Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-08

| CHAs. l.. LIVINGSTON, JAS. HUGnsToN,
Il C. OsrRANDER, VIM. Ii. ANGEL
j. w. WILLIAMSON,
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
4 WASHINGTON, Feb %, 1852.
Gentlemen: have had the honor to receive your let
ter OF The 9th inst inclo'ng the resolutions passed at
meeting oi the Republican members oil the Legislature
New York; the rejection by the Senate of The Unite,
states oil the nomination OF Martin Van Buren, as Minister
to England
am profoundly grateful Tor the appreciation which ,ba
distinguished body oil my republican fellow citizens o
New orS have het OCCASION been pleased 10 expires
OF The past administration OF the affairs placed my char
The people OF the United States and for their generous
ocrs oil continued confidence and support. Conscious
o, the rectitude OF my Intentions my reliance in all the
'ic,@Sndes oil my public life has been upon the vru,
tlotisns OF an enlightened people. Their generous
support has been my shield and my stay, when i'm time
past the Jealous performance aruo,s military din
tics allotted TO me- though crowned with success wa
sought 10 he made ground of reproach NANTES
taon on the part OF my fellow OF the great STATE
New ork, assures that not less faithful il
me civil administration will not be less successfully de-
! Tended.
When such reliance fails the public servant public lib
cry VIII he IN danger Tor if The people become nscnsblc
oIndigncs offered TO those, who, with pure intentions
devote themselves 10 the advancement of the safety am,
happiness of the country public virtue will cease TO be
speccd, and public trusts will be sought for other rewards
than those of pa,:osm.
canno; withhold my entire concurrence with the re.
publican members of the Legislature in their high csna-
upn oil their eminent fellow citizen whom they have 50
generously come forward TO sustain To this will ah
the assurance of my umdminShed respect for his arca
Noi'i, my uIi confidence the
egVity oils character.
In calling him 10 the Department of State from the OK
"'ea station he then occupied by the suages the pco-
pie oil his native State, was not influenced more by his
acknowledged talents and public services than bv The
neral wish and expectation of the Republican, Party
throughout the Union. The signal ability and success
which distinguished his administrator of the duties of
department, have fully justified the selection.
owe IT TO the late Secretary of State myself and to
the American people, this OCCASION TO state that as far
as IS known TO me- he had participation whatever in the
occurrences relative to myself and the second officer
the government, or in the dissolution the late cabinet,
ana "t there Is no ground Tor imputng him the
ing advised those removals from office, which, in the dis
charge OF my constitutional functions it was deemed pro-
per 10 make During his continuance in the Cabinet his
eXerions were directed TO produce harmony among lis
members; ana he uniformly cneavored TO sustain his col
leagues IiIS na resignation sacrifice of official
station to what he deemed the best interests of the
Try.
Mr. McIano, our then minister at London having ,.c
vously asked permission il was nv own an
desire 10 commit The Important points remaining open i'm
relations with Great Britain TO successor l., ',yIos
peculiar fitness and capacity had equal confidence: and
10 my selection, Mr.. Van Buren, yielded reluctant as
sent In urging upon him that sacrifice did not doub,
that was doing the best for the country and acting in CO.
Incidence with tie public wish; and certainly could moi
have been anticipated that in the manner of successly
conducting ana terminating an important and complex ne
Socaiion, which had prevousy received tIe sanction OF
Oo'n iouscs oil Congress- there would have been found
motives Tor embarrassing the executive action and for in
terrupunS an Important foreign negotiation.
can never be led to doubt that in the instructions nm
der which that negotiation, relative TO the trade with tho
brush est Indies was conducted and successfully CON
4
either dcrogatoy TO the national dignity and honor or inn
proper for such an occasion.
those parts OF the instructions which have been use,l
10 justify The rejection OF Mr. Van Burcns nomination by
The Senate of the United States, proceeded from nv own
suggestion; were The result OF my osvn deliberate nves-
CATION and rciiecton and now when hcy were die
ated appear 10 TO be entirely proper and consonant
10 my public duty
feel, gentlemen that am incapable of tornisbno te
PRIDE aud dignity OF tat country, whose glory both i'm
the field and in the civil administrations il has been mn,
object to eeyate and feel assured that the exalted a
/ fuln 10 fciat ilf A,,.ri
prosperity with which they blessed at home tuIIv At
test 9t their honor and happiness have been unsuicd
participation in the trade with the British West india
Islands upon terms mutually satisfactory TO the United
States and Great Britain had been an object of constant
sociude with government from its origin Durinr
the long and vcXa,iOus history OF this subject varos ~
positions had been made with but partial success and in
the administration OF my immediate predecessor more
than one attempt TO adjust ii had ended in total nterrup-
/ lion Of the trade. y
The acknowledged importance of this branch of trade
the influence believed have had in the elections
winch terminated IN the change OF the administrations and
the general expectation the part of the peoplc that re-
ncwed efforts, on frank aud decisive grounds mirb he
! OF undertaking the task.
Recently, however, Great Britain had more rhau once
declined renewing the negotiation and placed her refusal
upon objections which she thought proper TO take o fo
mannerof our previous negotiations and to claims which
mad at various times been made upon the part of our Co
ycrnIueDt.
The American Government, Notwithstanding continual
IT'S efforts to obtain participation in the trade II waived
VIC cIdhns III hrst insisted upon, well the objection
to the imposition by great Britain of higher duties upon the
produce oil the United States when imported into the
Indies Than upon the produce of her own which
objection had been taken in 1919 in despatch of the then
Secretary OF State.
participation in the trade with the British West In1io
Islands could not have been, at any time, demanded a.
Sh any more than in that TO the British uropean ports
IN the posture oil affairs already advercd to- therefore te
Executive could ask nothing than 10 be permitted to
engage m 1t upon the terms assentcd to by his
ana which were the same those previously Offered bv
Great Britain erseEycn these had been denied 10 the
iae administration, and for arising from the views
entertained by The British Government OF our conduct In
( fiIc past negotiations. "
IL was forescen that this refusal might be repeaeJ and
on the same groundsWhen became the dufv If tlc
Executive rather uan dsappoint the expectations Of te
people and wholly abandon the trade continue fe 40.
PciIon II was proper TO meet tie objection TO ne mas,
scts OF the American Administration which objection as
nae hcen orcscen. was actually made and for some time
insisted upon. '''''
- undoubtedly The duty of al 10 sustain by an undi
uc anu patriotic front, the action of the constituted an.
tolyes towards foreign nations; and this duty requires
VIZ" ulg We continuance of an administration in Office
morning snod DC done TO cmbarrass tie Executive infer.
course ~ IT'S foreign policy, unless upon conviction that
US enoncous--A thorough change in the administration
however raises up Other authorities of coual ,on;,, ,nJ
equally entitled 10 respects and open adoption Of dI