Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-07-26
co U NJ B y S:
wednesday Morning. July 2s, 1851.
1.-THE hand of Esau. Bat the voice of Jacob

ZINE manu- Ok ESdue DRl tHC fOiCC VI bdOODs
The Union candidate for Governor claims to be
q democrat good and true, and in his recent tour
through the State, every where, attempted toprop
his sinking fortunes, by an artful appeal to the
rank and file democracy.
Could any inconsistency of his excite wonder,
or any impudence on his part, rise to the dignity
of contempt, surely the fantastic trick he is now
essaying before the people, would awaken both
of these emotions in every virtuous mind
We believe it is true, that this same little 'Of-
fee Hunter has occupied every side of almost
every political question, that has engaged public
attention in his day; and during that period has
co-operated with each and all of the parties, at
different times, to which the question of each day
may have given rise.
We confess it is unavoidable in the philosophy
of things, thatth path of right should be occa-
sionaly intersected, by whose course has poin-
ted in every direction and whose contradictions
have so multiplied and heightened out that oppo-
site extremes of thought and action have met by
circular approaches. For these intersections, how
ever rare, we admit he would be entitled to appro-
baton and reward, did not the character of the
motives determine the correctness of the act: or
did not the wheel of Destiny forbid all praise, by
lashing him on to its revolutions, the unconscious
subject of never ending change, the sport of cir
cumstances, and the fdgity victim of unbridled
impulse This Government is based upon repub-
lican principles and those who seek Office at the
hands of the people, necessarily become the en-
bodiment, at least, of that portion of public sen
ment which they are put forward to represent.
1t is only in this light, and for this reason we
make Mr.. Foote the subject of our notice.
To go no further back in his political history
then, than 1829 in that year, we believe, he was
an advocate and warm admirer of the political O.
pnions of Mr.. Calhoun. In 1830-31, he sud
denly turned about, and became the fierce denoun-
Ger of that distinguished Statesman, and sang noisy
praises TO the hero Of New Orleans.
In 1886, we find him bois5erous follower of
Judge White, while he poured ont the yials Of
his wrath upon Van Buren and the Albany Reg
cncy. In 1888, if we are not mistaken, he iden-
g.hed himself with the wings and was by hat par
ty elected to the Legislature from The county of
Kinds Here he was unsparing in his abuse of
the democratic party. However, he soon after
wards joined The later and in 1839 visited the Fed
era. cI.y, (iy is supposedly in search of office
Van Buren did not accommodate him and on his re
'un home he grew violent in his denunciations
Of the President. In this same year he made a
speech at Jackson, in which in addition to his a
buse of the powers that then were, he advocated
national Bank, both as constitutional and expe-
dent and also pronounced most fulsome eulogy
on Mr.. Clay. In 1910 he returned to the demo-
cratic party and became Van Buren elector.
Up to this time, we find, that he has changed
some seven times, and so suddenly thatone might
conclude, somersetng was his natural motion. In
1874, he was Polk elector, and in that canvass,
upon being twitted of his inconsistency, by some
honest whig, upon the occasion of his making a
speech in city, he in substance declared ''that
he had repented of his whiggery in sack cloth and
ashes, that he had been received back into the bo
som of the democratic family, and now gloried In
the opposition and abuse of his former Whia
friends.''
If any machine can claim the high attribute O.
perpetual motion, surely impartial history awards
that distinction to the Senator. He never was
still-always in notion never calm, always excl
ted, and only remained with one party long e.
nough to place himself in confidential commu.
nication and to obtain sufficient stock of its Sc
crets to peddle out in private assurances Thu.
he purchased his welcome and his Offices, frs
from one party and then from the other, as thei
respective markets seemed to offer the best price
for his small wares. Thus he changed from on
side to the other and thus he trimmed his sails 70
the popular breeze until his very name has becom
the synonyme of change, and he the most devou
of all the worshippers, at that altar, whereon ar
placed the sloayes and the fishes
But in passing, we must do him due justice
admit his consistency in one thing. He has al
ways been found in eager pursuit of office In
deed, it seems that his pride of consistency opeI
ates alone in that channel.
These changes, it may be said, are of trifdin
Importance. True they are, in comparison wit
others, of which he has more recently been guilty
but even these, are useful to show, that he ha
been neither fish nor fowl and is utterly desttut
OF that Ballast requisite to well regulated min'
and reliable public officer
The next in Historical order, seems to be ge