Virginia Free Press

The following is an extract of a letter from Col. Thomas Johnson, who was one of the most prominent and influential members of the Van Buren party in Frederick county, Md. He is a gentleman of intelligence and standing, and is a farmer:

"There is something radically wrong in our government; those in power have put the machinery out of gear. it never will work well till it is placed right again, I have heard many well disposed, honest Van Buren men so express themselves.—Every thing now has a downward tendency, suspicion and distrust are every where felt, bankruptcy is fast doing its work of misery and wo, every day reveals to us more and more the dreadful reality. If we cannot do without masters for heaven's sake let us make trial of others. We may do better, we cannot do worse, nothing can be lost, much may be gained. The people ought in fact to be masters. the officeholders our servants; only have the moral firmness to will and do and your power will be felt by them; have manly firmness to turn your back on every office holder who attempts to persuade or dictate the course you should pursue, my word for it they are dangerous counsellors. The great mass of the people are honest were they let alone; uninfluenced by designing politicians matters now would not be as they are. The office holders have had a complete control of our Government for the last ten years; every kind of experiment their imagination could devise has been tried, all ending in failures. Their career has been marked by reckless extravagance, a total disregard for our country's welfare, and a scrupulous attention to the welfare of none but the office holders.

"Has not our Chief Magistrate acted with cold indifference to the petitions and remonstrances of the people? They have knocked loud and often at his door. but always found 'the string of the latch drawn in.' He has told the people "they ask too much;" he says the people must take care of themselves and the government of itself,' meaning I suppose, himself and his horde of subordinates—as if the people had no supervisory control over the affairs of our government."

"I have been heretofore an advocate of the present administration. I became the political friend of Mr. Van Buren, because I believed him to be a man of talent and a dignified statesman—that he would dispense the duties of Chief Magistrate, with a single eye to the welfare of the whole Union—that he would never suffer himself to be led astray by the chimney-corner demagogues who give forked council, take provoking gold.'—That he never would suffer such to become his bosom friends. In all these things I have been greatly deceived."

"The truth is the great contest now going on is narrowed down to this, the corrupt office-holders on the one side fighting for their salaries and the independent freeman on the other contending for their rights and interests. At the head of the latter party is placed William Henry Harrison, the farmer of North Bend, and that tried patriot John Tyler, of Virginia. General Harrison is pronounced by his opponents to be an honest man and has always proved himself to be the poor man's friend.—No man stood higher in the estimation of Mr. Madison. His praise is eulogy enough for one man. Gen. Harrison is called the "Log Cabin and Hard Cider Candidate."

On my banner shall be inscribed "LOG CABIN AND HARD CIDER."

Others may go for Martin Van Buren, advocate his course of conduct and share with him his laurels in the destruction of our dearest rights and privileges, I for one cannot and will not.

THOMAS JOHNSON.