The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-08
George Law and Martin Van Buren, on the
Presidency-The Plain Speaker and the
Pettffocger.

progressive spirit of the present age, as compared
with the slow coaches Of the past generation, is
afforded in the two letters which we publish TO-
day on the Presidential questionable first from
George Law, and the second from Martin Van
Buren,; the one representing the living, active,
onward revolutionary spirit of these wonderful
times, and the other the torpid equivocating
pettifogging technicalities and distractions of
the old dead AID gone Albany Regency.
Any man. Of any party, in the slightest de-
gree inoculated with the progressive ideas Of the
present day must, in the transition from the out
spoken letter of Live Oak George to the
twaddling manifesto from Lindenwold-must, we
say feel very much as if suddenly removed from
the birdseye view of the High Bridge to the damp,
dark and dismal coal hole Of Tammany Hail.
with its rats, cobvebs and old lumber Such is
the contrast between these two letters-the one
boldly facing the light of the sum- like the Anne
rcan eagle, the other fitting noiselessy along IN
old fence row, like an owl in the light Of the
moon, picking up here and there little mouse
of On idea, and chuckling over it an hour at a
time. The reading of George Laws letter and
the reading of Martin Van Buren's at
the same sitting, is, in other words like
a steamboat trip to Albany 'and return
trip right away, in an old sloop, creeping along
a. the wind .and tide may serve, with prospect
Of getting into port in the course Of two three
days. Most people at this day, with al the ha-
yards Of being drowned, burnt or blown up,
would choose the steamboat; yet we dare say
that there are old women in and about the ancient
Dutch settlement of Undertook who would pre-
er the old fashioned Albany sloop navigation
lie; us look at these two letters, ris-a-ris There
no difficulty in understanding the position, the
easons and the argument of +" Live Oak George"
He speaks like man thoroughly impressed with
he merits of his case, and fully convinced Of the
oundness and justice Of his cause-who is under
no constraint to shuttle over one difficulty and
dodge another, and under no necessity Of cover
ne up his tracks behind him. On the other hand,
Martin Van Buren, argues his case like crippled
dog chasing rabbit till he loses both the sight
and the scent Of his game and goes hobbling
about on both sides Of the fence to recover the
~. George Law speaks boldly and frankly, a.
~ a good cause Martin Van Buren, pleads a. If
pleading against his will, his convictions, associa
tions wishes and antecedents The consequence
is, that while Live Oak George rattles along as
comfortably a. q two horse wagon over smooth
turnpike, after smart summer shower, Mr.. Van
Buren, drags as heavily a. heavy sleigh over
rough road with the snow melted.
George Law speaks out against the democratic
ruflanism which lords 1t over Congress and over
Kansas-aganst the Pierce policy Of making
Kansas slave State by the strong hand Of the
-border rrfians" and against Mr.. Buchanan be-
cause be l. pledged to the policy Of Mr.. Pierce.
The great contractor has to b. sure. good
szed crow Of his own to pick with Mr. Fillmore.
concerning the affair of the steamship Crescent
City; and II must he confessed that in his plain
statement Of the case the Know Nothing EXPIRE
.dent i placed in somewhat ridiculous and
contemplate light before the American people
But upon the main question Of bis candidate
for the White House, Live Oak George" il par
ticularly fclicitous, and speaks the common in
spiration which Is moving the masses Of the inde-
pendent people FOR Fremont IL goes for FIRE.
mont. because he has done something for the
country-has left biz footprints from the Rocky
Mountains to the Pacifc--has done something in
opening the track Of empire westward, In col
quering California, in securing il to the North,
and in developing its fabulous riches for the
benefit of the North the South, and all mankind.
He prefers man like this in the prime Of life.
unfettered and fresh from the people, TO any
.old politician. with his hosts Of dependents a.
s,cdy az himself" lie pronounccs both Blu
ehanan and Fillmore "old drones. who have lived
upon Office and have never done anything for
the country" And il not this true? What i there
TO Ne remembered in the public life Of Mr.. Fill
more, except his compulsory endorsement
Of the compromise bills OF 1862 What
great public act or measure l. there upon record
especially identified with the name Of Buchanan.
except the Ostcnd manifesto Men Of this stamp.
who live and grow Eat upon Office; who spend
from thirty TO forty years in The most conspicu-
Gus Offices without leaving Distinguishing
mark, save TO their disparagement, upon the
journals Of Congress or the records Of the Exccu-
live government, are surely not the men for the
exigencies Of this active, busting day. Such are
the views and conclusions Of Live Oak George
Who has no more respect for an cold fogyr than
for line Of old stages where double track
railroad Il wanted.
Turn we now 10 the letter Of Martin Van BIZ
ren. It il like the almshouse soup Of Oliver
Twist--vCry hin and watcry; yet like poor
Oliver. there being nothing else in the house, We
Empty The dish aud arc constrained to ask for
more. We are as hungry az at the beginning
Mr.. Van Buren objects to the Topeka constitu-
tion, because il was framed in defiance VI tbs !