The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-02-15

pronouncng him to be that man who is SO " in
clined to take" the Presidency and SO holly pur-
suing it or, to use the Globes automatic terms,
"such solicitor, intriguer, bargainer, for the
Chief Magstracy--at one time almost beggar,
at another almost ravisher of it, that the peo-
pies instinct recoiled from giving it to him in
l84O In the face of all this operation of the
popular instinct, and of this popular sentence,
the Globe gravely desires and coaxes it's partisan
followers to believe that it is Mr. Van Buren's
"magic and honest patriotism" alone that is
forcing all other candidates aside to make place
for him! and further, that he has been, of all
men, the "least inclined to take" the Presidency !;
that he has never sought it's not now seeking
it-and that he "never looked upon the defeat of
lS4O as an event which would impair his reputa-
ton; but regretted it only as it was disastrous
to the cause with which he was identifed!''
The absolute fustian of such pretensions for
Mr.. Van Buren, has, within our recollection, but
one parallel in the history of reckless conrtiers
Of political favor. And in that one, there was
time and an object for its use, in which many
will see excuses for it, such as are, by no con-
to be found in this case. We allude to the pc
riod when Bonaparte returned from his memo
rable campaign in Italy, a conqueror in hun
dred battles, and was introduced to the Directory
by that Other claimant Of the magic of honest
patriotism" Talleyrand. On that OCCASION
among other adulations Of Napoleon, Talleyrand
said to the Directory" And when reflect upon
every thing he does to make his glory for giyen-
upon his simplicity of taste, worthy of the an
clients upon his love of abstract science; upon
his favorite author--that Ossian which seems to
detach him from earth when nobody is igno-
rant of his profound contempt for pomp and
show-that miserable ambition of vulgar minds ;
ah ! far from fearing ,ohat has been termed his
ambition, I feel thai 1T nil perhaps become neces-
sary some dag TO SOLICIT HIM, in order TO tear
him from the sCeets Of studious rehrement!"
Let the managers of the Globe just imagine
how much of burlesque-of humiliating, fawning
duplicity-such speech from Talleyrand re-
speeding Bonaparte's habits, temper, inclination,
and need of solicitation to tear himself from the
sweets of studious retirement" conveys to minds
acquainted with Bonapartes unbounded ambi-
| ton and recklessness Of the means employed to
crafty it, and they will have very correct
measure Of the sense in which the great majority
Of the people Of this Union will regard the
Globes article Of two columns, employed to
prove that Mr.. Van Buren's magic of honest
patriotism" alone has elected and guided the
constitution and selection Of the Baltimore Con-
venton, or that it will be the guide Of its action,
or direct the nomination of him over Cass, John
son, and his other competitors.
But we must look to the Globes article for
the proofs on which it relies to make out Mr..
Van Buren's almost indomitable love Of retiracy
With an art which we'll understands how much
is gained in appearances by men of small merit,
from an association with those of great merit, the
Globe rehearses how Washington was impor-
tuned to take upon himself the responsibilities
of the Presidency-and how Jefferson sought
the shades Of philosophy at Monticello, to es-
cape for ever from politics." and how the
people saw in his want of ambition, the strong
est reason for demanding his services"-and how
" Madson's career was but a corollary of Mr.
Jefferson and how (what we believe is now
for the first time admitted By the Globe) Jackson
twas surprised to hear himself spoken Of as
President "-[not mentioning, however, in to-
tidem ver6is, the story which Mr.. v. BIS ardent
Democratic friend, Richie, used to tell on this
subject land finally comes down to its first
piece of evidence respecting Mr.. Van Burens
"magic of honest patriotism" and aversion TO
public Office And what is it, sure enough?
Why, that Mr.. Van Buren,, :" like Mr.. Jeffer-
son, resigned the premiership" under General
Jackson! Not that he remained in it, as did
Mr.. Madison, and Mr.. Monroe, and Mr.. Adams
No! neither Of these men ever gave to the
world such evidence of "the magic Of honest
patriotism" as to resign such an office and retire
to private life; but, even as Jefferson resigned
it, under General Washington, SO Mr.. Van Bu-
rem resigned it, under General Jackson What
parallel of merit! What "magic of honest
patriotism" was there!