Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-06
THE NEWT PRESIDENCY.


brothe rhood and that is, by Mr.. Polk himselirun'
ming for n second term. Most prominent among
tho competitors is Mr.. Calhoun, who it Is said,
intends to be a candidate in any event. HIS long
services and illustrious talents are believed to
present superior ella ms 10 those of any of his RI
walls While we must acknowledge that there
mr.. some points in his character which we cannot
admire, his excessive ambition, his sectional feel
iay the irreconceable Inconsistencies of his pub
lac life we feel compelled to yield sincere homage
TO the lofty powers of his mind, and TO his pure
and blameless character in private life. As
MN of intellect, MIR. Calhoun stands head ard
shoulders above the whole throns of Democratic
aspIrants He has, too, another and a great adj
vantage over his rivals, far as personal quail
ties are concerned. No man among them all has
such hold upon the hearts, well as the judg.
men,s, of his admirers. la this respect, he some
what resembles Henry Clay ami Andrew Jack
son. The Calhoun men love their leader TITS
name kindles enthusiasm IN their ranks. Mr.
Calhoun, ii is believed by his friends, Will run
we'll in the South. while, in the West, he is eI
pccted t. float along in triumph upon the great
inland sea-" But we never expect TO see him
President. His party is no match for the Old
Huukers in wire pulling game. The Chivalry
make splendid allies they arc magnificent at
charge; they sweep over the field Of battle with
noddiug plumes, and sabrcs shining in the sun
their npetuosiry is resistless; but the Old Hunk
ers with less ostentaton march ST, ably at their
heels, thinking more of spols than glory, and
peaeTaly manage, in their quet and unobtrusiVe
way, To riti the packets OF the vanq'isAed foe
before the cavaliers have got down from their
saddles.
NeNto Mr.. Calhoun. among the prominent
,spiran,s. in point of talent and craftsmanship.
ar. James Buchanan and Srlas Wright. Both of
them ARE able, clear headed. strong minded men.
Mr.. Buchanan has of late acquired more notore-
ty than Mr.. Wright, from his NOR" conspicuous
position before the country, and the ability with
which he managed the diplomatic correspondence
with Mr.. Pakeuhaun. But, it may be that Mr..
Wright has pursued the wiser course IN keeping
aloof from the contests of the day. and enabling
himselfto come into the arena at future period,
free from any ENHANCEMENT with embarrassing
questions.
Gen Cas- and Mr. Allen, too evidently
aiming with desperate ambition for the purple
They would both well with their party IN the
West being both Western men, and both red hot
for the Whole OF Oregon" The General, how
ever, has the advantage of a military reputation,
and has in fact, done his country some service in
the field Allen, on the contrary, is civilian.
and has never met British bayonet. except i'll
in,gination ON the floor of the Senate. Here,
however he has performed wonders, and set the
whole world a: dehancc with his brave words.
Allen is a Younger man than Cass full of vigor,
fire. energy ana with much more than OIdina.
nv degree of talent. lie has risen rapidly in
public life, and with his activity, demagogueism,
and radical notions will soon become, II he is not
now one of the most formidable rivals for the
succession.
We need not say how earnestly we should de.
plore the elevation to the Presidency OF either Of
the men we have named. Differing from all of
them upon almost every important question OF
public policy, we should he tempted to despair Of
the Republic, if the present dynasty should be
succeeded by another of similar spirit and prnci-
pies Democracy. it is said, is progressive, and
it, organs boast that such Is its browning charac-
teristic. when we point to the old landmarks of
the Republican faith when we prove Wing
sures to have received the sanction OF the Apos
ties of that Church of which the Democracy
claim to be the only true successors, when we
show thlt their leaders, that they them.
selves, within quarter Of a century, have de-
nounced as abOannable, schemes which they now
uphold as essential to national purity and strength
We receive the uniform and unyarying reply
Democracy is PrOgreSSlre. We cannot stand
still. A. new lights open upon our path, we must
vary our course accordingly. Yes! il IL "a creed
Of progress. From the high eminence occupied
by the men Of the Revolution, from the mountain
to- OF primitive purity and wisdom, it has rolled
hradiong down, upro1tlng ancient principles aud
venerable customs, and marking its path with
ruin.
IL ~ Just because it is party Of progress, that
W. trust it's future courss may be arrested lit
would progress backwards; ii It would return to
the simple faith Of jeff rson and Madison (; il it
would adopt their rule ia appOIntm ants to office,
and Danish into eternal exile, the demon Of pro-
srription, we would rejoice 10 IT'S chariot
wheels in motion, and bad it hearty God speed.
But such thing is not possible. 1, cannot re-
turn up the steep ascent down which il Is rolling
along with more than railroad yolpcity. IL cannot
stand still. Iftho destiuIes Of the country are to
be- again committed to the car Of Democracy,
what patriot but must shudIef and recOl IT the
deep aud dismal gulf to which il is descending
with such impetuDus haste Radical dIsOrgani.
zng. destructive msasU. -, Of which We have as
yet bat FAINT conception, may one day become
the recognized creed Of the party Of progress, and
the curse Of the land in which We 1--we.
Hence, even among our opponents, we have a
choice There are among them men Of mOdefa.
u,n of a conservative spirit; the friends Of a
dgiiGed anJ pacific bearing 10 our l0reign rcIa.
tions. Bu, " any man deserves the general rep.
rObation uf all Americans, Il Is the Tabid, noisy,
relentles. dcmagoguc, who ~ willing TO sacrifice
tho real independence Of his country, IN order to
attain the object Of h,s ambition, Or 10 wade
through a sea Of blood 10 tl,e Presidential Char.
Ttc man who can seize upon tnIs Oregon dis.
putc, aud cOoly, deliberately, Tor the sake d bis
personal elevation, fan It into blaze Of war, en-.
dagger the lives and happiness Of his cou"irymen'
aud peril the peace OF the world, deserves to be
marked With an indoibls brand oi shame, and to