Sunbury American And Shamokin Journal

Van Buren and the Presidency.

Some very important events have transpired of late, in regard to the next Presidency. We think we can plainly perceive the master hand of Mr. Van Buren in these recent movements. Mr. Buchanan's withdrawal, though sudden, was not unexpected. His friends say that this was not done with a view of favoring any particular individual; but a combination of events prove, most conclusively, that the "high contracting powers" have determined to force upon the people Martin Van Buren, as the nominee and candidate of the democratic party, at the next Presidential election. The last movement on foot, it seems is, that Col. Johnson is to be the candidate for Vice President, on the ticket with Mr. Van Buren. We can hardly believe, yet, that Col. Johnson can be induced to take this step. If Mr. Van Buren imagines that Col. Johnson's popularity can help him through the drag in Pennsylvania, he is much, very much mistaken.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Van Buren's friends will insist in pushing him forward, when his defeat and the discomfiture of the democratic party is a more than probable result. Our opponents are rejoicing beyond measure at the prospect of Mr. Van Buren's nomination. They are concentrating all their strength on Mr. Clay, and, in proportion as Mr. Van Buren's prospect of a nomination increases so do also their hopes of Mr. Clay's success. The truth is, the whigs hang their hopes of success entirely upon Mr. Van Buren's nomination. The Hon. W. C. Rives, of Virginia, has recently sent in his adhesion to Mr. Clay. He has heretofore been a conservative and a Tyler man. We should not be surprised to see Mr. Wise, and in fact Mr. Tyler himself follow suit. Mr. Calhoun threatens and denounces the Baltimore Convention, and will never submit to its decision. These things show as plainly as the handwriting on the wall, that a second edition of the defeat of 1840 awaits us, if we do not select a candidate less objectionable to the people than Mr. Van Buren. It is useless to assert that he is more popular now than he then was. We do not believe that he can get even the same vote. In Pennsylvania he assuredly cannot—why then urge his nomination.

The Harrisburg Union with its affected neutrality speaks rather contemptuously of the prospects of Gen. Cass in Pennsylvania and asserts that his friends are confined to the Porter and Tyler men. Now, we need not here state that this is wholly untrue, as everybody knows, but will go further and state that in this and the neighboring counties Gen. Cass can show twenty friends where Mr. Van Buren can produce one.