Martinsburg Gazette

The Gazette:
MARTINSBURG, VA.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1835.

THE VICE PRESIDENCY

The great question "who shall be Vice President," seems to become more difficult to settle, and threatens more confusion among the faithful, than was anticipated, even when the opposition of Virginia to the Baltimore nomination was announced. Col. Johnson appears to be treated like a stranger in Virginia, and as those who ought to support him are the first to denounce him, we are determined to shiver a lance in his behalf.

But a few months have elapsed since Martin Van Buren was well known to be no favorite with the people of Virginia, as a candidate for the Presidency. All parties were declaring against him, and in favor of other individuals. Yet were his pensioned agents, and drill sergeants, busily at work preparing the people for his nomination. The great importance of unity among the party was preached first. Party men, and in short all who claimed to be of THE Republican party, were appealed to and conjured not to suffer division in their ranks, but to "give and take," that is to sacrifice personal or (in a pinch) political predilections and prejudices, to the will of the majority of the Nation. Well, this will was to be expressed in some manner calculated to satisfy those who opposed the designs of Mr. Van Buren, and knowing how well the machine had performed the work of moulding public opinion on a former occasion, a National Convention was ordered by the Grand Sachem of Tammany. The people did not appear entirely willing to submit to this mode, and it was at length thought advisable that the order should come from head quarters. Accordingly a proclamation, direct from the palace, under the sign manual of "Andrew Jackson," was issued, whereby delegates were ordered to assemble coming "fresh from the people," and declare to the world, who was the Republican Candidate. This order, like an advertisement, marked t.d. (that is, to be continued till the day of meeting) was conspicuously inserted in all the faithful presses, and at last the bait was swallowed, and it was agreed on all hands, that the candidates nominated by the convention, should be THE Republican Candidates, which none should gainsay, upon pain of instant excommunication. The Convention assembled; Martin Van Buren was nominated for President; and all agreed, that he was the regular anointed Republican Candidate. Col. RICHARD M. JOHNSON, was nominated for Vice President, and wherefore in the name of all that is honest is he not the regular and the ONLY genuine Republican Candidate.

The objections urged against Col. Johnson, are based upon an utter selfishness and disregard of plighted faith and consistency. It is amusing to see the Jackson papers in Virginia, blowing hot and cold, at one breath; urging all who wish to be democrats, to the support of Mr. Van Buren, because he is the nominee of the convention, and denouncing the Indian Slayer, because he beat their pet more than two to one, although he was nominated by the same "fresh from the people" delegates.

We are not much concerned about the matter, and we do not advocate the cause of Col. Johnson, upon his merits; but we consider the nomination, as of a piece with the doings of the Jackson party in general: and Virginia may wince as she will, about the Colonel's principles, moral and political, but the same juggling that is to make Van Buren, President, will make Johnson Vice President. Kinderhook and Tecumsch, will swim together, or sink together.