Richmond Palladium

In the last number of the Palladium, I observed an article signed "Spirit of Wayne," which appears to have been charitably intended for the illumination of this benighted congressional district, and more especially for the edification of the good citizens of Wayne. But with all due regard for the writer, whose impress cannot be mistaken, and who, by-the-by, is not quite one of the master "Spirits of Wayne," I must beg leave to differ from him entirely, both in his premises and his conclusions.

Passing over the unintelligible parts of the article alluded to, we find a charge against the friends of Mr. Smith, of conjuring up "the ghost of (departed?) parties" and "working the demon of party spirit to favor particular pretensions, to wit: Mr. Smith's." This charge might pass for something, had truth given her sanction to it, and did it not come from an avowed friend of Gen. McCarty, and a subscriber to his political creed. But as the "ghosts and demons" of his creed have never thrown off "this mortal coil," and even now are arrayed in the full panoply of regularly organized hostility, I would premise that the charge on Smith's friends is out of order. To illustrate the charge of partyism, I would request Mr. "Spirit" to enumerate the Jackson men in this part of the county who are in favor of Mr. Smith, and if any thing more than cyphers are requisite, I have no knowledge of numericals. On the other hand, we find the line slack twisted: many of the opponents of the present administration, are devoted partizans of Gen. McCarty, yet Mr. "Spirit" in behalf of his party, cries "peace, peace, where there is no peace."

It is true that Mr. Rariden has honorably withdrawn from the contest, from a conviction that the state of public feeling would prove disastrous to his prospects whilst another candidate, possessing the same views with respect to national politics, was canvassing for the office in question; and I have entirely mistaken the character of Mr. Rariden, if he would not indignantly spurn that affected sympathy for his situation, of which his known enemies are so lavish, and which is dealt out with the most pathetic invocations, for the sinister purpose of enticing his friends to the ranks of McCarty.

The truth is, Mr. Rariden's pretensions were postponed by a simultaneous expression of feeling in different parts of the district. The people well recollect by what process they were deprived of their choice in the last congressional election, and they are determined not to be "chiseled" in the same way at the coming one.

No person will have the hardihood to deny that Mr. Smith had the majority of the votes given in the counties forming the present district at the last election, and it is asking a little too much, to call upon his quondam friends, who were manoevred out of their choice on the former occasion, to support his continued opponent.

No doubt each of the candidates before us is ambitious of the office. It is a highly honorable one, and one to which but a small portion of the community can have pretensions, though all may be eligible. But as public men are considered public property, it does not become one who has eminently enjoyed the confidence of a large portion of the people, to shrink from the contest when they again seek to make him the organ of their interests.

Mr. Smith has been strongly solicited to run in various parts of the district. Custom has made it his duty to use all honorable exertions to promote his election, and a different course under present circumstances would be an insult to his friends. He was not brought out by a "committee" or "caucus," whatever measures may have been taken by a portion of the citizens of Union county to express their wishes, or whatever Mr. "Spirit" may assert to the contrary notwithstanding.

Then if Mr. Smith has an equal right to run with Gen. McCarty, I would enquire, has he not at least equal talents, has he not equal integrity? Or shall we be governed by the standard of Thomas Jefferson, "is he honest, is he capable?" Yes, but say the friends of Gen. McCarty, "the late incumbent can do the most for us, he is in favor with the Government, and he has influence, &c. &c." If all this be true, is there no danger that this influence may be perverted? Is it safe to trust the man who could, if he were so disposed, have all the Postmasters in the district removed in three weeks? Is this the kind of influence which the independent voters of this district expect of their representatives? No, fellow citizens, if talents and integrity are not to command influence, if favoritism is to supersede them in all the departments, then is our government corrupt indeed. Then is it high time that freemen should look to their rights and cleanse the Augean Stable.

We want not that influence which would be sectional or personal in its operation, but that influence which is the meed of merit, which is the acknowledgement of the people's sovereign will, through their respected representatives.

When we employ men to transact our business, whether in a public or private capacity, we wish them to act for us as we would act ourselves. The people of this district have a part to perform in the administration of this government. To do this they must delegate their favors, and it is for them to say whether they will rather repose their confidence in one, who heartily coincides with them in the most important measures, or in one who, for the sake of the office, is willing to obey their mandates, whilst his personal feelings recoil from the service. Thus are we situated in the choice of candidates, in relation to the rechartering of the bank of the United States. Mr. Smith is decidedly in its favor, Mr. McCarty decidedly opposed to it, as his own declarations and his votes in congress will show, yet believing that a majority of the voters of the district are in favor of rechartering that institution, he is willing forsooth, to accept of the office, trammelled as it may be to him, and merely vote as he is directed. But under these circumstances is it reasonable to expect his hearty support of the measure? Gen. McCarty asserts that it is unreasonable and unfair, to urge the bank question against him, because, no matter how many bills congress may pass to recharter the bank, Gen. Jackson will veto them all. By what authority this assertion is made I am unable to tell, but if I can understand language, Gen. Jackson has pledged himself in his veto message, to submit the decision of that question to the people themselves, to be expressed by their representatives in the next congress. In that message he says, in allusion to the bank, "A general discussion will now take place, eliciting new light, and setting important principles; and a new Congress, elected in the midst of such discussion, and furnishing an equal representation of the people according to the last census, will bear to the capitol the verdict of public opinion, and I doubt not, bring this important question to a satisfactory result." If after thus submitting this question to congress and the people, the executive should in defiance of public sentiment interpose his prerogative, will it not be a most flagrant abuse of power?

I will close for the present, by copying the concluding paragraph of Mr. "Spirit."

"Voters of the District, you are intelligent and free, you know your right, and knowing will spiritedly maintain them. Choose for yourselves, do justice to yourselves, and in doing so, you will do justice to the candidate for your suffrages."

his X mark.