Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-01-18

90 {, : psrSopsf nnd political friend 10 haDo-
mr., bal snosbsr gsnilsnan having harmed, .
! conssrs,tlon uiih Mr. Rists, hat be had Writ
len sueh letter, eoninfni1ga tullexPfessio1 Of
81 sisul % tks subject Of The Presidential E
l,ctioa. has Obtained copy or he letter. with
o,rmis,ion 10 have Il published-as The best
means Of satisfy ing al snqgirer.. snd removing
nll doubts, - 70 the course Mr.. Rises win pur
sds IN he approaching e4nltst.
Riskmsn1 wig.
wAshmerok, Jan lei. 1874.
NJ Dear sir-rIi seems d b now de6nifely
sst,led, that he tonnlry Is 10 Be called upon o
getrsct The solemn decis ion pronounced 81 Il 10
Iese. npon he dement's bf Mr.. Vac Bareass
Administration, and 10 restore him 70 poser,
without : solitary a;onemint for~ihe par, or
pledge Of anendlaerl for the future. The ind,
'sati0ns which have been given here, since TIE
assembling Of Congress. are 100 signi6csnt 10 b.
tisundsrsleod. Thp Convention II BsI.imors
will has6nothing % do butto rtgister and pro-
claim the edict Or The Caftus IN the Capitol.
II This state Of things. are We. who have 50
soitsn losiifed, 10 The face Of the world. our
deep md earnest convictions 81 the fatal and de-
mofalixing tendencies 81 AZ Van Buren's 9hols
system Of political sesioa, 10 stand aside With
folded sfma, and 10 shrink into - inglorious.
had almost said, treasoua5le neutrality, because
Of some dideFeness of opihion on Questions Of
public policy, from Mr.. Clay, which wise spi-
ri of moderation. md ne recognised arbilra-
lnent oftbe public VII. arp dsiltnauowins 10
msgniiude and extent humbiy think not.
The eleeiioh Of Chief MHgissfate Of The ma
ton. Is one Of those vital processes. provided
b. the Constitution Of The tountfy. for the peri
odieal fdgeuorafon Of our system, by. fresh
inEution into Il, al the elements Of popular
health add virtue, 10 which no good leislzen, IN
leys under circumstances Of 4 very peculiar
character. can properly refuse 10 take part,
and, 10 The extent Of his Influence and example,
decided and efficient part. Wisa the vast
moral snd political in6uenee Of lhe oaee, as
we'll - is direct attributes Of posiisFs and eoa-
: trolling power are considered, IL can never be
= matter Of indifference. oF even Of an equal
balance Of eouniefvailing motives Of preference
or objection. who shall illlt- There Is always
choice; and though The making Of thai choice
may sometimes b embarrassed BY conflicting
considerations. krFfing OUT Of want Of entire
eoineidenee ofopinion with either Of The oppcs-
Ing candidates u i only the more incumbent on
u 10 determine our preference with care and
dsiiherSsion, according TO the best lights Of our
I Understandings |; and. whep once constitutions
y formed, feailessly and Iunhesilalingly to aci
Il out.
In the approaching Presidential contest, then.
We ought not aud cannot lle neutral and If, IS
every thing nov indicates Is 10 be the case, that
contest shall bs-between Mr.. Van Buren, and
Mr. Clay, have rs littIe hesitation 10 saying
that lhsre Is but one line Or action b. which we
can aeqnil ourselves Of The full measure OF our
duty 10 the country -and that is, waving ell
minor considerations, TO give manly and deter
mined support TO Mr.. Clay ia preferences TO Mr.,
Van Bure0. For myself, II can conceive Of no
creator calamity 10 tho nation, or deeper dis
credit to>the cause and very name OF popular
government, than the reelection OF Mr.. Van
Bnren would be, after the signsfGand over
whelming majority BY which he was so recently
dsposed from power, upon the fullest canvass Of
T his measures, policy aud conduct.
4 The hoss Of vindiciiye passions which follow
IN the train Of restored goftfnmenis-lhe crowds
ofhungry, retainess, plesding>the merit OF past
services, who press forward 70 claim the re-
ward Of their 6delily, or indemnity for sacri-
fees and losses incurred ih the common cause
1.-The i1fatnated and periihaeious atlaehmsntto
aneicnt abuses- the arbitrary ard seIf-Milled
habits nurl1red il the former possession OF pow
er<-the commitment to fayoriie but pernieious
schemes Of policy, have al concurred TO give
sort Of proserbial currency 10 the remark Of q
celebrated English statesman aud historian, that
the worst and most dangerous OF allrtroinifeas
Il Restoration Thai IN these evils would
be realized 70 the widest extent and in then
most unmiligated vifulence. in the restorslion
Of Nj Van Baren, none ean doubt who have.
been attentive observers Sf the selfish aud vi
eions system 81 party policy exemplifed IN the
creed and conduct Of himself and his friends. or
who have not forgotten tia. memorable motto
Of party rspaciiy, so boldly emblazened on HE
shields Of his chosen foltlwkFs, which, in gro.
claiming. TO the sietors belong the spoils Of
yietorya' shamelessly poihled to tho Offices and
public trusts Of tbe couhirr, as The righ.ful
plumber ofPoii.ical warfare
But 10 return 10 The remark have alreacy
made. Could any thing ittliet deeper wound
on the cause Of Republican Institutions, than
such spectacle Ofieyity And instability, on The
part Of the constituent body, IS would be sx,
hibiled in the restoration 81 Mr.. Van Baren, az |
Ter the overwhelming confederation Of bis ad-
minis,ra,ien, proroaneed By The almost unani- !
NOUS voice Of the country Ibul three shert years
agol Would II not render popular goyernmentl
ilselfa .byesword and tauIitn among the nations:
In let0. the American people. upon the fullest 4
aad most deliberate hearing Df both sides Of the \
political controversy -of TIE. frieuds as well as
Of the opponeatsacf Mr. Van Buren--secorded
their yolc<Ggaiast him by such majority as
meyer before signalizsd tie retreat Of any min |
ister frog power, sad wastill then utterly un-
paralleled. and even uuapproached. 10 the histo-
~ of our Presidential contests. oflhe &c states
composing the Onion, be deceived the votes oil
bu, seven, and all Of thsse Except one) the /
smallest Of the confederaey the 29F votes Of
the Electoral Colleges he|Fobtained but sixty
and Of lhe9populas suaragts a majority Of ls5,-
600, out OF The free and enlightened citizens Of
America, who voted Ia tie election, gave in
their accumulated verdict against him. And
l. r. a. ~
great inquest Of the body df the nslion-while
the echo Of the general voice which pronounced
4 has not yet died upon ths cara bold attempt
Is made % induce the people 10 take back their
0wn settled and well-eons idered Judgment, and,
Ia elevating again 10 the highest Office Of the
Republic The indiv idual whom lhey had 50 re-
Gently and deliberately dsposed, propounce
lagrant senseoce of slaltidSstlon aad ineompe
leace upon themselves. 1 know not in what
light oiser miads may view such proceeding;l
but Iona Il seems eonlem pluons sporting with
he sovereign constituency Of the ooaniry-al
sheer moekefy and insult 10 the public iaseili-
geace.
Aud ~ what means isTNlr. van Buren, 10 Sc
ngsis preseasea as ths legitimate and anoirted
caadidate Of the Democratic party Not GER
tainy hy lhe will of the great body 81 he nsrty,
who, We haFe every reason 10 believe, dspFe'
rate and depiore the madness aed folly Of The
Acs, but b the secret and inyisibis agency Of
self-conslisnt6d tsntiarts atd AUkEss centralized,
with absolute sWas, b lev bold and adfcit
political managers. I rnh no risk IN saying,
That II The Individuals cbnposipg the 7Srsg
throughout the Union could be Intercepted. up.
on the xosn pinr. 70 SAY whom they would pre-
fer Is The Presidential rs)mlnse of The patty,
lhtce>koQFsas % l6em, Al lie least, and proba
bly, far larger proportion, WOULD uahesisa-