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

II ~~E8Ir-1
! Of the country. or fail 10 draw down Of
the actors in 50 unworthy farce, is Jus
displeasure and signal rebuke.
Sach'is The present aspect Of hose srea
} PFaeiical questions which concern the o
economical policy Of the Government: ans
. which. 50 far as il has undergone change
. since we last addressed you, il calculated
only 10 inspire Us with fresh zeal and 10
J cite Us to increased exertion. II such be
J the case with respect 10 this class of mea
snTes, so do we find 10 ths 0eanfssess 81
the year, fresh incentives 10 impeI US 90
ward TO the accomplishment Of those yei
nobler measures and principles Of Mora
and Political Reform, which we deem nc
less necessary 10 the honor and happiness
OF the people. than are the former 10 tbeil
prosperity :-meGsres designed 10 cor.
J rect the Monarchicsl tendencies Of the
Government. BY limiting The tenure Of The
Presidential Office TO one ferm--by re-
siraining its encrpachments, correcting its
abuses and diminishing lis influence
me great cardinal principles Of reverence
Tor the laws, and q sacred regard TO the
obligations o! coGiracts-ihe first. The sole
safeguard Of Public or Personal Liberty
the last, the only basis Of Public or Pri.
vate Faith.
Disgusting nothing -coucealing nothing
willing 10 abide the public judgment on
the principles we maintain and the mea
sures we recommend, and trusting TO the
candor and good sense ofthe people, not
to bold US responsible fol. such as. never
advocated BY as, the unscrupuIousness Of
party warfare might seek to fasten on US !
and lproclaiming, with one voice. as our
candidate for the Presidency. the truest
exponent of those principles, their stead.
fast friend, and ablesl champion, HENRY
CLAY, Of Kentucky. we then threw
ourselves before the country. Nor were
We unaware OF the fictitious disadyantag
es 10 which this course exposed Us; yet.
I strong in the justice Of our cause & proud
of our iliustrious leader, we braved fear
lessly all the dangers Of The position. ~
We knew, thai, for atime, all who were
not fully with US, would be arrayed against
us; that differences, howeverslgbt, would
wear, temporarily. the sem5lance OF OPP
posiiion-and would. pretendedly at least,
be counted on, and COMPOUNDED with, sup.
port Of a yet unnamed leader Of The
adversary ranks-and yet unindicated.
or, at any rate, inspected line of public
policy.
! Accordingly wa have witnessed for
some time past. aseemlng union assinst
US Of all who differed ia any manpA s storo
us-diifering the while not les. 80 -.
from one anothe.-saye in the all-enbra.
cling name Of Democrat" The Hard
Money Democrat and the Paper Money
Democ.at--the National Bank Democrat
aud the Sub-Treasury Democrat--the
High Tariff, Low Tariff, and No Tariff
Democrat-the Distribution and anti Dis
tribution Democrat--the Abolition Demo
crat and the anti-Aboliiicn Democrat-the
Spells Democrat-the Reputation Demo
crat. aud the Honest Democrat-all fol.
lowing. some one, some more, some ALL
of the diseordant measures and discordani
leaders OF their many colored multitude
! according as they more or less nearly
represented their particular tenets ali
for time, seemed leagued agains. the
Il Wings. II was apparent, however. from
the beginning, TO the most superficial
observer, that some. at least, Of those
differences sprung from far deeper sources
than mere personal preferences. and were
famed by some Of the strongest passion:
Of the human breast. Accordingly, time
asseryed but TO exasperaie such dffsren.
ces into dissension. and convert dissension
into incurable distrust. And the allerca,
tions We have so long witnessed between
different portions ofthe Democratic party
founded as they are upon widely different
views on leading questions Of public pc,
Icy, waxing warmer and warmer as The
hour approached for designating the can.
didate. seem at length 10 have assumed 1
character Of mutual and reconcileablt
hostility:-not that the iron scourge, which
, the LWbippers-in of party ever apply SC
Numerically to men who dare think Oh
act independently, will not terrify The
poor-spiri.ed into obedience :--Dot thai
The terrors Of minority, more frightiu
TO the place-hduter than the slings o.
conscience. or the shame Of hypocrisy
will not frighten the petty traders ia
politics into submission not that homes
delusion may not mislead others: Blu
with this large deduction. we are satisfied
the number is considerable OF frn AND
disinteresied.men throughout the country,
whose politics are indeed based on prin,
ciple, no, on calculations Of profit and
who. unseduced by the pallry bride OF I
party distinction, or party puff as unde
luded by the voice Of the charmer, charm
be never so wisely will not unsay in an
hour, what they have been saying fol
years-will not desert. without The cere
mony even Of Ieavelaking. their chosen
leader. while summoning them 10 liz
council board. and who cannot desert bin
enbodying as be confessedly does ID.
principles by which alone they profess L
4 be governed, without. al the same time
b deserving their pfineiPies also.
Il But il is now plain. that "despite Ia
mentaiions here or else where, the con
iroversy between the Democratic aspi
. rants for the Presidency. Is al length sci
n lied. Whether by intrigue OF fair play
/ MS certain that Mr. Van Buren's mana
gers have finally prevailed. Though ths
decree be not registered. lbe Cat ha,
gone forth. and Mr.. VAN BUREN, Their.
Is no doubt. viii receive the nomination
loflhe Baltimore Convention as id cahdi
date for The Presidency.
8. We are tempted to pause here. ana al
fwhat strange infainaiiOn can have possess
ed our opponents TO provoke again. hi
early, The public judgment OF Mr. VA