Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-21
E'sso Richmond w Esl9.
DEBATE IN TIE SENATE
on MR.. rIN BURENS NOMINITION


IN ih, S.crcl Sos s,cns of the Scna'c, the no
minatIou of alr. Van BIrcn IN" speeches
ugn'n~t Il no,pna ton havii" h2'n Tor ''r h'sl
time IN the history of this Government thrown
mon the people It is due to Tie person assaiI.
e., that what was SnCg"S cd on the otA"r side /
should be known. Mr.. Forsyth is well ny are
tnat, in executing his Prrt of til. dusty, h" has (
done Justice nctncr TO the subject nor to h'm- /
cell
regret. Mr.. President that The Senator from
Mississippi, Mir. POudeX'rr) has becn :" long
absent from HIS seat, not only because he has
been Suffering p0in, bat because had Ii" been
here, he would have escaped the commission If
numerous errors into which he has hc"n lcd..--
The i'ricuds of Mr.. Van Blrrn have not OBJ
structed iEq1iry into his conduC; they have
challenged Investigation, offered 1t IN every ana
any form consistent with the Obligations of the
Senate to its own chargc' or. The Senator from
Name, (Mr llolm"s.) shrunk from his own re-
solution. 1t lad aside hy the votes Of
those opposed, contrary to the Votes and Wishes
of those friendly to the nomination.. That
Senator was distinctly mvi,cd by OF
the Senator'S o.: New York, lMr. Mar
Cyl to specify any act dishonoraLc tn the cha
racter OF M. Van Barren, and pledge given
that the inquiry INTO it should be made in the
amplcst manner by committee having all the
p"wcrs necessary to the establishment of
truth. The Scnl,cr from Maine, was Gietnc,-
~ told by the Senator from =. Carolina, MIR.
HaynS) on what terms he could command Ills
vote. lie was told TO cover the prodnd udicr,-
ed, b. proof, and he would in III the conden-
nation of the choice of the President. The
Senator from Maine doburatcd OH his Cft;,r
aud, after dchbcroiion, abandoned his rasolu-
ton, leaving all 10 grope their way 10 cOucu-
sion, as accident or prejudice might direct them.
n promise was made, that he should have Il
COMMITTEES if he would venture upon IT, and the
offer was deliberately and mos; uncqu,voc,lIy
declined. Yet, after all this, at this eleventh
hour. the Senator from Mississippi says, if the
friends of Mr.. Van Buren, will llct commit
tee, he Will give what he has collected. while
confined 20 his sick chamber, and on which his
own opinion is formed, and if the committee is
not raised. he viii, with this matter in his noe
ket, vote against The nomination, in order TO
preserve the morality Of the nation, endangered
by the bcstowal of new Office on q G ln,nIING
politician.
Az The friend, personal ana POLITICAL of Mr.
Van Buren,, reject the LIBERAL OFFER OF the
Senator, i'll defiance OF his threatened negative
upon the nomination. Let him unite with those
VINO, Ike lin, are so ANXIOUS IL preserve the
morality at the country by rejecting a man
whose IN 1t "dl"uS crime is his rising popularity
nn" trau%ctrdant GbIilly. The friends Of MI
Van Buren, VIII not degrade him bv a. king
committee Ia free him from the 81 .picions en-
EendCred IN the Senator'S mind, in Ii. search
alter cnrreci inform tior, from sources wi hin
his reach. HIS character wants 40 such jus;i
icaiion. Does the gentleman wish To Justify
shall have our concurrence. Docs he desire TO
convince the Senate? Let tim produce the
private source. Information which. ! venture
10 say, Ike the only one he speaks of OPENLY
Is worthless in the eye Of any man who is Io
SO em1niered by pr,jud!cr that he canno. sec
tfuih. This letter, by former pGrtzan, pal
try editor of paltry newspaper, aud to- pr.,vn
what? that Mr. Van Buren, said shat the laic
..abinct was dissolved by the conspiracy Of the
Wee President, to drive Major Eaton from the
Caoin' l. and That he withdrew To escape the
consequences Of the dissolution. S;.r MIR Van
Buren, holds no such conversation with persons
who were ONCE HIS PAETIzANs, and now his
enemies.
But surprising he had declared, or docs enter
tam, the opinion imputed to him. Is it a crime
which Inequalities him for high office, tina, he
believes the charge made and sought TO be Is.
tablIshcd by the late Secretary of Wa? If
such be the Senator's opinion. cau he tell lis how
far the exclusion eXtcnds7 The Senator's let
ter story is con radictcd by his previously OK
pressed opinion. What, 81, tue most urtfu!
man IL the world, proclaim to a paltry editor
That he acted Ill the manner indicated To ESQ APE
THE STORM consequent on the dissolution #
tie Cabincl! If it had been truc-if such had
been his motive, lie would have sought to COG
eeal it from himself No degree of confidential
intimacy could have tempted an ar,fnl intIi
g"er to such n disclosure. I he story If true.
proves man, whose extraordinary prudence
under oil circumstances, through lone life in
the stormy politics If a veXcd and turbulent
State has gained him the confidence Of his
trends, and called down upon him jhc charge of
consuInmatc artIfce from his enemies to be n
silly GrIvc'cr,-a sImpcton, opening his bud get
OF petty motives to whose trade WIS TO
thrive ny making himself Import9nt, By confident
IN! aAd oracuar disclosures i'll his unknown
journal
FIR. Var Buren, stands in a strange condition
before u; fIom the beginning Of this admins
tration, before he came to the post assigned to
him until the present hour, lie is held accounra-
BILE by certain description of political men in
tins country tO- all the evil that has been done
and al! the good that has been omitted.
Now, Stiff he is accountable for every thing
ii his hand is TO be traced every where, lot him
have credit for the good that has, and the evil that
has not, been done. Balance tho account of the
ADMITTED good and evil imputed and the result will
hi The hearts of his enemies with the bitlerest
disappointment. But, sir, this is not the Justice
intended for him. He is responsible for all that is
complained of. Let US see the Senator from Mis-
sissiPP (Mr. Poindcxtcr's) catalogue. There were
no Cabinet COunCs.-DId the country suffer from
this failure TO follow the example of late admins
tratlons, from this adherence to the example of
General ashington. But there was ono CGbiDci
Counct called 10 sit on LHdy's reputation In
decd and ths Mr.. Van Buren, is also answcra5ic
Tor; and IS 1t true, SIR that tho honorable nom
bcrs OF The late Cabinet, who remained so tran.
fnly at Their posts, enjoy ing all their cmoucnts
ana honours with becoming qualification, suffered
themselves to DO deprived OF their accustomed
rights OF scat and voice a. the Council Board OF
deliberations great matters of vital interest 10
inc pubic, and yet ObCyCd tie heck and ca, of Mr.
van Buren,, TO sit upon Lldy's reputation, or.
what stun were they made, that thcy did not dis.
'hclIy ascertain ii this restriction of claimed rir!
ma tins insulting call upon them TO step ont Of.
their appropriate spheres, was tho work OF Mr. Van
BurCn or the act Of tho President. If tic fret