Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-08

parls0n between The tuauaSeueHt VI o"' oP'
tic affairs. under the present administrators az"
that which had preceded it, and 1t would be from
no apprehension, that the result wouid hot re-
dound greatly to the credit OF the existing adm'n-
istration.
Mr. Van Buren, had he believed while acting
as Secretary of State, accomplished more IN less
time than any of his predecessors. Comparative
iy inexperienced in the new station in which he
had been called to act, the ease with which he
had adapted himself to it. the rapid'ty with which
he had comprehended the arduous and difficult
duties of Secretary Of State. bore honorable tes-
timony to his abilities as statesman.
1t had been objected to the nominee, thath
had introduced into the government of the United
States, the party ntrgues and discipline. said to
prevail in his own State; without stopping to no
lice what be considered an unjust reflection. on
the public character of great and patriotic
member of this confeteracy, he called upon those
who made the charge, to support it by proof. -
L: was honorable to the reputation OF Mr.. Van
Buren,, both public and private, that when his enc
mics were asked to furnish evidence, in support
Of the charges urged against him, that they were
unable to fix upon him any one OF them, by the
semblance Of proof Possessing talents of high
ORDER & rapidly growing in the esteem OF his coun-
had been marked out as the victim Of unnerited
persecution.
Mr.. B. could conceive of no adequate reason
or motives for rejecting the nomination OF the
Minister To England. lie was peculiarly fitted
for the station which he then filled. His tho
rough and intimate acquaintance with the com
mercial relations Of the two countries. painted
him out as fit and proper representative Of our
interests at the Court Of Great Britain. The
State Of New York had repeatedly vouched for
his character and Standing bv bestowing on him
the highest civil honors within her gift. Mr. B.
said. he therefore considered it due. which he
owed to his country. and to the individual then
representing US at the Court Of Great Britain, to
vote for confirming his nomination.
Remarks of Mr.. Hayne
Mr.. President: Before the question is taken
on this nomination, desire merely to state the
grounds on which my vote shall rest. do this
as an act of justice to myself without desiring or
intending to influence the vote Of any gentleman
here When the resolution offered by the Sena.
tor from Maine (Mr. HoImes) was before the Sc.
nate, a few days ago, proposing, among other
things. an inquiry into the conduct of Mr.. Van
Buren,, took OCCASION to say, that though could
not vote for that resolution, because, in the form
in which it then stood, it proposed to make call
upon the President, which did not consider as
quite respectful in its character, and 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. il any Senator
would move for any inquiry, in proper form, I
would not only vote for it. but cheerfulIy abide
by the result The friends Of Mr.. Van Buren,,
while opposing the resolution Of Mr.. Holmes, had
not themselves thought proper to institute any
such inquiry. do not mean to censure them
for this, nor to draw any inference fro,n their
course, in this respect, unfavorable to Mr.. Van
Buren,. They believed the charges against him
required no investigation, and for my own part
was willing to acquiesce in the suggestion, which
had been thrown out, that from the nature of the
case it was peculiarly proper that each gentleman
should make the necessary inquiries for himself
and having satisfied his own conscience, act &C.
cordngly. have, Mr.. President, pursued this
course, and by the result shall my conduct, on
this occasion, be governed. From the time when
Mr.. Van Buren, took possession of the Depart
ment of State up to the moment Of his departure
for England, have been an attentive observer of
passing events here. have, also, since this no.
came before the Senate, taken pains to
inform myself, from the very best sources, as to
the correctness or incOrrectness Of my first i'm.
pressions with respect to the conduct Of Mr.. Van
Buren, while Secretary Of State, and the result
has been. affirm conuiction that ought not to give
my advice and consen; to his appointment as Mi.
mister to England. From facts and circumstan-
ces which have fallen under my own observation.
many Of them notorious to the whole country, as
we'll as from information derived from sources on
which implicitly rely, have arrived at the fol.
lowing conclusions: that when Mr.. Van Buren, ,
came into the cabinet, he found state of circum.
stances here that opened door to the establish.
ment of an influence favorable to his personal
views; that, instead of exerting himself to remove
the causes Of discord and dissension by which the
Executive was unhappiIy surrounded, he dexte.
riously availed himself Of them, and welded them
Tor the promotion Of his own personal and po!iti.
cal interests. and for the advancement of his
friends and supporters to Office, to the exclusion
IF almost all others. 1t IS known to all who hear .
ne, that Gen. Jackson came into Office under most
suspicious circumstances. which, properly i'm
proved, could not have failed to secure for his adj
the highest honor and as still belize
asing benefit to his country.
l. N ntnrinne that tho C,,:x. .G a.