Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-08
FOR THE ENQUIRER,


nave observed in your reply TO my OF the
is,h inst, adnonshcs me to reoin in the spirit
do not understand me designing a sarcasm, when
observe that the manner in which you have attempted
vndicae Mr. Van Buren, from my charges reflects credit
upon your heart rather than discovers your skill ud
mcnt IN the selection oil the materials employed reach
that object.
You say you edo not seek vnca,e his course on the
Tariff in which you satisfied he erred but to shew
that he has not been uneq,tirocal Tariff man. YOU oo,e
the anonymous testimony OF citizen OF New York Sir
doubt not the veracy and responsibility of your Cor.
respondent and Will concede, unguesoncd all the merit
and force 10 his statements that you may yourself claim
Tor thcm but lhumbly conceive that this very Testimony
IL II does not authorize the conclusion which arrived
IN my hrst communication, will av all bu,,e nvadate
| il.
"That gentleman. (Mr. Van Burcn) says yonr Cores
ponden, "whie in Congress represented Tariff State
but was so little its advocate never to make speech m
Its fayour Now, let ask il, far from claiming any
merit Tor not speaking in its fdpo he ought not rather
TO be renowned by all good men and tre' for not bav
ing raised his voice TO the highest pitch OF remonsrancc
dgast III There no apology for his having failed 10 do
so. but we heard not word from him in opposition Let
e quote your correspondent again he says, They (he
manulac'urers called meeting some years since for the
purpose OF denouncing him (a,ong other qucs,ions) He
ooA e ou ny he horns, attended the meeting made
speech which gave satisfaction ours than TO their
sde Here Sir grant all the merit your correspondent,
80 eNuungy claims Tor this conductt is indeed quite i'm
character with the toruous, trimming course which Mr.
an buren always pursues. He attends meeting of
Tariff men, makes a speech avowedly 1--WE may sunnoscI
Tor her ears and yet deals in such subte,ics aud sinuos
ties, employs such dubious language assumes such PRO-
team shapes and takes such serpcnne course that beth
each are disposed 10 claim him their champion For this
course your correspondent 10 demand no ordinary
p'Se or MN; really TINS Is meeting the question fairly
anu taxing 'the bull by the horns with a vengeance.
For myself wonder your spondents honest ndyna
ton was not aroused at such indications mind ft for
treason straagem and spos, for all the NAVY turns and
SHIFTS OF art and intrigue. Was this an occasion for The ex
ercise oil these villans vrtues" When called upop by
his citizens, and expected TO be candid and hone II In
The expression oil his opinions subject of such para
mount importance, like wary mariner he trimmed his
sails IN order to catch every breeze, which could contr
| nm IL In yalfh HINT Al, lnrl
less oil those who might be wrecked the VOYAGE Like
the honest Sayr in the fable, surprised You do not
express Indignation against the man who can .bo,v
hot and cold in the breath"
Your correspondent says, he has emo doubt Mr. Van
Buren, Will take bold and patriotic ground general
reduction oil our taxes. will not gainsay his political
foresight; but allow say, that il the history of the
past is TO furnish the criterion of future conclusions very
strong doubts may be- and are entertained of such course
rom Mr. " B III the premises which TO conduct us
TO this conclusion be in his having coopcrated
heretofore with those who have taken any other ground
IMAM That oil general reduction of our taxes" and who
have been draining the public Treasury TO support
wild and extravaganza schemes of internal improvement
grounds" r"e
You assert that Mr.. Van Buren, voted for the Tariff of
s2 under the force of and in obedience TO instructions
Sir venorate highly any man the princ,p,e ma,
representative should be paisied by the wishes of his
constituency; Is the very the government
under which we live But IhumbIy conceive that these
same instructions of the New York Legislature did not
contemplate any thing like the inouio,1s and monsos
system for which Mr.. " b. voted What are the words
OF the resolutions conveying the instructions! "Tbat s,
Fe'e"t protection be afforded the growers of wool
hep ana iaX, and the manufacturers OF IRON woollens
and every other article, far the same rnav be con-
nectea NTH The interest Of manufactures agriculture
ara commerce DO these resolutions constitute dele
CATION OF authority TO cripple commerce. to make the agri-
cultural subordinate and inferior the manufacturing In
ercs and to take the first step sever the bonds of union
winch unite the soycreignties of Repubic Instead
oil requiring sacrifice OF commercia and agricultural mr.
suits TO manufactures DO these instructions father pre-
scribe just equilibrium, polite compromise "conss,en,
with the interests OF ali?
But Sir is thcie any power under our laws which can
poscrne The exercise of individual opinions, when
opposed by majority, that silence the tonpes If
rs you labor TO prove Mr. Van Buren, in voting the Ta-
ri sacnhced his private opinion wishes OF his con-
suuens why did he not boldly that iaci Why did
ne NOT exercise tue privilege which man ever parts
WIN IN ms country, and declare that while the wishes of
ms constituents compelled him give that measure the
sanction OF his vote, il against the convictions nj
lis own mind? Such course would have left ne in NO
doubt as to his sincerity, and would spared YOU the
.onoe Of recurring at this late hour. Tie Instructions
OF The New York Legislature which are oblgatory on
nun so lar as to command his vote for the measure lille
lney never prescribed the exercise of better Judgment
II ana inc expression OF an adverse opinion.
1t IN vain, Sir, TO attempt excupate Mr. Van I,rcn
from the charge of favor the Tariff as we'll nigt Won
enoeavor 10 dssect bubble, TO bottle moonshnc p
Ills votes furnish the best evidence Of his course and
sentiments ON that question: and they conIe mn him lo,d
and Virginia does give him her in the approaching
canvass for the Vice Presidency she will yr,olv sanc
ton which is hostile to her best interests and
prove rccrcant 10 those principles which she has ever pro.
4 fessed TO regard. ~
IN your commandments of mistake las your cores
pondent has induced you mildly term m in asserting
,nat Mr. Van Buren, opposed TO the Veto Message Of
ue PRESIDENT Sir, Notwithstanding the "lctters" from
mr. van Buren, which "came under your eve" al the
e and the bubble of the Globe 10 the contrary Stand
perfectly fortified in the position which ] have assumed
DiSregardng the inference you have drawn from Mr. V
Dueh letters alluded TO- with the of which as
am not acquainted, Of course can form no opinion of
e fuho OF the statements therein contained and pro-
ceedng directly 10 the contradiction the Globe mon the
authority OF the President las the Editor of The E,orc
mas hHay Unexpectedly reference TO the terms in which
nat contradiction is couched, will satisfy any unpre,dc
ca nina mat the accuracy Of the statement as made orr
glnahy' Is not thereby impaired in any degree The
seeh' charged MIR. an Buren, with "bene opposed 10
me teto Message" The Globes "unauali6ed conradc
ton airms that Mr.. " Buren, "conc,,rred entirely viii
me PRESIDENT in the principles contained in the Veto Mes
sage Now see how this seeming inconsistency NAV he
econciied The circumstances which will establish tbe
rum OF my statement are the oowingDurng the pas-
sage OF the maysvie Road Bill when it was expect-
ga pass member Of Congress from one of the Southern
odes nigh character and distinguished abilities called
upon MT van Buren, then Secretary Of State and urped
nn 70 advocate the rejection Of that bill by The President
10 reply, Mr. Van Buren, objected to the refusal by the
PRESIDENT OF his signature to the proposed law and et his
VISITOR under the impression that he entirely opposed
10 me measure. This impression cannot have been false
as inc member had sought the interview with the Secre-
y OF state Tor the express purpose Of conversing with
"n on e subject and Of course the whole conversation
was carefully remarked. What course Mr.. Van Buren,
afterwards pursued in the councils of the Cabinet do
o pretend 10 know; but the fact is certain and undcnia
D at ne expressed his decided opposition TO the course
which The President subsequently took As however
NE Globe asserts upon the "besf 0thorify" that Mr. Van
Buren, certainly "concurred in the principles contained in
the Veto Message" that h Va.