Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-04-03

inn
have been the chief actor-wh what propety lot the
following brief statement of facts determine the
i4h OF December, 1914 meeting of the citizens of AL
bany was held TO consider the proprvty Restricting the
extension OF slavery West Of the Mississippi MIR Van
buren had no agency in originating this meeting and
did not attend it, No step was taken by the meeting
except 10 appoint Committee, consisting of gentlemen
belonging to each of the political parties by which the
State was then divided 0hc friends and the opponents
OF the administration of Gov Clinon) TO convene fu-
TUE and more general meeting MIR Van Burcn's name
was placed on the Committee and ON being subseq uent-
~ applied TO- lac consented that his name MIGHT be used
TOT that purpose meeting was called for the 2lst of
the same month"; but Mr.. V. b. being ON that day alb.
sent from The city professional business no fur
ther connection with the meeting or its proceedings
series OF resolutions adopted by the meeting exprcs
sive OF ITS opinions upon the subject several aspccts
and committee appointed to prepare amemoriul TO
Congress, in conformity to the sentiments contained in
those resolutions and the same to be presented
to that body in the name and behalf Of meeting
MIR Van Buren, was also placed on this Committee The
memorial was forthwith reported to the meeting and
adopted, and on Mr.. Van Burcn's return to the city
he was invited to cooperate with the highly re-
spectacle members OF the Committee and 10 sign
the memorial which had been prepared by it, This
he refused TO do He sincerely deprecated the OK
stence OF slavery in the United States and was
willing to concur in any prevent xension
west OF the Mississippi, consistent with the Consttu-
ton, and not calculated TO disturb the settlement of the
question of slavery, made by that instrument nor TO on.
danger the rights and securities of save-owncrs. But
ne was not willing to unite in any of proceedings
from which such results might reasonably he apprc-
henGed; nor to Join in any dcnuncation political or
otherwise, against the people of the South Notvvh-
hNiHung his great personal respect the other
bes OF the Committee well those whose names APP
Peared IN the proceedings of the meeting he could not
approve the spirit by which the resolutions adopted by
IL were characterized. The memorial was, therefore
sent ON without his signature His refusal to sign H.
was soon after followed by correspondence the sub
lect between the late Henry Il. Jones' Esq., a Counsel
or at Law, of the city of Albany (the gentleman who
had applied to Mr. Van Buren, for the use of his nnuc in
ealing the meetingD and Mr. v b. The original letter
oil MT jones' and the original draft of MIR Van Burcns
reply, are in my possession
These are in the following words
/" To Mc Hon M. Fan Burea:
Sm IL am informed that you declined signing the
resolutions which were sent to Washington, upon the
subject OF the Missouri Question upon the ground that
you authorized your to be used as one of the
Committee, on that occasion.
Before any steps were taken the subject | called
upon you myself TO learn if you was willing to be one
of that Committee You replied that YOU was so much
occupied, that you could not attend to it'll remarked
that there enough do the business and that we
only wished for your name,-n answer TO which YOU
Observed that you had objection making use of
your name. If you have forgotten this conversation,
Mr. Duer who present. will undoubtedly be able 10
refresh your memory think that your refusal to sign
your name should have been grounded upon other
reasons than want ofauttority to use it.
You must be sensible, Sir, that nothing about
this affair any farther, than that it places
pleasant situation; and presume in Justice to me- YOU
will etact the assertion that you did not authorize the
use of your
Respectfully yours, &c,
HENRY T. JONES.
F. ST. should call on YOU but YOU are so occupied
that At is difficult to find you disengaged
SIR-You had my permission to use my name as n
committee to call meeting of our citizens express
thcir OPINION on the Missouri Question and the proprc
~ OF your doing has not been questioned by me-
iou surely cannot suppose that the of my for
mat purpose imposed on me an obligation to sign what
ever memorial might be agreed upon by the meeting
Being out of town when it held and having had no
hand IN forming or adopting the memorial, declined
signing It, My reasons for doing so, further than you
are concerned in calling the meeting presume il is not
your intention to inquire into.
January Goth, 1919 Nj y BUREN,
HENRY T. JONES, Esq
These are the facts in regard the Albany meeting
leave you TO Judge of the Of Justice which
has been extended to Mr. Van Buren, by the statements
on the subject which have been extensively crcula
ted III your State
The attention of the Legislature was called to tho
Missouri case then under the consideration of Congress-
by the message of Gov Clinton Fat the commencement
of the session, and expression of their opinion re-
spcct to it, earnestly recommended resolution was
introduced in the House of Assembly by friend of the
state Administration, and after undergoing some mod
fcation in that body, adopted by it. bv which cur
Senators were instructed, and Representatives re-
guesed, "to oppose the admission as a State in the
Union, OF any territory not comprised within the origi
nal boundary of the United States without making the
prohibition OF slavery therein indispensable condition
of Admission"
The resolution then sent to the Senate, of which
body Mr. Van Buren, member, where il was also
passed, but without division debate Mr. Van Buren,
mad no agency in bringing the subject before the Ieqs-
iatnie lie was, however, III his place when passed.
and did not oppose it, and must therefore, undoubtedly
be regarded, having gone with his State at the time il
was adopted TO the of the expression thus made
by its Legislature.
In regard TO Mr. Van Burens support of Mr. King for
u Senator in $50. it has been already truly stated by
Mr. Richie in the Enquirer, that il had no reference
whatever TO the Missouri Question. To enable You to
understand correctly the circumstances connected with
tins point must give you brief reference to the local
politics of New York The Legislature was then divid
ed into three partcs-the Fcderaists, the Republicans
friendly to the Administration of Gov. Clinton and the
Republicans friendly to the Administration of the Gen
Government, but opposed to that of Gov. Clinton OF
this latter party Mr. Van Buren, was and had been for
member. were
made In the session of 1919, to elect Senator But az
three candidates were voted for, Mr. King by the Fedc-
ralists, Mr. }. &. Spencer by the friends and Mr. s
Young by the opponents Of Gov Clinton and as each
party adhered to its candidate these attempts were
unsuccessful At the session Of the Legislature i'm
January lS2U, all parties united in the support of MIR
King Col. Young, who had been supported the pre-
vious year by MIR Van Buren,, and who was himself a
member OF the State Senate, withdrew his name and
united In support of Mr. King That gentleman accord
ngy received every vote in the Senate and all but three
IN tile popular branch So far Mr. " B was concerned
IN tins matter, his record Before the
meeting of the Legislature, he addressed communca
ton published in pamphlet FORM to his political friends
in that body advising them to vote for Mr. King and
stating without reserve his for such advice
This appeal was extensively circulated the time and
copy OF IT has recently been transnttedto Mr. Richie
GU viii hnd by referring to it, that its support of MIR
hing was IN way connected with the Missouri Cues
tom and that although, many Of the arguments urged
by II in favor Of eectng MIR. King, were of a rcnera
nature, of them were founded on considerations
growing out of the local divisions then existing in New
York, and Of the strongest the very Jealous and
efficient support given by him to Governor Tompkns
and the country at the most gloomy period of the war
Mr.. Van Burens opinions in regard to the power of
Congress the relation Of master and slave in the
Sfuf and TOD e.