Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-10-31

From the Baltimore American.
A statement appeared lately in Western pa
per that James &. Birney, the candidate of the
AboIi,ionists for the Presidency, had been nomi-
mated for the Legislature of Michigan by the Polk
party IN the county in which he resides. The
statement having been copied into the New York
Tribune, note from Mr.. Birney, now in New
York, addressed to the Editor of the Tribune,
holds this language:
"lf have BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE LEeIsLA-
TURE OF MICHIGAN BY THE DEMocRATs OF THE
COUNTY in WHICH | RESIDE, it has been since
LETT home. My relation TO the Liberty party, and
my usconpromising opposition to both the other
parties, is as well understood there as elsewhere.
Ii, then, have been nominated by any portion OF
my countrymen, il has been neither as a Demo-
crat nor as Wing. But as have received no
official or authoritative notification of such NOM
inoiion, it would be premature in me now to take
any further notice Of it,
MIR. Birney does not deny the fact of his nomi-
nation; he does not affirm that he is ignorant of
ii. In a subsequent letter TO the editor of the
Tribune he admits his preference for Mr.. Polk o.
Yer Mr.. Clay; his reason for this is somewhat re.
markable. He says:
"The charge OF inveterate hostility to Mr..
CLAY-if it means any thing more than po-
litical oppositon-is wholly Imaginary. have
no reasons for opposing Mr.. Clay on personal
grounds. On the contrary the intercourse we have
had has been of The most friendly character.
oppose his election because he dsbelieves the great
political Truths of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, the foundation of all just Government, and
because he repudiates the paramount object of the
UNION, the perpeiuation Of liberty to all. On the
same ground L oppose the election oe Mr.. Polk
But more deprecate the election Of Mr. CLAY
BECAUSE, POSSESSING ABILITIES SUPERIOR TO TIIos ::
OF Mr.. Folks HE WOULD PRoPoRTIoNABLY WEAK.
EN- THE INFLUENCE OF THOSE TRUTHS ON THE
MINDS OF OUR COUNTRYMEN."
Mr.. Clay's adherence to the truths of the Dec
laraton Of Independence has been signaiZe,i by
acts OF patriotism and public service such as no
theoretical abstractionist like Mr.. Birney will be
likely TO suTpass, IT he should foment abolition
ism Tor lie time. 1t is not fer us to question
the honesty of men of Mir. Birney's class, nor
would we impuie 10 Mr.. Birney himself any other
than good motives; for he has made, we under
stand, personal sacrifices of no inconside rabl
kind in behalf of The cause which he espouses.-
1et what attribute of siatemanship, what qualities
OIL discretion, what elements Of true philanthropy,
can be ascrbed to these political agitators who
preach abolitionism in States where negro seryi-
Jude does not exist; who seek TO disturb the inter
nal affairs OF other States in whose domestic con-
Germs they have right to intermeddie; who pre-
vent by their rash and ill-judgrd conduct, the ac-
lion which In due course of time and events would
bring on, In some of the save-holdinp States
considerate policy adapted 10 the best well
iare OF the class whom they profess TO be-
friend, yet whom they really njure TO an extent
perhaps beyoud their conception. The very best
thing that tine political abollonists can do for the
slaves of the South is to do nothing in the way
they are now proceeding, allowing at the same
time such degree of sense and judgment TO the
Southern States as TO admit that they are compe-
tent to take care of their own business.
az Since the above was written we see by pa
pers from the North that Mr.. Birney has not only
been nominated by the Polk party for the legisla-
ture OF Michigan, but that he solicited the nom-
nation. The New York Republic says-"We
learn from the Oakland Democrat that MIR. Bir-
ney solicited the nomination. and when the meet
ing of nominating delegates convened, the
gentleman 10 whom he had communicated his de-
sire for such nomination, stated to the meeting
that "Mr. Biney had told him he was Demo-
crat in principle, and would. if elected, support
Democratic men and measures"
MIR. Brney's position OF neutrality is now gone.
He has identified himself with the Polk party,
and doubtless the expectation is that the result Of
the coalition will be to secure to Mr. Polk the
vote Of the aboltionisis. We BEG to call the par
ticular attention of the Richmond ENQUIRER to this
significant event, that it may al!ude to ii in the
next article it writes against the Wings as court
ing the votes of the abolitonists.
TIE SnIITII AVyAKPt