The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-25


thetica and speculative, or peutralized by equal
and opposing considerations on the other side, and
should not divert the mind for moment from
those higher and more urgent and vital ques-
lions which are the true ties of sound and cor
rect decision in the pending Presidential election.
Those tests have already adverted to. They are
such are nseperably connected with the purity.
character, and preservation Of the Government it.
self, and, in my humble Judgment, are over
whelmingly conclusive against The pretensions of
Mr.. Van Buren,.
AS little shall we permit ourselves, trust, to
be 'tfrighted from our propriety" by the old and
hollow expedent of a senseless and arbitrary use
Of party names. Those who are so prone to
ring The changes on the nomenclature of Fede-
ralist and Republican would do we'll to remem-
Der that they have men, reading and inquir-
ing men, to deal with, and not children. Try
Mr.. Van Buren, and Mr.. Clay by any test derived
from the authentic history Of political parties in
this country, or by the standard of those great
principles which exist in the essential elements
Of our popular institutions, and Mr.. Clay stands
before the world the far better Republican Of
the two.
In that great array and struggle of the two
parties Of the country (among the most memora-
bic in our history which arose out Of the con-
troyersy and war with England in 1912, where
was Mr.. Clay and where was Mr.. Van Buren,
Mr.. Clay CALAMITY leading the Republican hosts
in the House of Representatives, and sustaining
the Administration Of Mr.. Madison with all the
energies Of his patriotism and eloquence. Mr..
Van Buren, uniting with the Federalists to depose
that illustrions man from power and to supplant
his Administration! Try them again by that
standard which Mr.. Van Buren, himself, in a most
elaborate speech delivered in the Senate of the
United States in 1923, declared to be the true
and legitimate distinction between the Federal
and Republican parties--the one seeking to ear
tend, the other to restrain, Executive power. The
public have not forgotten the various schemes SO
sedulously devised or countenanced by Mr.. Van
Buren, during the whole period of his Admins
tration, and fully exposed at the time, TO aug
ment Executive patronage, discretion, and power;
and nothing, surely, has more eminently distin-
guished the career Of Mr. Clay than his constant
and persevering efforts to restrain, and to pro-
vide new bikes and securities against the enlarge
ment or abusive exercise of the powers of that
department Of the Government. Judging them,
then, by Mr.. Van Buren's own definition of po-
litical parties, as correctly laid down BY him in
1928, but totally lost sight Of in his subsequent
practice, let the sober and impartial judgment of
the country decide which is the Federalist and
which the Republicans
It is impossible for any rejecting man TO con-
template the actual and prospective condition OF
the country without seeing in it already the
germ of new difficulties and troubles, which may
| in their approaching development, .agitate our
| glorious Union to its centre. The Oregon and
Texas questions in our foreign relations; at
home, q deficient revenue, with all its ordinary
sources pressed up to their farthest productive
| limit, and some of them, there is reason to APP
prehend, beyond; the tariff controversy re-
| opened, with all the conflicting interests and
| passions which never fail to be awakened by it
and, added to these, the rekindled fires of the
abolition excitement--each and all of them are
questions which carry in their bosom the fearful
elements ofciyil discord and intestine strife. The
worst and most dangerous aspect they present
is, that all Of them bring into immediate and
opposing array, if not into angry and hostile col
lision the sectional interests and feelings of the
different geographical divisions of the Confed-
eracy. Whose, at such moment, is the mas
ter-spirit that may have power to still the rising
tempest, before it sweeps with destructive fury
over the face Of our yet happy Union or, should
this prove hopeless and impossible, whose the
commanding genius " to ride in the whrlwind and
direct the storm 3" To preside over the desti-
mics Of great Republic, in crisis OF such conn
plicated difficulty and peril, calls for something
more than the arts Of the mere party politician.
1t demands the highest moral and intellectual
qualities Of the statesman-courage, seif-posses-
sion, elevation of character and elevation OF
views nobleness and generosity OF nature that
attracts confidence, and can inspire enthusiasm !;
the spirit Of persuasion and the spirit Of COM
mand combined. Let the annals OF the country,
in some Of the darkest moments which have
ever lowered upon its fortunes, be consulted,
and they will answer whether Henry CLAY or
MARTIN VAN buren, is the man for such crisis
! have thus, my dear sir, with the frankness
due to 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. fatter myself they will meet your
concurrence and that of our Republican friends
who have acted with us 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, in the spirit Of
which pray you to believe me, most truly and
faithfully, yours, w. C. RIVES.
Col. EDMUND FoNrAINE, Hanorer.
In the speech alluded to (made on the 10Th Feb
ruary 1929, the powers OF the Vice President as
&c xk~C Mr. V,.N