The Arkansas banner., 1844-09-18
LETTER OF MR. VAN BUREN.

VI h. l
 LETTER OF THE TENNESSEE STATE
 COMMITTEE, INVITING HIM TO THE
 MASS MEETING OF THE FIFTEENTH
 OF AUGUST.
 The following patriotic letter from one of ourmost distinguished counlrymen, is solull of eloquence and power, that nothing which we can say will add to its highly interesting character:
 LrHBENwAEp, July 20, IS44,
 GENTLEMEN - have to thank you for your kind invitation 10 attend mass meeting oi the democracy of Tennessee, to be held at Nashville on the 10th of August.
 It will not, regret to inform you, be in my power 10 be with you personally; but you may rest assured that my best wishes will attend your noble efforts to re-establish the ascendency of democratic principles ill the councils of the nation. This is not said from a spirit of courtesy only, but conveys the earnest and undsguised sentiment of my heart, which has its foundation in a convic- ton that the success of themen and the Pria- ciples you support is necessary to the welfare of the country. My opinion of the Character of our candidates, including Tennessee7s un- assuming and highly meritorious son, has al- ready been given to the public, and need not be repeated. Lis equally unnecessary to say that there is not among the numerous friends of those gentlemen one who cherishes a more disinterested desire for their individual well fare than do There are, besides, public interests involved in the coming contest which have claims upon our consideration far be- yond such as are of d personal character.
 l. is scarcely too much to say that the per- mancnt success or final overthrow of those distinctive principles for the administration of the federal government, which constitute the democratic creed, are suspended upon the re- suit of the approaching election. Although justly regarded as lhe promised fruits of our struggle for national independence, 1t Is neE- eriheless true that those principles did notac- qHife that influence in all the departments of the government, to which they were so well entitled, until after what was appropriately called the civil revolution of 1900; and from that day to the present there has been an un- interrupted struggle for their expulsion from the efoothold they had thus acquired. In this struggle, so lcng continued and with such va ried sueeesss, they have had arrayed against them that active and undying spirit by which the conduct of portion of mankind has atall times and everywhere been guided, and which regards the powers of government as misap piled when it's benefits as well as its burdens are diAlised among the whole people in equal proportions, and by all impartial hand. A though the lumineus and earnestly patriotic mind of Air. Jefferson exerted principal a. gency in their conception and successful diffusion, and although the public mind was strongly agitated by the establishment of the first Bank of the United States, and the prin- ciples then avoWed by lis leading advocate, as also by some of the leading measures of the administration of the cider Adams, vet the real character and practical tendency of the conflicting principles which have from the beginning been entertained by the two great parties which have divided the country since the establishment of the federal constitution, were never so thoroughly appreciated by the great body of the people as during the admin istration of Gen. Jackson and that which im mediately followed. indifferent about forms, but ever anxious, knight even say impatient, for results, and bringing to the consideration of every public question aclear head, an hon. est heart and a truly indomitable spirit, that extraordinary man carried out the principles of his party with so vigorous hand, and dealt his blows upon- opposing heresies with such rapldlty and force, as not only 10 bring the parties themselves to the closest quarters, but also to lead all classes and conditions of men to a more earnest consideration of the and designs of the opposing parties, than had been before bestowed upon them. The struggle thus produced reached its crisis in the course of the four preceding years.- Never had the masses ot the democratic poI- ton of the people been made so deeply sen- sible of the objectionable character of the doctrines which they had hitherto opposed; and never before were those who have at all times preferred a government of associated wealth 10 one founded on popular sovereign- ty. and practically controlled by the will of the masses, so thoroughly convinced of the necessity of immediate and efficient cxertions to save their cherished principles from total overthrow. The conflict of such interests, and the collision of such sentiments in wild erness of free minds, gave a character 10 the contest which, though, perhaps, to be expect- ed, will, it is hoped, never be rcpeated.-I Means which will, without doubt, in the course of time, lose all their apologsts, were by our adversaries brought 10 bear upon public opinion already, to some extent, un- settled by many years of political agitation These were in the sequel powerfully aided by arrangements in the business relations of the country, occasioned by unexampled abuses of the credit system, which, though they per Faded all nations, and are now universally known 10 have been oceasioncd by individual lmprovldence and mismanagement, were, al the time, with too much success, attributed E 10 an alleged mal-adminisration og public af- fairs. The democracy of the nation, though united, Were signally oyerhoWa, and many an honest mind, contrasting the means employed with the result produced, Was for a moment led to doubt the capacity ot our people for self-govemment On my own mind no such impression obtained even temporary ioolhold. was, on the contra ", we'll satisfied that, as soon as the discon- ents which had been engendcred by longcon