Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-04-09
An VAN euREN's OPINIONS.

letter from in I" intimate iflcho vi W. 49,
Buren,, mo other, we presume, man De"la""n
F. Butler, Esq. a profegc OF me h.as0'""' a"o
now Attorney General OF The onile" e'h'eso '"'
design of which is TO render MI. v. b. pa'aiao,e,
~ Virginia. and 10 secure its adhesion 10 his forth
coming nomination, by the Baltimore Convention,
es next President Of The United States. Standing
in The relation to each other OF patron and pupil,as
Messrs Van Buren, and Puiler do, we certainly
aave no reason to complain of the deep anxiety
manifested by the latter 10 vlndcate the character
Of the former and to present his claims 10 public
support in the si'org lights which an honorable
gratitude for important anG long continued acts o.
Kindness well calculated 10 inspIre IN weil-re'
enlatcd minds. lis effort, however, so far from
convincing us that Mr.. Van Buren, has been un-
Justly accused has only fortified us in our original
belief that politician, lie is deficient both IN
stability Of purpose and in honesty ofprnc'ple-
and that we shall in vain endrayor TO ascertain
what bis opinions are, unless we first discover
what opinions arc pfpulnr.
The letter writer touches on the following points
in Nh Van Buren's political career:
" The part taken by him in relation to the late
War with Great Britain:
His course on the Missouri Question, and his
opinions in respect to the domestic institutions of
the Southern States:
His and opinions on the subject OF the
Tariff and particularly in relation 10 that of 1923
" His course and opinions in regard 10 Internal
Improvements by the General Governments:
And his views in relation to tho PRESENT Bank
of the United States, and the establishment of any
similar insti u'ion"
Isl. TIE Ud.-&e are told that Mr. " Buren,
was decided aud Jealous supporter the war
and ref nee is made to sundly Of his votes speech
es and writings, 10 sustain The assertion. Bot
here is one fact, connected with dis part of his his
tory which show s, that, if he was al heart sup
porter of the war of 1912, he very unfortunate
IN his manner of showing it, War was declared
in juno. lSl2-and Mr.. Madsons first term in the
Presidential Office expiring shortly afterwards
THE PEACE PARTY" determined to endea-
vor to put an end to the conflict, by preventing his
reelection. For his purpose they nominated De-
witt Clinton, Of New York, and those who will
refer 10 the newspapers Of that period will perceive
both from the acrimony and bitterness with which
he then administration assailed and from the
Arguments which were urged to influence public
sentiment to overthrow IT, that the termination of
the wnr, upon such terms would in effect, have
been public condemnation of that MEASURE and of
those who were responsible for entering into it,
1rns apoce' IN Their solc objcct. Well Martin
Van Buren lea9ura himself with this party--he OPP
posed MIR. Madison's reelection and was a Jealous
friend of Mr.. Clinton, the peace party" candidate
With what face, then, can his friends now pretend
10 say that he was net opposed to The wor 2 If az
they say, he was in favor Of IT, we repeat it, he was
surely most unfortunate in the manner of eyincino
his opinions. Ii is known That the war marty. eve
ry "h"re-in New York we'll in Virginia.
stood by Mr. Modlson-as, indeed, they ought to
have done 1t IS cquhlly we'll known that the pcacc
party every wherein Massachusetts as well as
n NV Str Ia,
Of Mr.. Clinton who was himself always of doubt
fu politics. How, then, can a lcnding politjcan
such as Martin Van Buren, has slways been ever
since he embarked on the stormy sea of public life
we ask. how can a ieaGing polifi,ian who, at
such Crisis as that, holsted tao banner of "Peace
pretend now to say that he in favor of the war;
and thai, from the moment of its declaration TO its
close, he never doubted its Justice or expcdency
True, his friend, who, in his zeal TO vindleatc him
from thus charge, ventures thus to insult the under.
standings of the pe0plc, tells us that " M Clinton
was brought forward by the republican me nhcrs of
the New York; Legislature; y and that, in sunpor
ting the nomination, Mr. " B. consulted WIN, he
believed TO be the wishes Of the 1epublicuns Of his
State" Is this the fact The members ofthe Lc.
glslature Of New Yo,k, who, in 1919. nominated
Mr. Clinton, in opposition TO Mr. Madison, may
''ow be called rcpubIicaRs;n but, at that time
did Mr.. Richie himself so regard Them Not he
DIG he not, and did not every other supporter Of
MI Matison's administration, throughout the U.
mon, denounce al the friends of CT mon IN New
York, as well MS here, as opponents of the
war as federallss, and almost rs enemies of their
country Refer TO tho files ofthe Enquirer. OF Tint
date, and let It's anathcmas of the ClIn'onans an
/ swer.
But we may be asked, did not Mr.. Van Buren,
after Inc reelection of Mr.. Madison frequently ed.
Yocae energetic war measures, in the New York
Legislature We admit th1t he did And whv
did he thus CHANGE HIS. COURSE His
trends my contend that patriotism had some nnu-
cnce IN producing this ohange-that, when he saw
his own State threatened with invasion he sunk
he partisan politician, Gas did many undermined
federasts in Virginia, W no themselves cirded on
the sword and repaired 10 The tented field, 10 6ohr
the battles ofthcr country even though thew deemed
the declaration OF war lll-mcd and impoiricO and
rose TO the dignity of pario-yet that subsequent
zeal conrastcd with his former course So far from,
showing the charge itself 10 be unfounded, proves
II. And We confess, that viewin, it in connection
with he principal incidents of Mr. Van Buren's
lie VIC are almost tempted 10 deny hi,n any credit
tor the change of policy, SINCE II MAY haze been
that he had already learnt the ar, which he has SO
ohen exhibited N s subsequent career of turning
MS tnck upon the setting sun, and tleyang his ca
ger gaze towards the nsce ding orb He saw tina,
Dewitt Clintons rrematurely INDUCED ambition
mad forever doomed him 10 the comparative ohscuri
ty OF local preierment-he knew that the fatal so,
ct Lending his name 10 the federal parry in order t.
crush Mt Madison, at ii moment when the exiyen
c'es OF he country dsgraccd by repeated defeats of
het arms, SINKING under heavy and ranidly occn.
muiat'hg deoi, and equally Withou, resources aud