Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-07
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 7, 1889.
MA. FORSYrH's SPEECH
On the Nom nation of Mr.. Pan Bure

, regret, Mr.. President, that the Senator from
Mississippi (Mr. Poindexter) has been so long
absent from his seat, not only because he has been
suffering pain, but because, had he been here. he
could have escaped the commission OF numerous
errors into which he has been led. The friends
Of Mr.. Van Buren, have not obstructed inquiry
into his conduct; they have challenged investi.
CATION, offered il in every and any form cou-
sisteut with the obligations of the Senate to its
-Sown character. The Senator from Maine, MR.
Ho.nes; shrunk from his own resolution. 1t
!. was laid aside BY the votes of those opposed,
conrarS to the votes and wishes of those
= friendly tc the nomination. That Senator was
J wa, distinctly invited BY one Of the Senators OF
New York (Mr. Marcy to specify any act dis
honorable to the character of MIR. Van Buren,,
and pledge given that the inquiry into it shsud
be made IN the amplest manner BY Committee
having all the powers necessary to the establish
-ment of truth. The Senator from Maine was
distinctly told by the Senator from ). Carolina
M Hayne) on what terms he could command
his vote. He VAS toll. to cover the ground indi-
caed. by proot. and ne would JOIN IN the con-
demnation Of the choice OF the President. The
Senator fran Maine del,berated on this offer.
anl. after deliberation. abandoned his resolution.
LEAVING all to grope their way to conclusion. as
sace,,ient or prejudice might direct them. A
promise vas made. that he should have a Com
inittee If he would venture upon II, and the offer
was deliberately and most unequivocaliy declin
ed YET. after all this, at this eleventh hour, the
Senator from Mississippi says. it the friends OF
Mr.. Van Barren will solicit Committee. he will
give US what ne has collected, while confined 10
his sick chamber, and on which his own opinion
is formed, and If the Committee is not raised. he
will. with this matter IN hs pocket. vote against
the nomination, in order to preserve the morality
ell, n,,t u <,f
new Office on gamLhng politician.
As the friend personal and POLITICAL of Mr..
Van Buren,. reject the iibe al ..6er of the Seua.
tor in defiance Of his threatened negative upon
the nomination. Let him unite with those who,
like him, are so anxious To preserve the rgraiity
of the country by rejecting man whose most
odiuus crime is his rising popularity & transcend
ant ability The friends Of Mr.. Van Buren, will
not deg, AIDE him by asking Committee. to tree
him from the sn,picions fngendered in the Sena.
tor. mind. IN his search after correct iniorma-
ton, f;om sources within his reach i!'s charac-
ter wants no such justification Does the gen.
tleman wish TO justify his vote? Let him propose
Committee: he shall have our concurrence
Does he desire to convince the Senates Let him
produce The private source. Information which,
/ ,+nture 10 saw, like the only one he speaks
of aDerIy. ia worthless in the eve Of any man
who is not so embittered by prejudice that he can
not see truth. This letter, by former partizah.
a palry editor Of paltry newspaper, and to
prove what? that Mr.. Van Buren, said that the
iate Cabinet MAS dissolved by the conspiracy Of
thu ice President, to drive Maj. Eaton from the
Cabinet. and that he withdrew TO escape The con-
seQuen,es Of the dissolution. Sir. Mr.. Van Bu-
ren nods no such conversations with persons
who were once has partitions. and now his ene-
miss.
But supposiug he had declared, or does enter
tain, The opinion imputed to him. is il crime
winch disqualiie> him for high office, that he
had declared. OF does entertain, the opinion i'm
puted ton,u Is it a crime which disquaiihes him
for high office, tina, he believes the charge made
aud sought 10 be established bv the late Secreia-
~ of War; II such be the Senator's opinion,
can ne tell us how far the exclusion extendsa :
The Senator's letter story is con,radcted by his
previously expressed opinion. What. Sir, the
most ar,ful man in the world. proclaim to pal
try Editor that he ted in the manner indicated.
to escape The storm consequent on the dissolution
of the Cabinet. if il had been true-if such
had been his motive he would have sought to
conceal it from himself. No degree of confiden-
tial intimacy could have tempted an artful intrg.
uer To such disclosure, The story, il true,
.prnses a man. whose extraordinary prudence,
under all circumstances, through long life in the
stormy politics Of vexed and turbulent State.
has gained him the confidence Of his friends, and
called down upon him the charge Of consummats
ar,i6ce from his enemies, to be silly drlseller,
"a simpleton, opening his budget of petty mo-
tiyes to une whose trade was. to thrive BY making
himself important by confidential and oracular
disclosures in his unknown Journal.
Mr. Van Buren, stands "a strange condition
befnre US; from the beginning of this Administers
tio,i, before h, came to the post assigned to him,
until the present hour, he IL held accountable BY