Herald Of The Times

The Louisville Journal, of the 1st instant contains the following just and appropriate remarks upon the Baltimore humbug nomination. With the Editor of that paper, we agree, that, "the hour for preparation is come."

If corruption and intrigue are to be resisted, the note of preparation should now be sounded. To its summons, every patriotic ear should listen, and every tongue pronounce a long amen.

The name of Andrew Jackson, must now be withdrawn from the political conflict. That watchword, which has so long been the battle-cry of prize-fighters, is now to be suppressed. Drums, cannons, and all the unmeaning insignia of the most unaccountable fanaticism and man-worship, that ever took possession of an enlightened community, will now lose their efficacy. The contest will be between Van Buren and free principles: between the power of darkness and the light of truth. We are fully aware that the office-holders will still endeavor to keep the President before the people—that they will represent to his honor and reputation, as implicated in the success of Martin Van Buren; but the people will not submit to be gulled by such artifices. There is no more reason for prating about Jackson and New-Orleans now, than there would be in desecrating his tomb at some future period, and dragging his bones as a political talisman, before the generations which are to succeed us. The political race of Jackson is run—the last sands are ebbing from the hour glass; and shall every whipster, without individual merit to rely upon, be permitted to buckle the name of the President upon his back? Shall Martin Van Buren be President, because Jackson won a battle? By what process, can the good or bad deeds of General Jackson be assigned to Van Buren?—And, if not now, when will a candidate for the most responsible office in the gift of the people, have to show individual claims of preferment, to ensure success?

If Van Buren is elected, it will be virtually the right of a President to appoint his tool successor ad infinitum, and an abandonment of the gifts of freedom to the custody of political mountebanks and jugglers. Van Buren is neither a statesman nor a military chieftain: he bases his claims to power upon the mere prepossessions of the President, and his hopes of success upon the power of a corrupt and corrupting patronage.

We have almost overlooked the nominee for the Vice Presidency, but shall have something to say in relation to it at another time. The policy of the office-holders, in making this selection, was to secure the Western vote for Van Buren. His unpopularity in the West, suggested to them the necessity of associating a Western man with him, and they selected Col. Johnson for the purpose, as fishermen season and spice bad bait with asafoetida. We are bold to say, that, in this State, the measure was ill-advised. The popularity of Colonel Johnson in Kentucky, has dwindled to a small compass; and, with the exception of the Great Crossings, and parts thereunto adjacent, the Tecumseh killer will bring slight dowry to the bridegroom of the faction. The Colonel has been in his element of late—playing grand Sachem to a class of Indians and Negroes. He bestows his attention on the former, as a set-off to the death of Tecumseh,—he takes to the latter as matter of taste.—He is the father of his school; his claim to that appellation, from one half of it being more founded in truth, than in compliment. "De gustibus non disputandum est"—and of the Colonel at another time.

The hour for preparation is come, as the hour for trial is approaching. We shall never have a more auspicious time for resisting the corruptionists, than at the moment of the withdrawal of the panoply of Jackson's name, from over them. The inequality of the contest arising from the corrupt expenditures of the National Treasure, should be neutralized by the indignation and burning zeal of every true patriot and honest man. If the succession is now cast upon Van Buren, the prospect before the nation will be gloomy indeed. Every year will fasten additional chains upon public opinion. Corruption will grow firmer in its possessions, and more daring in its grasps. Now, then, is the time for resistance—now, when the first effort is made to elect a President solely upon the authority of the present Chief Magistrate, and by the power of his patronage—now, when the first unblushing and brazen-faced avowal of nominating a successor to the Presidency, is to be acted upon. Let not the pages of history be soiled by such apostasy in our day, as the election of Van Buren would denote. The longer the struggle is deferred, the more difficult will it be to effect a change: and, when once the nation falls so low as to be the slave of its own slaves, and be brought up by its own money, we know not where is the time who at a kno thou extinguished patriotism.

The crisis is momentous in the extreme, when an open and proclaimed juggler and political slave dealer is in the field for high office, with a show of success—when usurpation and prerogative are in the field against the constitution and law. Who for a moment can doubt the result of such a contest? If the question had been put to us six or eight years ago, we should have known what answer to give; but such has been the success, hitherto, of hypocritical canters and knaves, that, unless the Whigs throughout the union shall agree among themselves upon a prompt and energetic course of action, the day will go against us. And now, in conclusion, we pledge ourselves—although we have as strong a personal choice among the distinguished members of the Whig ranks, as any one can have—to yield our preference if necessary, and to sacrifice upon the altar of country every feeling of prepossession and personal bias, whenever the party can agree upon their candidate.

We will strive to the uttermost for any man of the true faith, who can, to the greatest extent, unite upon himself the elements of the opposition. Those elements ought not to neutralize each other, the ground of opposition is broad enough for all; and when a country is threatened with a direful calamity, the lovers of that country should not be severed in their efforts at redemption by insignificant differences of opinion. Then let us rally once more, and make one long, bold, hearty, and united effort in the name of liberty, and for the succor of the constitution.