Virginia Free Press

THE FREE PRESS.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1833.

The Richmond Enquirer has again sent forth a sign of distress at the "premature agitation" of the "question of the succession;" and bewails most piteously the degeneracy of the opposition prints, in pressing the matter upon such pacific and gentle souls as the "President's friends."

Now, really, if every reader of the Enquirer did not at once perceive the object of this ridiculous cant, it might be worth the trouble to expose it. But every nose is turned up in scorn or contempt at such flimsy and palpable hypocrisy. "Our duty in this situation (quoth the editor) seems to be traced with a pencil of light. (!!) While we are unwilling at this time to pledge our support to any particular candidate, we have no right to prescribe to the consciences of others." (Vastly generous, this!) Here is the true Van Buren "non-committal" policy. Whenever your schemes are not matured, swear by "all the gods and little fishes" that you are not for "any particular candidate at this time." In the meanwhile, throw in all the compliments you can find to the Kinderhook statesman, (just by way of defence,) until the "Jackson Republican Democratic" presses of Pennsylvania mature another "Grand National Convention," in which the "little magician's" friends alone are to appear. But above all things, do not force the Editor of the Enquirer to "stand the hazard of the die," before he ascertains the exact political temper of the next Legislature.— After that, throw up your hats as high as he does, in praise of the most popular man in Virginia, if you can.

Well, well, it is too bad! it is too bad! The President's "opponents will not even permit any neutrality in the question"—that of the succession.) "You must condemn his Proclamation, out and out." Horrible! horrible! not to let the good old gentleman name his successor—and, during the balance of his reign, turn all the influence of "the government" to the purpose of safely lodging the "heir apparent" upon the throne. "You must erase 'from the tablets of the brain' every measure which he has adopted for bringing back the government to the republican tack. You must condemn him as a hoary tyrant and a bloody usurper. You must forget the awful responsibility he has assumed, in arresting the wild sweep of Internal Improvements, and the tremendous influence of an Institution which has spread through all the great divisions of the Union, and which holds its charter in defiance of the Constitution itself. You must forget all the gratitude which is due to his exertions—to all his services—to his patriotic motives, and to his patriotic measures. You must listen without the slightest indignation and disgust, to the gross and unqualified abuse which is lavished on the head of an eminent Citizen, who, whatever may have been his errors, whatever may have been the heresies of his ill-starred Proclamation, has 'done the State some service.'"

Thus discourseth the Enquirer.—It is absolutely nauseating to the stomach of a freeman, to find that no question can be touched, in relation to the next Presidency, without finding some servile print lugging in the views and feelings of the present President; as though we must be ever on the alert, lest we wound his sensibilities on the occasion. In the name of decency and independence, are we not to be permitted even to talk of the choice of a chief magistrate, without having eternally before our eyes the wishes and the views of the "eminent citizen" who now wields the sceptre? Out upon such disgusting and abominable servility! What has "A. Jackson" to do with it, more than anybody else?

The Enquirer has ventured once more (in order to appease Virginia) to speak of the "heresies of the ill-starred Proclamation." If the paper containing that audacious sentence has not already been thrown "against the wall," with indignation, it is because Andrew Jackson has become as tame as his toad-eaters.

Some of the prints opposed to Mr. Leigh, are modestly demanding an exposition of that gentleman's principles, and are vastly uneasy at his silence. These anxious souls have no notion of supporting him under any circumstances, but having no reasonable ground, at present, for giving their open countenance to Mr. Van Buren, they are exceedingly impatient to find some cause of quarrel with Mr. Leigh's sentiments. Why do they not vociferate, with equal ardor, for an exposition of the "Magician's" creed? Why do they not ask him to speak out, unhesitatingly, his opinions upon the famous proclamation? When they do this, and he answers them, it will be time enough for them to ask the creed of his opponent. Upon that document, he has been as silent as a church mouse; and we venture to assert that he will not break this silence, so long as a hope remains of being able to deceive the people of the South.

The Warrenton Spectator would do well to enlighten its readers, "by authority," upon this topic, before it seeks to become Mr. Leigh's father confessor.

The Globe undertakes to give a classification of the political opinions of the next Congress; and amongst the other absurdities of the calculation, sets down Virginia as presenting 16 "Jackson" and 5 "Anti-Jackson" men. The Enquirer copies this piece of news, and of course believes in its correctness. When the Globe speaks of friends, it means those of the servile cast, ready to do their master's bidding—it is, in fact, mulcting the "chief" thus—

"Look how thy servants do attend on thee,
Each in his office ready at thy beck.
Wilt thou hunt
Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer there,
And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth."

But such, we trust, is not the character of Virginia Jacksonism. Will either of the above named veracious prints be kind enough to tell us, which of the Virginia members, and how many of them, go for the "ill-starred Proclamation" out and out? This is the grand principle upon which Jacksonism must hereafter hinge; and if they are not with "A. Jackson" upon this point, their fealty in other respects is of little moment—he would not give a whiff of his pipe for their loyalty.

The Hon. Tristram Burgess has been re-elected to Congress from Rhode Island, by a large majority.