State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-07-19
From the Spirit Of Seventy-Six.
MR.. VAN BUREN'S VOTE.

We entrcat our readers to keep in re-
membrance, that on the question of en-
crossing the bill to prevent the circulation
OF certain papers through the U. :. Mail,
the vote was IS to IL. TO break this tie,
the Vice President was, unhappIy for his
non-committm fame, obliged TO give the cast
ing vote. He gave it, in the affirmative.
Yes, this man, claiming the confidence Of
the people, and the highest honors of his
country on the pretension ofhs democracy,
has basely deserted the cause he processes
to serve; to acquire the favor of the South,
he has voted for an uct which would effec-
tualIy destroy the liberty of the Press. We
say, to obtain favor ind votes of the South
See the proof
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The Casting rote. The Southern people
are duly sensible of the propriety of Mr.
Van Buren's course. The casting vote is
an irresistible argument in his favor. The
following paragraph from a Southern press
Cthc Savannah Georgian) expresses the lib
eral voice of the Southern people:
LncendiGy publications. The extract
from the Richmond Inquirer, exhibiting
the independent course of Mr. Van Buren,
on voting Tor the engrossment Of MIR Cal
houn's bill, TO prevent the circulation
through the mail otincendiary publications,
must arrest the attention of our readers.
liis conduct on the occasion, as detailed 10y
the correspondent Of the Enquirer is wor-
thy of an American Statesman. There is
no shutting i'll MIR Van Buren,; no trick to
calm the cars of the timid, or to excite the
preJudices Of the impudent. He votes in
favor of Southern rights, Though unsup-
ported by Southern men AS body he re-
cords his dsnpprobation against the violent
and impudent abolitionists though in doing
so, lie views but four Senators from the
Northern States standing by him."
The foregoing is selected from many
other like commentators, because the En-
quirer is not only the ieading press in Vir
GINA, nut also ia the whole Sonth, and is
pledged to Van Buren, for the Presidency.
Throughout that portion of the Union, the
vote has been regarded with high favor.
Mr. Van Buren, has been lauded Therefor
what? For surrendering, ut the demand of
the sIaycholding states, the very first prin-
ciple of n free government; the freedom of
the press without which neither civil nor
political liberty can exist for moment.
Again, we ask, for what? For aiding in
the attempt TO give one section of this
=
the law of the Union! Thus TO actually
break down the Constitution at single
! blow. DO you doubt this, Abolilionists
Do dny of you, treemcn of the Free States,
doubt it? Go, aud attentively study the
bill so supported by the candidate of the
| party, and then tell us honestly whether
| the ties of any party can he made strong
enough TO hold YOU to such man. lie
] a. - At. Il l. l.
friends are dough-iaccd enough to uphold
! him still. lie counts on he constant sup
port of the party through evil report and
good report, because his partZans assure
him that he may; assure him that nothing
can shake the allegiance of his northern
men-a arms. Mark the policy of his
his friends in the free States - that
policy is silence Silence, nearly univer-
sal We have seen one exception. One,
at least of those who have been ardent in
support Of this political charlalan, has the
manhood to utter what he feels. Hear the
Boston Retormer and receive him 10 your
hearts us II true American:
But we did not inted to discuss the
merits of the bill. We wish TO put them
out of our mind. We are not willing to
think of it. 1t is too painful TO witness the
departure of men in whom we have placed
! confidence, from the great principles OF
! liberty and equality, which they have
sworn 10 defend. We are humbled in our
own estimation as men, as Americans,
when we think of ii. And what is worse
than all, when on the passa of the bill 10
be engrossed, the Senate being equally di-
vidcd, the Vice President by his vote, de-
cided in favor of The bill. Had Mr. Van
Bnron been n Southern man, we would
have palliated his base dereiction from
repubicanlsm aud the constitution; but a
Northern man as he is, proicssedly ut the
head Of the democracy of the country, and
calling upon the democracy TO raise him
TO the Presidential chair, we are without
language to express the pain his vote has
given us. We are mortified that North
ern man should so basely succomb TO
Southern prejudice and Southern bravado ;
panied indeed are we that a distinguished
statesman should so far forget the consttu-
ton of his country, and countenance a
measure so ruinous in ITS principle 10 all
free Institutions ashamed that political
aspirunt to the highest Office in the gift of
n free people, should deem it possible TO
gain that office by an act which that PEG
pie must he buried deeply in corruption
indeed, not TO resent in terms of the sever
| est rebukc8