Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-28
REMARKS OF MIR. JAYNE

REMARKS OF MIR. HAYNE.
MIR. Presidents: Before the question is tahen on
this nomination, 1 desire merely 10 state the
grounds on which my vote shall rest. / do this as
an act Of Justice to myself, without desiring or in
tending to influence tho vote of any gentleman
here. When the resolution offered by the Soma
tor from Maine on. i1olnes) was before the SEN
ate, Il few days ago, proposing, among other
things, an inquiry into the conduct of MIR. Van
Buren,, ! took occasion TO say, that though | could
not vote for thdt resolutions, because in the form
in which il then stood, it proposed to make a call
upon the President, which | did not consider as
quite respectful in its character, ard also because,
even in relation to Mr.. Van Buren, himself, it was
altogether too vague and indefinite to lead to any
practical result; yet, that, if any Senator would
move for any inquiry, in proper form, i would not
only vote for it, hut chcerfully abide by the result.
The friends of MIR. Van Buren,, while opposing the
resolution of MIR. Holmes, had not themselves
thought proper TO institute any such inquiry. do
not mean TO ccnsurc them for this, nor to draw anv
inference from their course, in this respect, unfa.
vorablc to MIR. Van Buren,. They believed the
charges against him required no Investigation; and
for my own part ! was willing to acQuic,cc in
the suggestion which had been thrown out, that
from tina nature of the case it was peculiarly pro-
per that each gentleman should make the ncces-
sary inquiries for himself, and having satisfied his
own conscience, act accordingly. i have, Mr..
President, pursued this course, and by the result,
shall my conduct, on this occasion be govern
cd Fromstho time when Mr.. Van Buren, took
possession Oh lNc department OF Slatc up TO the
moment of his departure for England, | have been
an attentive observer of passing events here. |
have, also, since this nomination came be fore the
Senate, taken pains to inform myself, from the
very best sources, as TO the correctness or in
CORRECTNESS OF my first impressions with respect to
the conduct of MIR. Van Buren, while Secretary
of State, and the result has been. a firm conviction
that | ought not give my advice and consent
TO his appointment as Minister to England
From facts and circumstances which have fallen
under my own observation, many of them noto-
rIOus TO the whole country, - well as from infOr-
nation derived from sources on which / implicitly
rely, | have arrived at the following conclusion:
That when Mr.. Van BureE came into the cabinet,
no found 4 state of circumstances here that open
cd Il door TO the establishment of an influence
favorable TO his personal views; that instead ofex-
ertiDg himself to remove tho causes of discord and
diSScnsiOn by which the Executive was unhappi-
ly surrounded, he dexterously aUaited himself Of
them, and welded them for the promotion of
his own personal and political interests, and for
the advancement of his friends and supporters 20
office, to the exclusion of almost all others. 1t is
known to all who hear me, that Ger. jackson anne
into Office under most suspicious circumstances,
which, properly improved, could not have failed
to secure for his administration the highest honor,
and as L will believe, lasting benefit to his eoun-
try.
1t is notorious that the fruits Of tho great po-
lltical victory which brought him into power, have
been, in a great measure, lost. The OK pectations
OF the country have not been fulfilled. Dissen-
sion and discord have divided a party who were
once cemented together by the strongest tics.
Men who cspouscd Gen. Jackson's cause at
the earliest dawn of his political for
tunes, who stood by him in the heat of
the contest, have been discarded from his con-
hdence, and rRosCRIBED; while those wEo came ia
(lko Mr.. Van Buren, hlmself) at the eleventh hour,
who never lifted a finger in his defence, or raised
a voice in his favor, no,p have undisputed sway.
Sir, L have no doHbt whatever that for all this, the
country is chiefly indebted TO the influence of Mr..
Van Buren,, successfully, though cautiously, di-
reCtcd to the single object of advancing himself,
at the expense of all who wero supposed TO stand
in his Uay; and what is worse, at the expense of
the success of the administration, and at an imBi-
nent hazard TO the best interests of the country.
| firmly believe, sir, that it was not until Mr..
Van Buren, discovered, in the course of the last
winter, that by creating n unity of interests be-
tween the President and himself, and alternating
him Prom his JdithfUL and true friendS-instsad of
elcvatIng himself, he was pulling his bcnefactor
down-that he determined to break up the cabinet,
by Withdrawing himself, and driving his colleagues
from their stations; taking care, however, TO pro-
vide Il Sate retreat for himself in this mission to
England. L think tho dissolution of the cabinet,
under all the circumstances which attended it, was
most unfortunate for the executive and disrcputa-
bic to the country, and such, | am persua-
ded, is the opinion of the great body ofthc people,
OF all parties, throughout the United States. From
all that i have seen and heard upon that subject,
| nave not the shadow of a doubt that this event
would not have taken place, but for tho firm and
manly resistance made by certain members Of the
cabinet TO the views OF Mr.. Van Buren,. IF they
had enlisted under his banner, and consented to
follow his iedd, all would have been well. | be-
licve, moreover, that MIR. Van Buren,, while secrc-
tary OF state used the influence derived from his
high office, for the purpose of controlling, iniu ri
ous!y, the domestic and social relations of this com
muully; and that his conduct was, in other respects,
inconsistent with the dignity Of his station and
the character OF tile country. Having arrived at
these conclusions, after Il careful and deliberate
examination ofthc whole case, my duty is ofcoursc,
made plain. We are called upon TO give our aduicc
and consent to the appointment of Mr.. Van Buren,
to n high and most responsible Office. | know
that a decision in his favor will he regarded here,
and held up elsewhere, as Il triumphant acquittal
tron all the charges that have been preferred against
MN i cannot consent TO be an instrument in pro-
dncing such a result, believing as / do, that these
charges are true.
.Alusion has been made to the strong prejudjces
which are said TO have followed Mr.. Van Burcn
thro' his whole political course, end of which il
is SAID ne is now to be made the victim. For my
own part, am unconscious Of being under the
influence OF any such feelings. Though I have
never had the honor TO be classed among the Der.
FonaI and political friends Of this gentleman, vet,
so Tar from having ever INDUCED any prejudice
against hIn, my feelings towards him have been
oil an opposite character. Up 10 the time Of his
gong into the cabinet, but a sinlgc circumstance
had occurred to shake my confidence in him as a
public man; and oiwithst nding this, nc went
INTO the department Of state with my "advicc and
consent and ! should have continued in the same
relation towards him TO this day, bat for a course
Of conduct while in that Office. which I HONESTLY
believe has brought incaIculablc evils upon this
country. in cOmingt to these conclusions, 7 have
not been governed, rs has been supposed, by Eva.
quo Tumors merely" NV opinions have been
made upon facts and circumstances which are no.
torious, Tome Of which have fallen under nv own
observation, and upon information derived from
q 81 a-