Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-01-26
MONTPELIER, FRIDAY, JAN. &c, 1914.


Republican would do we'll to remember that they
have men, reading, in1uring men TO deal with,
aud not children. Try Mr.. Van Buren, aud Mr..
Clay by any test derived from authentic history of
political parties in this country, or by the STAN
dard OF tho great principles which exist in the es.
seullal elements OF our popular institutions, and
Mr. Clay stands before the world the far better re-
publican Of the two.
In that great array and struggle of the TWO par
ties OF the country (among the most memorable in
our history which arose out of the controversy
and war with England in 1879, where was MIR.
Clay aud where was Mr.. Van Buren,? Mr.. Clay
galInntly leading the Republican hosts in the
House OF Representatives, and sustaining the adj
mlnlstrallon of Mr.. Madison with all the energies
OF ms pnlrosm and eloquence; MIR. Van buren,
uniting with the Federaliss to depose that Illus
lrlons man from power, and 10 supplaut his ad-
minislration Try them again by that standard
which Mr. Van Buren, himself in most elabo
rate speech, delivered in the Senate of the United
states III 1928, declared TO be the true aud legti'
mate distinction between the Federal and Repub-
"cah parues-lhe one seeking TO erlend the other
to restrain Executive power.
he public have not forgotten the various
schemes 50 sedunusiy devised or countenanced
ny a!r. Van Buren, during the whole period of his
administration, and fully exposed at the time, to
augment executive patronage, discretion and
power; ana nothing, surely, has more eminepty
distinguished tho career OF Mr.. Clay than his con
siant and ersevering effOlts to restrain aud pro-
VIE new dukes and securities against the enlarge
meht or abusive exercise Of the powers Of that
department OF the government. Judging them
then by Dir. Van l}uren's own definition OF pon-
cal parties ns correctly laid down by him in 1928,
but totally lost sight Of in bis subsequent practice,
let the sober aud impartial Judgment of the coun-
try decide which is the Federalist and which tho
Republican
1t is impossible for any rejecting man to con-
tgnInlutp md ian of
the country without seeing in it already the &c m
OF new difficulties aud troubles which may, in
u'eIr approaching development, agate Cur glo-
rious Union 10 It's centre. The Oregon and Tex
as question In our foreign relations; at home,
deficient revenue, with all its ordinary sources
pressed up to their farihest productive limit and
some OF theni, there is to fear beyond the
larIil controversy re.opened, with all the conflict
ing interest aud passion which never fail to be a..
] wakened by II; and, added to these, the re.kin-
/ died fires OF the abolition excilrmeut-eac and
al o' mem are questions which carry in their b0-
! sons The fearful elements Of civil discor and in
| tesllno strife. The worst ana most dangerous as.
| peel they present is, that all Of then. bring inlo
! Inmedihc and opposing array, if not into argry
and hostile collision, the sectional feelings and in
leress o! the different geographical divisions of the
COME eracy.
w nose, at such a moment, is the master spirit
that may have power TO still The rising tempest be-
OF our yet happy Union; or should this prove
no. eIess and impossible, whose is the command
in genus to "ride upon the whrlwind aud di-
rect the Storm To preside over the desncs
CT a great republic, in crisis of such complicated
difficulty and peril calls for something more than
the arts oltha mere pary politician. 1t demand,
the highest moral and intellectual qualities OF the
statesman courage, self possession, elevation OF
character and elevation oi views-a nobleness and
generosity OF nature that attract confidence and
can inspire enthusiasm; the spirit Of persuasion
and tile spirit OF command combined Let the an
mails OF the country, in some of the darkest mo :
lhonls which have ever lowered upon its fortune.
10 consulted, aud they will answer whether
HENRY CLAY or MARTIN VAN buren, is the mar
Tor such crisis.
have thus, my dear sir, with frankness du,
TO our relations OF friendship, personal and polti
cal, given you my views upon Il subject which i
soon TO absorb so Urge portion OF The public at
Icntlon, and to which no good citizen can be in
different. l fiatter myself they will meet you
concurrence, and that Of our republican friend
who have acted with us in the trying scenes lhrC
which we have passed but, in any event, an
sure they will be received by you with kindnes
and cordially, in the spirit Of which pray so
10 believe me, most truly AMI faithfully yours,
w Z. RlVES.
Col EDMUND FoNTAINE, Hanou'r.