Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-13
P0H1A'K'EGAE.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WAsuINGTos Cry, January LIST, 1886
DEAR SIR: We have learned that you have declined
permitting your to be used, candidate for the
Vice Presidency of the United States and that you have
addressed letter that effect time since TO the
Committee of the State Convention of Mississippi by
whom you nominated for that high Office 1t will
be considerable time before your determination,
municated through that channel be known to the
People of the United Staes-wc therefore request the
favor of copy of your letter. if you retained one for
publication at this place in order that your friends else
where, well Mississippi, may have early oppor-
tnnity of turning their attention to other suitable
person. ROBERT II. LYLE, (of Ohio)
HENRY HUBBARD (ofNew Hampshire
RATLlFF BOON, (of lndiana,)
Ill. A. MUHLENBERG, (of Pennsylvania
Hon. Tues. III. Benton.
WAsHINeToN CRY, Jan. ID, 1885.
GEHTLEMEN-l herewith send you u copy of my letter
declining the nomination of the Nissssnpi State Con
venton for the Vice Presidency of the United Suites
Fairness towards my political friends in every part of
the Dnion required me to let them know at what
my determination was and this have done in many
private letters and in all the conversations which have
held OH the subject The nomination in Mississippi was
the first one which came from State Convention, and
therefore the first which seemed me to Justify
public letter and TO present thequeson in such form
as would from the ridcule ofdeclinng what no
State had offered The letter to Mississippi intended
for publication, and to my friends any further
trouble my Ii was expected TO reach i'm its
circuit my friends every quarter and as YOU sT0ost
that il must be considerable time before could reform
from the State OF Mississippi, through the newspapers
and that in the meantime my friends elsewhere might
wish earlier information, that they night their
tenton to other person, checrfuy comply with
Yours, respectfully, THOMAS r. BENTo PS'e
Messrs: r. T iytle, H. Hubbard, r. Boon, and H. A
Mehlenberg
WAsHINGroS Cry Dec 10th 1884
DEAR Sir Your kind letter of the 9th ultimo has
been duly received and take great pleasure return
ing you my thanks for the friendship you have shewn
mo, and which shall be happy to acknowedeby acts
rather than words, whenever opportunity shall occur
The recommendation for the Vice Presidency of the
United States, which the Democratic Convention Of your
State has Done me the honor 10 make is in the Inches,
and 10 and 4,
the expression of my deepest gratitude but Justice
myself and to political friends requires say
once and with the candor and decision, which rejects
all Disguise and palters with retracton, that cannot
consent TO coupon the list of candidates for the eminent
office for which have been proposed
consider the ensuing election for President and Vice
President among the most important that took place
an our country; ranking with that OF 1900, when the de-
mocratc principle first riumphed in the person of Mr.
Jefferson, and with the two elections of 1928 and 1882
when the principle again triumphed in the person
of General jackson; and should look upon all The adj
vantages recovered for the Constitutions and the people
in these two last triumPhs lost and gone unless the
democracy of the Union shall again triumph in the cleo
ton of 1886 To succeed in that election will require
the most perfect harmony and union, among ourselves
To secure this union and harmony we must have as
few asprans for the Office Of President and Vice Presi
dent, possible; and diminish the plumber of these
aspants for one shall refuse go upon the list; and
Rh remain IN The ranks of the voters, ready TO sup
port the of democracy by supporting the election
of the candidate which shall be selected by General
Convention of the Democratic party.
But while respectfully declining for myself, the high
ly honorable and fattcrng recommendation of your con
vention take particular pleasure in expressing the
qualification which feel at seeing the nomination which
you have made in favor of MIR. Van Buren, ] have
known that gentleman long and intimately. We enter
ed the Senate of the United States together thirteen
years ago. sat six seats next 60 each other
always personally friendly generally acted together
leading Subjects and always incrchanged communica-
tons and recprocacd condolences; and thus occupying
position 20 give opportunity Of becoming tho
roughly acquainted with bis principles and character
the result of the whole has been, that have long since
considered him, and so indicated him to my friends,
hR Ia
chair after the expiration of president Jackson I'd term
In political principles, he is thoroughly democratic, and
comes near the Jeilersonan standard
now ON the stage ofpublcl life liabilities, experience and
business habits he beyond the reach ofcaV or DISPUTE:
Personally he IS inatackable for the whole volume ofhs
private life contains not single act which requires
PLANTATION, defence. In constitutional temperament
he peculiarly adapted to the satqn and the tines for
human being couldbe free from every faint of
eminent degree, that happy conjunction of frmnea of
purpose with suayity Of manners which contributes so
much to the successful administration of public affairs
and is essential, and becoming, in high public func-
tioDory. The State from which he comes, and Of which,
successive elections for and twenty years prove him
to be the ayorte is also to be taken into the
in the list Of his recommendations that great State
which in the eventiu struggle Of 1900 psocd the scales
of the presidential election OF Mr. Jefcfson-which has
supported every democratic administration from that day
to.ths State which numbers two millions Of in
hobitlnisgiges forfytwo votes in The presidential cleo
Gonond never enc Of her own sons exalted to the
presidential office
But what has he done What has Mr.. Van Buren,
DONE that he should be elected President This is the
inquiry, 6ppantly, gnorantly put by those who
would veil disparage the merits Of this gentleman
when 10 would be much more regular and pertinent to
ask, what has such this done, that he should
MT be made President2But TO answer the inquiry az
put II might perhaps, be sufficient far at leas; as
tc comparative merits ofcompcttol9 Concerned 10
point TO his in the Senate Of the United States du
ring the eight years he in that body and 10 his con
duct since IN the high Offices which be has been called
by his native State, by President Jackson md by tina
American People This might be- sufficient between
Mr. Van Buren, and others but it would not be saf
fcont for himself Justice to him would require the
10 90 further back Ito the war Of 1872 when
he member Of the New York Senate; when the
fate Of Mr. Madsons administration and Of the Union
itself depended upon the conduct Of that great State
great in men and in and greater in position;
frontier 10 New Eneand ard to Canadato British arms
and Hartford Convention treason;-and when that
duct, to the dsmay of every patriot bosom was
hang for nearly two years the doubtful scales Of
pensc The lcdcralsts had the majority in the House Of
Representatives the democracy had the Senate and the
Governor and fer two Successive sessions no measure
cOnld be adoped in support Of the war Every aid pro-
posed by the Governor and senate was rejected by the
House Of Representatives. Every State paper issued by
one, answered by the other Continual disagree
mcnts took place. innumerabe conferences were had.
the bali Of the House Of Representative the scene
Of contesation; and every conference public ex
hbilion Of parliamentary conflict publle trial Of in
teieciua gladiation In which each side represented by