Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-02-29


straining its encroachments, correcting
abuses, and diminishing its influence
great cardinal principles, of reverence for q
laws, aud sacred regard to tha obliga,io,
OF contracts--ihe first. the sole safeguard
Public or Personal Liberty-the last, The oil
ly basis of Public or Private Faith. Di
gulsing Notwithstanding nothing-wil
ing to abide the public judgment OH the prir
ciples we maintain and the measures we re
commend, and trusting to its candor and goo
sense not to hold US responsible for such as
never advocated by us, the unscrupulousncs
OF party warfare might seek to fasten on us
and proclamihg with one voice, as ou
candidate for the Presidency, the truest ex
pohci stllose principles, their steadies
friend, and ,ablest champion, Henry Clay oil
kentucky. we throw ourselves before the
country. NOr were we unaware Of the facti-
nous disadvantages to which this course ex-
posed us; yet strong i'm the justice Of our
cause and proud of our illustrious leader, we
braved iearessly all the dangers Of the posi-
ton We knew. that for time; all who were
not fully with us, would be arrayed against
us-ihat differences, however slight, would
wear temporarily, the semblance Of opposition
and ,woild pva,cndedly al least. be count
ed on. and confounded with, support of VET
unnamed leader of the adversary ranks-and
yet nnindicated, or at any rate. unspecified
line of public policy.
Accordingly we have Witnessed for some time
past, a seeming union against us OF all who
uiiiered In any manner from us--diflering the
while, NOT less widely from one another
save IN The all-cmbracing name of "Democrat.';
ne fiard-Money Democrat and the PAPER
Money Democret--the National Bank De-
mocrat and the Sub-Treasury Democrat-,he
High Tarif-Low Tariff, and No Tariff De-
mocrat-thc Distribution and anti-Distribu-
uoh Democrat-the Abolition Democrat and
Inc antl-Abolition Democrat-the Spoils De-
mocrat-the Reputation Democrat, and the
iiohes' Democrat-all following, some one,
some more, some all, of the ,iscortant mea.
sures and discordan, leaders of their many-
coloured multitude, according as they more
or less nearly represented their particular
tenets-all, Tor time, seemed leagued against
The Wings. 1t was apparent, however, from
me beginning, TO the most superficial observer,
that some, at least of those differences sprunr
from lar deeper sources than mere personal
preferences, and were famed by some of the
strongest passions of the human breast. Ac-
cordInglv, time has served but to exaspcrate
such differences into discussion. and convert
dissenslon into incurable distrust And the
alterations we have so long witnessed be.
tween different portions Of the Democratic
party, founded as they are upon widely differ
emf views on leading questions of public poll
ICY, waxing warmer and warmer as the hour
approached Tor designating the candidate,
seem at length to have assumed character
oil mutual and irreconcilabe hostility not
That the iron scouragc, which the whippers-in
OF party ever apply so numerically to men
who dare think or act independently, will not
terriiy the poor-spiriied into obedience not
ihat The terrors OF minority, more frgh,ful
10 the P!ace-hunter tllan the siings of COM
science, or the shame of hypocrisy, will not
T'Shlen the petty traders in politics into sub.
missien-not that honest delusion NAV not
msiead others : Blu. with this large deduc.
ton, we are satisfied The number is consider
able of firm and disineres,ed men through
the country, whose politics are indeed based
on principle, not OH calculations of profit:
anu who, unseduced by the paltry bribe of
party distinction, or party puff, as undelud-
Gu by Tie voice OF the charmer. charm he
never so wiscly,'' will not unsay in all hour.
"hat they have been saying for years-will
not desert without The ceremony even of.lcayes
taking their chosen leader, while summoninr
mem to the council board, and who cannot
desert him, embodying as he confessedy does
the principles by which alone they profess to
be governed, without n! the same time, de-
serilng their principles also.
But II is now plain, that "despj,e lamentas
ions here or elsewherc,' the controversy hes
tween the Democratic aspiran,s for the Presia
dency: is at length settled. Whether bv in
lrgue, or fair play; it is certain that Mr. Van
bnren's managers have finally prevailed.
Though the dccrec.be not registered. the fiat
has gone forth, and Mr.. Van Buren,. there i.
no doubt will receive the nomination of the
Baltimore Convention as its candidate for the
Presidency.
We are tempted TO pause here. and ask what
strange lniatuaiIon can have possessed our op-
Ponents To provoke again, thus carly. the
public Judgment on Mr.. Van Buren,. Is he
not the same man who first attained TO bower
by The unworthy acts of the Courier and the
Demagogue, now humoripg the capriccs of d
lhen ail-Poweriui chef-now panderipg TO
The passions or addressing himself to the
Pre]Tdices of the multitude? is not the conn
Try, yet bleeding with wounds inflicted by his
hahd is not his name inseparably associaI
ted, as principal author, with the heaviest
caian'ies, and the direst shames that ever vet
iei' on uS assa Nation is it not TO his Pres
idency a3 ms policy that every man refers,
as as me da3sst h9sr of his fortunes, the deep
est g'o"m Of h's3y"spects and by which
thousands date thsVAruin, and the desola,eness
OF their once happy homes? Was it not he,
a chlei author OF those Affections, who dis
dainlully repulsed the applications of the peo.
pie for relief, and codly babe them helm
themselves When did it happen, before his
unfortunate elevation, that an American ci,i.
zen, amongst the prondest of earth, blushsd to