Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-01-18
Letter from MIR. RiycS.

The Richmond Whig contains a let
Ter from tho Hon. VIM. G.. RivEs, Of
Virginia, TO personal and political friend
in Hanover, (Col. Edmund Fontaine, }
in which he fully expresses his views on
The subject Of the approaching Presiden-
iial election. lie comes out boldly and
lnaniully for Mr.. CLAY, and sets forth
the respective claims Of Mr.. Van Buren,
md Mr.. Clay for the Presidency, in a
most clear and ntelligible manner, and
which cannot fail to convince any candid
politician of the superior fitness OF Mr.
Clay.
In regard to Mr.. Van Buren, Mr.
Rlves says he can conceive Of no great
cr calamity To the nation, or deeper DIS
credit to the cause and. very name Of
popular government than his re election
would be, after the signal and over
;whclming majority by which he was
!deposcd from power in 1910, upon the
fullest canvass OF his measures, policy
and conduct. An attempt therefore to
elevate Mr.. Van Buren, again to the
Presidency, Mr.. Rives considers "sheer
mockery and an insult to the public in-
telIigeuce."
The letter will occupy from three to
four columns OF our paper, and We re-
gret that we are compelled to defer its
insertion until our next. We publish in
the meantime, the following concluding,
and conclusive paragraph, as specimen
Of this capital letter.
alt is impossible for any rejecting man to
contemplate the actual and prospective con
dliion of the country without seeing IN It the
germ of new difficulties aud troubles, which
may, in their approaching developement,
agllale our glorious Union TO It's centre. The
Oregon aud Texas questions in our foreign
relations at home deficient revenue, with
all It's ordinary sources pressed up to their
farthesl productive limits, aud some OF them,
there is reason To apprchcud, beyond the
conflicting interests aud passion which never
fail to DC awakened by it, aud, added to
these, the re-kIndlcd fires OF the abolition
exciement--cach and all of them are qncs.
iions which carry Ia their bosom the fearful
elements Of civil discUrd aud lntcatlhe strife
The worst and most dangerous aspect they
present is, that ull OF them bring into lmmc.
dlate and opposing array, II not into angry
aud hostile collision, tho sectional interests
and feelings OF the different geographical
divisions Of the contederhcy. Whose, at
such moment, Is the masters spirit that may
have power 10 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 so ride the whirlwlnd
and direct the storm?' To preside over the
deslipies of a great Republic, in crisis OF
such complicated difficulty aud peril, calls
for something more than the arts of the
mere party politician. II demands the high
est moral and intellectual qualities OF the
siaiesman-courngc, self-posseslon, elevn
ton OF character and elevation Of views a
noblcness aud generosity OF nature that al
tracts confidence. and can inspire enlhusl
osin; the spiri, of persuasion aud the spirit
of command combined. Let the annals o
the country, in some of the darkest momcn,'
which have ever lowered upon its fortunes
30 consulted, and they will answer whc,hc
llrNRY CLAY or MARTIN VAN BuREN II
Tie man for such a CRISIS"