The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-10
JAMES MAGOFFIN, Postmaster.
From The Boston Daily Times.
MIR. VAN BUREN'S CLAIM TO A RE-ELEC
TION

We propose in few remarks to consider very
briefly, and we trust, in p rit of candor and good
feeling, the claims of Mr. Van Buren, TO reelection
to the Presidential chair from which the American
Ieople, by an overwhelming majority elected him i'm
1910 We propose TO do this, without bringing into
question the merits dement's Of any rival candi.
dates for popular suffrage. IL Mr. Van Buren, de-
serves to be supported at ALL it be for his posi-
tive merits and personal fitness for the office to
which he aspires.
This is especially true in the present case for we
are Obliged, IN supporting Mr. Van Buren,, not only
TO show good and sufficient reasons why Judgment
should not be rendered against him. but good and
sufficient reasons why the judgment already render
ed against HIM should be reversed. He has been
tried by jury ofhis country and soIcmnly convicted
OF unhlness for the Office Of President His friends
must in the outset, successfully impeach the court
and jury must 10 speak pl,in convict the majority
OF the American people OF dishonesty or of ncompe-
tency to sit as jurors. This has not as vet been
done. The American people have not vet been con
Vmced mat Mr. Van Buren, Is any more fit for Presi-
dent now than they regarded him in 1870 Here is \
preliminary difficulty, by no means easy to surmount
| and which imposes a double labor on his friends -
Before they can present him as a suitable capdda,,
for the Presidency, IN the eyes Of his countrymen
they must, we have said convic, those same coun
trymen OF dishonesty, or Of ncompetency! To brine
him at this time before them for their sufrages is
direct insult to them. For the is not that IN,
majority refused merely to elect him, Tut a major
ty decided to ject him.
| The judgment of the American people recorded
against him, is not rely, eve do not choose him
| but, "we condemn him" IT is not a negative iudy
ment, but positive conviction and on the auihori
ty of the Democratic Review, the pet Of Mr. Va,
| Buren,, for good and sufficient reasons
Well, has Mr.. Van Buren, these pre-emnent quail
fcations for the Presidency, which, after all shout,
| lead tho American people to reverse the judgmen
which stands recorded, in their name, against him
IL Mr.. Van Buren, had never been placed in position
which called for all his ability and which gave hin
an opportunity to show what were his real qualifica
tons, we frankly admit that there might possibly b.
some good reason for reversing the judgment Blu
having been once President, having had an opportu
nifty to display all his ability and TO prove wha
stuff he is made Of nay having been President in mos
difficult conJuncture, when, if is really great
and fit for high Office and great emergencies he new
er fails to show it, we holu the judgment as it stands
| is 81 ong prima facie evidence against him. and wi
require the strongest rebutting testimony before
can be justified IN setting it aside, and re- assertin
his competency.
| II may be said that the election was carried agains
him by making up false issues, by bribery fraud an
corruption. Let us consider this omcnt In the out
set, was not Mr.. Van Buren, in as favorable positio
| for forcing the true issue before the people, as hi
! enemies for forcing false issue las he NO
President and did not bis party enter the campaig
with twenty States out of the twenysix in his favor
Why did he suffer the false issue TO be madei In tn
'o'y iact lhat IaIse issue was made, do we not Sc
the ieebeness OF the politician' Would not a real
great man at the head of the Government, with vast
~ more means of influence at his command than hi
opponent could aspire TO, find out some way Of keep
ing 'ie real question, plainly, distinctly before tn
people, Was Jefferson, was Madison was Monroe
was Jackson, defeated on the second electiop. b.
means of a false issue;
Jefferson and Jackson had to commence their dn;,
istr6tons with strong and determined an orposo,
as Mr. Van Buren, encountered and yet no false issue
we're made up before the people, or, if so, none a
least were successful. The pe,y apology Mr. Van Bu
rens friends offer for his detot is an admission of hi
icsdkntss great laan at the head of Government
N country like ours, really perceving, and deter
| mined to do what is for his couotrys good will al