Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-22

could be adopted i" uppo, successive
% Every paper issued sy Ny 'sS SS
had the iiousS Of
ton Of % ,,y conference was public eshb
ed the pee of s pssn,ed oy oft.
,I en to Tho utmost to justify ITSELF put the obe
acquire the as@enianey *" the I'M
snn % wSm buren, sn Young had
lion OF M e ss 10 Ia ISo 1 oppo.
noble Of Goss 1 sn; ,S e.'s vote
pSses1"s !. the Gs9S% A.sss
soul of tia, ia,uoa and giving il an e%
81 f Re %as poca S" born az %. a n I'd, na%s and %o
so LsFas5s osss;t tho bank and the
debaer udeous councillors mannors6,m n onr
forward the bills the ds be
s nanSSnod 10 the s1s hspI Sn
tho friends aoS supporters gave The elections April isi 10
,essnse OF which received an esulss,on
Of New Orleans The Legislature now Democratic in bo
Buren, had The honor bring carry through amiS. The
tie most wa. % measure S the anwa
classification bill! as he called CONSUMPTION bill as they cali
HIS opposition TO Clinton support Of Rufus King for the
, Senate
:" MIR. Van Buren, and Mr.. Clinton were arraved
ngainsteach other the dislinr and be
oil opposite political parties. violent political
contest ensued and was sustained for years with una
baed energy both sides. To enter INFINITELY into tbe
history OF these conflicts would be ungraieul task
anu would extend this portion of the history be-
yond It's proper bounds Besides the writer WINS then
resident OF the State of New York and moi aogether
calm observer of the excemens of the dav he not
that he should be able hold the pen of nm nnar
ai historian 1t will suffice say, that during these
conflicts Governor Clinton was twice dr;ven in,o -
trement and two oil his distinguished supporters Chief
Justice Spencer and Judge Vaa Ness both compelled 10
retire from The bench of The Supreme Court and on the
other hand, Mr. Van Boren twice removed from Of
fee, and pursued for many years with the most un
relentng party violence II is point of bright relief in
this dark picture, that amid all the collisions of party
v'ehce the Two great antagonists retained their conf
dence IN the personal integrity of other and each
expressed his respect for the private uprigbtness and
honesty of his rival
" II may be proper TO advert, in this place TO two or
three particulars IN the public life of Mr. Van Buren,
when have been the subject of consde rable remark
Tie hTst OF these his support of Rufus King for the of
flee of Senator of the United States
p" The great personal worth of Mr. King his patriotic
services member of the Convention Which f;anad
The Federal tonsttuon and subsequently as Minister
to England from the last year of General Wosbington
Administration the third year of Mr. Jefferson s.: and
finally his jealous and honorable support of Governor
Tompkns and of the National Administration during
Inc most gloomy period of the war, had him the
nigh respect and confidence of the Democratic party
There are few acts in the public life of any
man, more liberal and high minded than Mr. Van Blu
rens Support of Mr. King yet few have ever been as.
sailed with greater violence and unfairness But the
utmost efforts Of his political opponents have been
apie TO attach the slightest suspicion his conduct
10 detect the feebiest indication of indirect motives
the whole transaction.
ms restricting tic right Of CoioUred People TO pote
by The old Constitution of New York, no distinction
was made with regard 10 cOfor in the qualifications of
electors. La the Convention OF Amendments n nrono
sllion to restrict the right of voting to trte citizens was
rejected by vote of si1ty three ty-nine long and
eloquent debate preceded this rejection Mr. Van Buren,
DID not participate in the debate voted with the ma
Jory Al sui sequent period in the business of the
convention, when the qualifications of electors were
hxed The blacks were excluded from the right of voting
unless possessed Of freehold estate of the value
hundred aud fifty dollars, and exempted from taxa
ton TO corresponding extent. This provision which
continues to be part Of the Constitution of New York.
received his assent.
Charge IF Intrigue md Nanogenent refuted &C.
IL has been ciarged upon Mr.. Van Buren,, that he is
Ne In hp
by popular opinion because by combination OF secret
nanGuvIes, I've contriyes to mould and that OPT
nlon mat intrigue and management the only guides
OF his political and that his is the result
OF the articles of well drilled corps subalterns who
are bound TO his interests, by selfish motives guided
rather by motives OF personal aggrandizement than by
CONSIDERATION of the public veal.
:" This charge has originated with men who have no
capacity IN their natures appreciate the true Sc
cret OF bis success; who have spontaneous sym
pathy with the of their icllow-men but contem-
plate them, wholly from wrong position; who regard
the mass OF mankind corrupt aud ignorant and fit
subjects of government instead of legitimate sopereignS
With these mistaken views congeniaity exists be.
tween their feelings and the feelings Of humanity
at large. These politicians never meet popular ex-
pecation, and consequently never succeed exocnt bv
accident, or hypocrisy, the temporary misleading OF
popular judgment Unable appreciate bond of sym
Patby which unes the true democrat every member of
the democratic iuny; unwilling TO be content like him.
TO gather public sentiment and make their supreme
rule OF ACTON regardless Of personal preferences or pr.
vate ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; they aged in a perpetual
struggle against The strong sense OF the great of their
Fellow. men, struggle which, Notwithstanding all their
aTtIce, fDaIy pTustTates all their schemes of ambition
IL Is natural Tor them TO ascbe the
the truly great man, To- superior adroncss the same
contemplate and unnatural warfare in which they have
sought success themselves Conscious of their own
cret motives to obtain influence aud not apprehend-
ing that integrity and penetration in the people which
leads to their defeat, while it discfimnates and
ndOps the honest patriotism Of otlers-they constantly
mistake the true Of political success amid
modification and failure, regard all public men
dishonest and all political life a scene of intrigue
and corruption. The Observance of two plain rules
would be OF great service to these men, first TO be
nest and patriotic themselves and second rely on the
honesty, capacity and patriotism Of the people.
-" The whole public Of Mr.. Van Buren is re-.
futatiOn Of the impuations which are cast upoD him
from this quarter lie has never been seen to sacrifice
his views Of the public veal 10 schemes of aggran
dlzemen TO the violent dictates Of party spirit An
eminent Illustration Of the truth of this assertion may
be selected from his in the Convention TO amend
) the Constitution
: MagnaniDiy Of spirit has controlled the whole pub
4 lie life OF MT Van Buren,, Of which memorable exam
pie occurred at later period, in reference to Ms Clay
. nomination Secretary Of Slate. Ii has never been
fecpJocated, however, by bis political opponents
ellie strenuously objected to all schemes which in.
VOWED separation Of the Supreme Court from the Cir
cults; would withdraw them from the power Of pub
lie opinion power which he characterized the most
HONEST and best Of all powers, aud would render the
" Court an aPPeDdage Of the national government the
4 highest degfee dangerous TO the States.
!. His rie,es Is,eygsi improvements and The Tarif
10 " On the ODD Of January 1884 Mr.. Van Buren, called
the attention of the Senate to the alarming ption
/ power by the General Government in regard to Inter
d nal improvements; aud after stating the differences o
,r opinion which had arisen between the Executive anc