Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-07
Size gE5GIsEsacsFse9 HB EeEGo
DEBATE IN THE SENATE
on mr.. l'AN BUREN'S NOu!NiTyON.
REMARKS OF MIR. p0INDryTrR.


absence al several weeks from the Serai"
ucca"onsd hv nd,spusl,jon, had, ~ he was IA
i''m2C, cccn the cause Of soma delay ~ the
maj acton OF tie Scua'c, on this uoG,Hu ION.
lie regretted the circumstances, aud ever
no" 'rHt "c w"s cMoh cd u resume the dis
charge a. his duties, ~ could but i'll rccr +.
tIc KIND ind 'lycNcC # the Senate, in poe ron-
in.c the question on lis account, by any ely r,
OF his, to investigate the claims OF the noui-
nee 20 publ confidence, iu1S,nuch as tho DELI
cate state Of his nerl,h would 70, permit inn
10 enter at large into tho various in'cfesriry
topics h'ch had te"n odyert"d to IN the re-
marks Of tho honorable Senators who had pre-.
CciGd him IN the debate.
Sir, sNd Mr. foIMurxTrp, I have riscn TO
nfii"Tm an unpleasant, huL an Imperative duty,
nom winch cannot withdraw without subject
ing my motives to niscouCcptjun, or mlsrepre-
ssntHiipn, III relation 20 my vC'. on the question
now before h" Senate. Having nothing 10 gain
by the repetition otth'5 Go}ulaarun, and r. hnu
10 ho2c, should j, b. confirmed, I eau feel. Mr..
President, no other sol! !tudc cu jhc subject,
thln that wh Ch arises from a sense az me sn'oriu
duty which uW" - my caunl ~. and an arr.",t
desire To preserve the Euror and dignity Of the,
Amerlcan people, free FROM the stain of that
moral turrli Idc and vicious INTRIGUE, which CO.
yer the corrupt governments Of Europe with
intamy and disgrace. For this purpose. and fsr
no Other purpose VIVA tCvcr. either Of pcraonol
or political CHaSactc5, have erd.avUred to in
form myself, by al! the means within my reach,
% tie facts and circumstances touching the me
Tits ofthc individual whose no Hsinatinn il now
under consideration. | have adopted this course
the more readily, because il .yac, understand,
on previous day, recommended b. honorable
Senators. III favor 81 the nominee, IN preference
To inII aud formal investigation nv a comm l.
tee oil the Senate, whiah had been proposed
by an honorable Senator from Milne, mir.
Holmes Mr.. Van Buren, has been onr
IN the public eye, has filed high and important
Poh'ica stations, and the il lu nee Of his pub
NC conduct uny be traced IN every doU0r,Hlrn
Of the government. Whether, therefore. lis
previous acts ontItle him Ia the confidence Ct
the Senate and of the nation, ia quesrion
which eSch gentleman must de;crmin- f0f him
SELL and claim for myself the hunbc p,ivi-
Iege OF presenting concise summary If the
s ronhsa ON whch | hEpc to Justify the voc,
which shall feel bound TO giyc on hiss naulina-
ton. The evidence to which shall refer, and
which has operated Oh my judgment IN this case
Is drawn from the history OF The passing events
of tie day, uod the stetemcuIs If persons Of
high standing and responsibility, whose inrcg,i
ty and v'Toc'iy no one would presume TO GoUbt,
when ther names shall be Disclosed.
Sir, !; IS knuwn 10 all who have Looked into
IN" POI! movements of the various parties,
winch have c"ntended for power, wi,hR The
last five or SIN years, that Mr. Van Brren en-.
tered the HES as the friend of General Jackson.
long after the commencement OF the adm!ni.tre-
lion OF President Adams. Prior to that event,
he had lent his Influence to a candidate between
whom and Gen. jackson there existed he most
deadly hostility. The administration Of Tr
Adams had no CHARMS for Mr.. Van Buren. and
al or Cue delIt ration, ard q "JUDiciot,s" csti
mate OF the probable results, he became tho adj
Vccate OF Gen. Jackson FIR the PrcaiGcncv in
opposition TO the incumbent whose prospects for
re election were overcast with doubt and uncsr-
tan'y, and from whom he could expect no iayors.
ei.her for hInset or his friends. The CAPITAL
which lie brought into the stock of political in
huencc then operating on the Presidential elect
ION, wds supposed ts give him u claim to the
highest distinction, in the event of the success
FOL termination OF the struggle. AccorGinGlv
n" wa pl"-cd by Con Jackson at the Iead Of HI.
Cons'h".iGho! advisers, prelcIring him to oller
nistlngulaGed gentlemen, whose supDorl was of
Ionger duration, and, to say the least. ,ousrv
cmcicnt ana whose talents would Se7r IN adj
Naht&G;ous comparison with the most cnlj-ife,,-
cd Statesmen III the world. Thus nro-u,to5
ara flucred, welding a. he did, tho Executive
efiI OF the nation, permit ne 10 ak what ~; :
tEc condrc, OF Nj Van Nurcn, then Seer l.iy
OF the Department; Estate? Was the honor o.,i
welfare ci the county. or tho purity of lts cha
ra''Hr. directs nearest 10 his hear? Wa. HI,
mind free from the bias Of und;srir,.ned NH
ton, or was he exclusively devoted tn his avn
elevation, regardless Of the MEANS. or Of The hon
or at his venerable chef, and If the in.cci, q
the party which brought him into power? can |
not answer iheac grave questions bv anv Hin, !
which falls within The sccac Of my own n1rs,,n.I
kno"!adge but # there be truth in facis .hj.b
have been detail 10 the hY mcn of th. first rnnk
III the natlom. and winch | am bound to bcj;orr
umt'i c"h'raCl@'"d by evidence ST II more in7Dos |
lhg, us Whnie course WAS marked Lv sv.t, r,, !
u2 i'asue of@arI ard studied i'trirIn. which i;
It's Consequences, s"cp' !itp ciioos tine elements
OF hat netri"nc rand y no fought the Lat,,c .,,t
gained the splendid yi.'cryi. i&23. which ,.'.o,
on the brow ct tie h.r1 e New Ol.snr limo
vic wreath OF this grateful country. DIscsrd.r,,
al pcrs'rai Considerations G'7 have ue:,nc, -.
verge ror p;l,lieal INSPIRATIONS T., .,.r .i .tt
he'd, they would not a. ~ t!ese vail tn;-
hue"cc MY cc.Ibcra lors in matters Of rrf,or.i
Concern, ask only the l'ghs Of truth 10 gnidn
me to decision Which STA i accord viii, -,,;o,
tnj impartial! lI.tce, and sccurs to me tho m
probation oil en- enlightened people and wbafi.
SUI more tItcous, The smiles OF an approyi,g
C0n5C!cuCc. 'F
H. then, The friends of the nominee deem ,bo
lntornati' which nave received. mid on ,,.i ioL
Tor the present, | must rc}y, inaccurate or s,,'
GePlolr o. satisfactory explanation, invite bem
! e 'hcin' IN JUSTICE :" t1clr friend. to rescue
u Il, rom every Sh'ce OF suspicion wEjcb may b..
cast on hin' by the appointment Of cnrn,i.ii;o-
10 be chosen by ih!s honorable BODY. who si,,,;
be charged with the CUlv OF c lariiol al IT,
testimony "#ca can &c &d5.ced. {, ler r.r,
6Saihs' tie nominee, ana max 10 a hii.hrsI re-
port oi u 10 tic ScHa'c; auG he rnspl. ,h,,ri
Le sue" as TO saiisiy ny mind that The non,nre
Is innocent 81 me IN" or.hy ccuduct which hns
90" "s'iiotd 70 BID. NY vote y ~ be .. Won -
liN"r OF us nomination. win mon. real pi,,evr..
/ Shh can itci ~ o.;y y She dictates of fu.v
by u' nyHT 10 bVn nv sna,srt 70 srrl % co.,
'h''"" an ah'ty'i. d in furnish tl.y rsn.c. ori
s"VFr' geai.sm'u, high in ih" conGGcrcoc r tho
''.". ~, W." are ready TO testify on oata if re-