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

less servant they may have chosen to disniss,-
re-invest him with the power of threatened VEN
geancc, aud on their Blended knees crave forgive
ness and mcTcye An election, carried by liO,-
600 majority, set down to bribery and fraud! a
fouer libel on the national more undeserved in
suit to the people was never hazarded. The
whole OF that great mass OF voters, who pro-
noonccd before egiinst MIR. Van Buren,, wait but
Tor the appointed day to reel this foul SANDER at
the polls, and thousands who before supported
him will resent this insult offered TO their fellow
countrymen and 10 the causc of popular govern
ment Itself, by contributing TO an Impending de- |
feat as much more signal than the last, that far
transcribed any yet known to our Presidential
contests.
We now enter upon comparison of the prin-
clples and public services Of Mr. Clay and Mr..
Van Buren,, that il may be seen which Of the two
has the stronger claim on the support and conf
dence OF the country. 49,.
Ii must be brief and rapid-we trusfx will be
fair and true.
MIR. Clay stands before the country identified
with those great measures the Tariff and Ma.
lioua Bank, under which and by which, the u
nltcd States so long sped, beyond all previous
example, alcng her career of greatness and pros.
perity. He stood fast and true by them, as the
shesl-anchor OF that prosperity, unmoved by the
'rown OF the Executive, or by popular clamor,
when thousands were swept away by the deiu-
slons OF the moment, or the inimda,ions Of pow
err: and never yielding his convictions, yielded
~,
downfall of the Bank when decrecd by Me con-
s'ituied organs Of the public will in 1888, he
introduced his memorable Compromise of the ta-
riif controversy, when demanded by the no less
urgent necessity OF preserving the Union The
matured results Of his experience and reflection
are embodied as TO the former, in his letter to the
tennessee Ag!icuturist Of August, last, in which
he describes as a tariff which all might rally,
enc which, seeking to supply the Treasury with
an adequate revenue for an honest and cconomi-
nj a.
the same time, incidentally, by proper discrimi-
nation, afford reasonable protection TO such bran
ches OF our Domestic Industry as need it," And
as to the latter in Bill for establishing a Ma
tional Bank presented by him, some years since,
to the Senate, guarded in the most careful and
anxious manner against abuse and uisnanage-
ment and furnishing every possible facility, if
yet they should occur, TO their speedy detection
and remedy. These exhibit, doubtless, the prin-
cipies oil public policy in regard TO those ques-
lions which he would carry with hin, into the
Administration of the Government.
1t is fact, as remarkable it is discredi,able,
That Mr. Van Buren's Tariff opinions are STILL
alter quarter of century's conneXon with
public life, an absolute enigma. His cites indeed
are consistent enough; and have been uniformly
IN idvor of every Tariff on which he voted, those
OF 1921, 1928 and 1929, and he is known 10 have
declared himself also in favor of the Tariff of
1882, but his professions not only inconsis-
ont with his votes, but what is still more remark
ooic, Inconsistent Win themselves. lie mas de-
cared himself for protection and against it, and
In his Indiana letter, Neb'y, 1879 referring to
III. previously avowed opinion, that he encO,i-
rdScmcnt ~ domestic interests, Jy commercial regu-
'afton, rs ,oifhin the constitutional PO,rer g Can
grcss, avows himself in favor of ga discrimnat-
ing iariii Tor Revenue purposes only, and which
VIII incidentally PROTECT AMERICAN IN
DUSIRl." Speaking through his friends in
New York, he declares for a Protective Tariff,
discriminating in favor of domestic manufactures.
Through his friends in Virginia, he declares that
FAIRNESS and equality Of taxation require discrmi-
nation against the now protected interests-and
that to discriminate in their favor" is 50 fragrant
~ unjust and iniquitous." Which set of his
friends he would beray in the end, if elevated TO
power, we have no means of determining, but be-
tray one or the other, or both, he must Since
though dn?liciiy may easily exist in professions,
yet The same measure cannot at one, and the same
Time, be both vetoed and approved. But we
doubt II the history OF public men exhibits so
shameless an instance of ''paltering in double
sense with question of vital concern to ma
lion, or OF large bodies of men, pretending TO the
slightest regard for principle, supporting the same
man, at the same moment, as the exponent and re-
preventative ofprinciples absolutely inconsistent
and contradictory.
On the subject Of a National Bank alone of
the public questions Of The day. MIR. Van Buren,,
once petitioner for a Branch of that Institution
ana never heard to breathe aught against it in The
season of lis popularity, at length holds posi-
ton wholly unequivocaI. Fore seeing its incvita-
bic doom in Tie wrath of him whose ire, once
raised, never yet knew "retiring ebb,'' and who
for the time, ruled, with trident, the tides of
public opinion, Mr.. Van Buren, fastened 10 throw
himself on the current then setting in against
that Institution, and proclaimed uncompromiS-
ing hostility to the United States Bank"
The Bank put down, Mr.. Van Buren, loated
into power, Oh the better currency bubble,
which, however, TO his terror and surprise, at the
next moment, burst under him. Cured thus sud-
denly of the Z" better currency" delusion with
out the moral courage 10 recant an error and re-
sort TO the tried remedy Of Bank {; and unable
as things were, 10 maintain the faith, or conduct
Che fiscal concerns Of the government--he hit on
the sage and sta,esmau-ike expedlent of having
hdTd-monCy for the government, and pnpcr-moncJ
tor the people-and usheIed it before the county,
masked, however, and disguised, behind the in
Vulnerable provisions and enaetments Of his ia
nous Subtreasury scheme. He has always seem
ed willing TO stake his fortunes and his states
manshiP on this measure-and committed, as he
Is 10 1t, and against all Others he will doubtless
have some right 10 infer, in the event of his cleo
ton, that it has the sanction of the country.
Thus is this scheme, founded in the grossest
ignorance Of The first principles of currency-in-
congruous and iInmiscible save njuriously with
any paper system, of proved inefliciency except
for evil with lis magnificent ireasury-house at
Washington, and continually increasing num-
Der of subordinate establishments, N iAl then
vaults and safes, and bolts and bars, erected
all over the country, at great expenseE numer-
sub-treasurers and deputg,s b-lreasdrers---its
vast augmentation of the aT&X overgfown pow
er and patronage of the Federal Executive; obi
Gus, above all, for providing one currency for the
government and another for the peope--gold and
silver for public servants, forsooth, come what