The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-01-28

Nho vOfp
sometimes been obecteAo Mr.. Van Buren,: but
with how much gnorshte Of the truth, let facts
attest.
north of the Potomac to open the war, at the right
pont upon that tariff of lS2S then undergoing the
nrocess of incubation through the instrumentality
rnf a Convention to sit at Harrisburg-His speech
at Albany in JULY 1897, openly characterized that
measure as q political maneuvrc to influence the
impending presidential election; and the graphic
expression ga measure proceeding more from the
closet of the politician than from the workshop OF
the manufacturer" opprtunely and felicitiously
used in that speech, soon became the OPINION of the
public and subsequently received the impress OF YER
i6caton from the abandonment, and the manner OF
abandoning, of the whole fabric of the high tariff
policv. Failing to carry any body into the prcsi-
DENTAL chair its doom pronounced by the election
ofJackson and Van Buren,, it was abandoned, as 1t
had been created, upon political calculation; and
expired fiat emanating not from the workmanship
of the manufacturer but from the closet OF the poll
tician. True, that Mr.. Van Buren, voted for the
tariff Of 1923, Notwithstanding his speech of 1927 ;
hut equally true, that he voted under instructions
from his State Legislature, and in obedience to the
great dnmocratic principle (dcmos, the people, Ara
i fso, to govern) which has always formed distn-
gushing feature, and dividing landmark between
the two great political parties which, under whatever
. name has always existed, and still exists, IN our
time Of that vote, voting as he did, and upon the
same principle; in,crchanging opinion without re-
serve or disguise, it within the perception OF
my own sense to know, that he felt great repug-
nance to the provisions of that tariff act rs, ana
voted for it, as did, in obedience to principle
which we both hold sacred.
No public man since the days of Mr.. Jefferson,
has been pursued with bitterness than Mr.
Van Buren, none, not excepting Mr. Jefferson HIM
self has ever had withstand the combined assaults
of so many, and such formidable powers
His prominent position, in relation to the next
Presidency has drawn upon him the general attack
Of other canddates,-as well their friends; for,
in these DAYS, (how different from former times J
candidates for the Presidency seen to take the
field for thcmsclves,-banging away at their COM
petitors-sounding the notes of their own applause,
and dealing in the tricks and cant, of veteran
cross-road alehouse clectioneerers. His old OPP
position, and early declaration QS26) against the
Bank of the United States, has brought upon him
the pcrvadng vengeance of that powerful institution
and subjected him to the vcarious yituperaton OF
subaltern assaiants, inamed with wrath not theiI
own, in whatsoever spot that terrific institution
maintains branch or press, retains an adhcrcnt
or holds debtor. (It was under the stimulus, and
predictions, of the Bank press, that Mr.. Van Buren,
was rejected by the Senate in 1892 Yet in all this
combination of power against him, and all these
unrelcnting attacks, there is specification of mis-
conduct. All is vague, general, indefinite, mysc-
rious. Mr.. Crawford, the most open, direct, and
palpable of public men, was run down upon the
empty cry Of egiant at Intrigue" second edition
of that cry, stcreotyped for harder is cx-
Buren while the originators and rcpeaters of the
cry, in both instances, have found it equally impos-
sibe to specify ofintrigue in the life of one
or the other, of these gentlemen.
Safety fund banks, is another of those cries raised
against him. iftherc any thing in the system
of those banks to make the banking system worse
il the money and politics of these safety fund
banks, were at the service of Mr.. Van Buren,. Or
the contrary it is not pretended by his enemies
that he owns single dollar of stock in any one o
these banks and have been frequently informed
from sources entitled to my confidence, that he doe
not doa rof interest in any bank in the world
that he has wholly abstained from becoming tn,
owner Of any bank stock, taking any interest il
any company, incorporated by the Legislature sine,
he first became member ofthat body, above two
and-twenty years ago. And as for the politics O
the safety fund banks, ii has been recently, and au
thentcally shown that vast majority Of them ar
under the control of his most determined and activ
opponents.
NOpubic man has been opposed to the cx
tension of the banking system than MIR. Van Burer
The journals of the New York Legislature sho,
that the many years during which he was prom
inent member of that body, he exerted himself in
continued and jealous opposition to the incrca,
ofbanks; and, upon his elevation to the Chief Mag
tracy of the State, finding the system of banks
Incorporated with the busincs and interests of Il
People, as to render its aboshment impossible,
turned his attention to its improvement, and to Il
establishment of such guards against fraudulent,
even unfortunate bankruptcy, would, under
circumstances, protect the holders of notes agair
loss. The safety fund system was the result
views of this kind and if its complete succe
hitherto (for no bank has failed under it,) and I
continued support and confidence of the reprcsen,
tives of two millions of people, arc not sufficient
ntes its efficacy, there is consideration at lc,
which should operate far in its favor as TO save
2. from the sneers of those who cannot tell what
safety-fund system Isl and that is, the perfect ca
and composure with which the whole of these ban