Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-10-09
From the Evening Star.
LETTERS To NJ. VAN BUREN,.
LETTER VII.
ALBANY. Sept. 18th 1884.
To the Hon Martha Fan B,ren.

LETTER VII.
ALBANY. Sept. 18th 1884.
To The Hon MARTA Fan B,rea.
Sir: In preceding letters it has been
/ demonstra ted that from 1911 10 1918, yo,
were the advocate and supporter Of iha
class of politicians who were opposed tc
the war; that you were the untiring oppo
nent OF James Madison. and the devoted
adhercnt of DE Wit Clinton. And here
let me again remark that IL is not intend
ed TO discuss the merits or dement's oil
MIR Clinton or his friends. 1t is your in
sincerity and duplcity that wish 70 ex-
pose. II is your vasclllating and selfish
policy that | wish TO present TO the gaze
OF the American people. II is your un.
worthy conduct towards Gov. Clinton thai
deprecate.
Whatever may have been the mista ken
views Of that gentleman, or whatever err
rors he may have committed in reference
TO the war, the canals of our state are
monuments to his memory, more imper-
ishable than marble or brass. On the sue.
cess of these gigantic internal improve
meuts, he jcopsrded bis present character
and future fame His efforts were derided;
his plans, his projects, and his estimates
were scoffed and scorned, as those of
dcluded visionary. by one, all the arts of
the sly. cunning and timid intrigaer were
used to retard and embarrass the progress
Of these stupendous public works. In
another quarter, the denunciations Of the
open and reckless demagogue were full
minated against the whole system Of in.
ternal improvements, and its uncompris
oh.
the voice of history do ample justice to
Mr. Clinton on this subject
Ofthe great mass Of his friends il may
be truly said. that during his life, among
the faithful, they were most faithful.
With an unconquerablc manliness they
sustained him through good and through
evil report; and when the dark clouds Of
disappointment and adversely ovcrshad-
owed him, many, very many, chung 10
his fortune, with an ardor and devotion,
that was as honorable to them as it must
have been gratifying and consolatory TO
him. You, sir, at an early day. proved
recreant. You abandoned him in 1878.
Again in 1917, with smirking countenance
and mincing step, you returned TO his sup
port, and forsook him in 1919. But am
anticipating These events shall be de.
tailed in chronological order, IL do not
become too much Disguised with the sub
ject.--This depression, you, sir, will par.
don. II was deemed proper, as Il regard
ed Mr.. Citations friends. a. well as due
to the memory OF their late ehieftain Il
10 well known, that you consider them ~
gathered into yoar fold; as your support
ers and vassaIs by inheritance from Gen.
r.at ks, has
crocodile tears that you shed at the grave
Of their departed friend and counsellor.
Are you right p--Have you indeed secur-
ed the Clintonians DO you command
their suffrages at your will and your plea
sure ? Have they transferred their friend
ship and affection from the late DE Witt
Clinton to Martin Van Buren,, his embt-
tered reviler, and most injurious, because
most subtle, foe ? IL they have, then may
his shade, Indignantly frowning exclaim,
chow tickle how transtory how unsta-
hle is the devotion Of selfish mani"
Henceforth, for few years, you are
| to be considered as having abandoned Mr..
Clinton and his friends, and your merits
are now to be examined, as a champion
| of the war. Your biographer says, that
during the year 1918. and 1914, there
| were seveve conflicts, between the Senate
and Assembly. 1.-THE former being republi-
can and the latter federas) which led 10
several public conferences, involving the
/ Justice and expediency Of the war. IN all
of them Mr.. Pan Buren, ras a principal
speaker on the part Of Tie Senate"
That such conferences took place, is adj
mitted But that you was, during the
,phoIe acar, on more than one Of these con-
( Eerences, is untrue. have examined the
| Senate journals from 1912 TO 1915, and If
YOU was selected second time TO point out
s.,be Justice or expediency of the war;" !
| have not discovered the case. Your bi
| ographer and your friends are now chal
Ienged to specify the numerous confer.
ences in all Of Which you was principal
speaker on the part Of the Senate" This
representation, like that Of your early sup
mort of the war, never had existence but
Ia the Imagination of the honorable gen
! tIeman who thoughtlessly penned It.
Ga the 18Th of April, 1918. confer
ence was held, on "aD act providing for
| The defence Of The State OF New York;
You was one Of the conlerees Your col
leagues were Gen. Root and Gen. VIII
kins. The bill, however, was lost. III
there is another instance from 1879 to
1915, it has escaped my researches. Thus
much for your conscientious biographers
declaration. that in all these conferences
you was principal speaker"
Again, it is sald--"The bill to author
Use the raising of troops for the defence Of
this State. was peculiarly his (Van Blu.
ren's) measure, it having been matured
and introduced by him" This was in
September, 1914. You have recently re-
ceiyed another puff on the subject Of
this bill Notwithstanding the hackni-
ed, degraded, and contemplate source
from which this statement emanates, the
merits Of the bill, and the accuracy OF the
representation, shall be examined.
The hireling driyeIler says" Mr.. Van
Buren, drew the bill, which passed the Le-
gislature, for raising an army Of $4,000
, men, to be placed under the command Of
the patriot iompkias." | will now pro
coed to give true history Of this bill, al
, extracted from the Senate journals. A
80 NORTHUMBERLAND az the lepislatiye sea