Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-05-03
Y For the Miners Express.
THE VICE PRESIDENCY.

hot oo So"'Auo'eu i''oPPioP'is.'S " s.o
nit a few reflections in relation to that
designated by the title to this article, if
SO it may be called. l am deeply i'm
pressed with the belief that heretofore
the people havp attached to the Sc
cond office in their gift, by far too lit
tie mportance--too much have they
permitted themselves to be engrossed
with the first, without contemplating the
casualty which may and has brought the
second TO the duties and powers Of tile
first. | do not charge that the office Of
Vice President has since the institution
of the government, been occupied by men
unworthy Of the place: But on the CON
trary admit that it has sometimes been
filled by men Of the most distinguished
ability and trustworthiness. At other
times l aprehend that individuals have
been looked to in connection with this
high place, as much in reference to their
electoral ability as for any distinguished
qualifications for the station itself. |
do not say tina, the country has suffered
in one instance from the action Of the
Democratic party in this matter. How
ever true it may be that the country has
not heretofore sufferd from the want Of
duo circumspec,ion herein, it does not
follow that vigilance and caution arc
not necessary for the future.
] hold it to be clear that the people
ought not to call to the place in question,
any man, in whose wisdom and discretion
they have not sufficient confidence to
commit the reins Of government; and in
looking around for the objec1 Of their sui-
frages, they ought always to ask them
selves the question what sort Of Pres-
dent would that man make
first Office, and the fact that the incum-
ben, Of the second mi ght not be called
to their discharge, the duties Of the Sec
ond itself are Of the utmost magnitude, as
results have heretofore shown. What
would have been the disaster in reference
to the transmission Of incendiary publ
cations by The mail, had it not been for
the casting vote Of MIR. Van Buren,?
What would have been the conse-
quence, in refer ence to the unequal and
burdensome tariff Of 1S42, had it not
have been for the casting vote Of MIR. Dal.
las? What would III all probability
have been the effect upon the freedom OF
speech in debate, had it not have been
for the adjudication Of certain questions
Of parliamentary law by Mr.. Calhoun?
1t is importan: that the country should
not only have an able man in the Office Of
Vice president, but one whom they know
and feel to be such.
suppose it is almost a yielded point,
that the candidate for the Presidency
mus! come from the north: OF course
it will be as readily yielded that the can
didate for the Vice Presidency must come
from he south. And no doubt the Gu s.
ton will be often asked, which of tht,
Southern States shall afford the cand-
date? Now do not admit that this ques.
ton should be settled by closer geograph-
cal limits than have mentioned. The
true rule is, take the right man wherev-
er you can frd him, in al! the SOUL
And he will be the right man who has
proved by long course Of public service
that he understands the theory Of our
Cove hat he has mental ability
sufficient 10 give it proper direction
that he has been a uniform advocate of
democratic doctrines-an unfaltering
patrio:--and Of unsupported honesty and
simplicity Of heart and purpose.
Such man deem Col. William r
King Of Alabama, TO be in all respects
and without dimiuution. he has served
his country long, with faithfulness and
ability. lie first entered the National
Councils while very young and a CHI
zen Of North Caro!ina-lrom that State
he removed to Alabama, whilst yet she
was q territory, he WAS there elected
her first Senator in the Congress Of the
United States, which post he continued
to occupy without interruption until he
received the appointment Of minister &c
France under the administration Of Mr.
Tyler. Col. King while member Of the
Senate, was frequently honored with the
Presidency protein thereof, and | believ We
the universal testimony was that he pre-.
sided with distinguished ability. | sup
pose it will be readily admitted that nc
one of his predecessors at the Court o.
France maintained the interests, the hon.
or and the dignity Of his country more
successfully and cf1ectualy than he did
But what invests the political charac
ter Of Col. King, with its most attractive
lustre, ia his uniform, earnest, and sue
cesslul !abors in that course Of public pol
icy marked out by the great and ortho
dox lights Of the constitution, when the
nature and the scope ofits doctrines were
first seriously called in question. He ha
) never been suspected in single act o
his long political life, to have swerve,
, from that line Of constitutional construc
ton which by the democratic party i
held to be the only true one. Under hi
guidance, the rights Of the states woult
be regarded with soliciiude, the cons,itu
ton confined to its legitimate limits; ant
the powers and patronage Of the govern