
! Well, has Mr. Van Buren, these pre-cminent quail.
ications for the Presidency which, after ALL should
lead the American people to reverse the judgment
which stands recorded, in their name, against him
II Mr.. Van Buren, bad never been placed 10 position
which called for all his ability, and which gave him
an opportunity TO show what were his real quali6ca
tons we frankly admit tina, there might possibly be
some good reason for reversing the Judgment Bu
having been once President, having had an opportu
nifty to display all his ability, and TO prove wha
stuff he is made Of nay having been President in mos
difficult copjuncture, when, II is really great
and fit for high Office and great emergencies he new
er fails to show It, we hold the judgment 1t stands
IL strong pr1no Jare evidence against him. and will
require the strongest rcbutting testimony before WI
can be justified in setting il aside, and re-assertn
his competency.
II may be said that the election was carried agains
him by making up false issues, by bribery fraud an,
corruption Letus consider this moment In the out
set was not Mr. Van Buren, in favorable position
for forcing the true issue before the people, as hi
enemies were for forcing false issuei Was he no
President and did not his party enter the campaig
with twenty States out OF the twcntysix in his favor
Why did he suffer the false issue to be madei In IN
very TACT that faisc issue was made, do we not
the fecblencss Of the politician Would not rea
great man at the head Of The Government with vast
~ more means Of influence Of his command than hi
opponent could aspire TO- find out some way Of keep
ing the real question, plainly, distinctly before In
people Was jefferson, was Madison, was Monroe
was Jackson, defeated on the second election b
means of false issue
Jefferson and Jackson had TO commence their admin
strstions with strong and determined an opposition
AZ Mr. Van Buren, encountered and yet no false issue
were made up before the people, or, il 80, none a
least wer. successful Tk poy apology Mr.. Van Bu
rsm's triends osr fcr HI, dtf,a admission Of 4,
,csakne~ A great nan at the head Of Government
in country like ours, really perce'yng, and deter
mined TO do what IS ior his eountry's good will al