Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-09-01
che Gazette:
MAT. URG, va.
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER /, 1886.

month Of April last, the Hon. sherrod Williams,
member of Congress from Kentucky, addressed
a letter to Mr.. Van Buren,, asking of him an ex-
plicit ayowal Of his opinions upon several sub
jects Of national policy Of vital Importance to the
country. The reply of Mr.. Van Buren, is too
lengthy for our columns, but few short extracts
will give his sentiments upon several of tho in
terrogato propounded TO him. His opinions
respecting the surplus revenue are given as fol-
lows
at is my firm conviction, that any sys
tenn by which distribution is made
mong the States, Of monies collected 10y
the Federal Government, would introduce
vices into the legislation Of both Govern
ments, productive Of the most injurious
effects as well upon the best interests OF
the country, as upon the perpeluity OF our
political institutions. | sincerely hope,
there fore. that the good sense and patrl
otsm Of the American People will prevent
the adoption of any such plan. The DE
poslte Bill, (recently passed. will remove
any necessity for such step. and give
time TO provide against the recurrence OF
redundance Of revenue. Ii would, IN
deed, be a great misfortune, if the law
were regarded by the country as piedsing
the future course Of its legislation TO the
policy 10 which you refer. The clrcuH-
stances under which it was passed were
Of an extraordinary character, and cannot
well again occur To give a legislative
organization 10 the fiscal agency for the
collection and disbursement of the public
revenue, which had been established thro'
the Treasury Department 10y Executive
authority, as substitute for that OF the
Bank OF the United States. was an object
of the very highest importance.
alt is now for the majority of the PEG
pie to decide whether the measure refer
red TO shall only be tolerated as tempo
rary expedient, forced upon the country
by conjunction Of extraordinary circum-
stances, and rendered less Objectionable in
consequence Of its effect in removing be
yond the reach Of party contention and
lactlous representations, s. disturbing
questions in relation TO the public monies
at moment when the public mind is,
from other causes, peculiarly liable TO be
unduly Influenced by sinister and unioun
ded imputatlons or whether the dislribu
ton of the public depostes shall be the
parent and lorerunner Of future distrIbu
ton Of the public revenue. That the de
cisIon Of this interesting question will be
honestly mad, We all know, and | do not
doubt that it will also be wisely made
To the question, whether he would if elected,
sign and approve bill tor distributing the mon
les arising from the sales Of public lands the fol-
lowing answer was given.
" am Of opinion that the arails of pub
lie lands will he more equitably and faith
fully applied "to the common benefit of
the United States" by their continued
Treasury, than by any other mode that
has been suggested and that such an APP
preparation is in every respect preferable
TO the distribution thereof among the
States, in the manner your question pro
poses. Entertaining these views, cannot
give you any encouragement that will in
the event Of my election TO the presidency
favor that policy"
Respecting National Bank, he gives :he fol-
lowing as his sentiments
sin the published letter Of .lir Butler 10
Mr.. Garland, which has already been re-
lerred TO, he thus states my opinions upon
the subject cf the Bank =" Mr. Van Blu
ren's opinions 10 regard to the Bank Of the
Uuited States, were expressed in the Sen
ale of the United States, in 1928; repeat
ed in his letter TO the Shocco Springs com
mitee whilst a candidate for the Vice
Presidency, and have been so freely utter
ed by him, that there cannot, think. be
occasion 10 say much on that subject But
TO close the door TO cavIl, | state, lst,-
That he holds that congress does not pos.
sess the power TO esta bsh a national bank
in any Of the State Of the Union, nor TO
establish, in such States, the branch of =
ny bank located in the district Of Colum
bla; and Cd. That he is therefore, deci
dedly opposed to the establishment Of a
national bank in any Of the States and is
also opposed to the establishment Of any
such bank in the district of Columbia. as
unnecessary aud ineXpedient. and as liable
TO great portion OF the abuses which have
in his opinion, been practised by the exis
ting bank"
The letter winds up with the following ex
preston of his views upon the subject Expung-
| ing -
"As your question has doubtless been
induced by the tendency of Col Benton's
Resolutions 10 expunge from the journals
OF the Senate certain other resolutions.
touching the official character of President:
Jackson, | prefer TO say that regard the
passage of Col, Benton's Resolutions, to
be an act OF justice TO faithful and great.
y injured public servant. not only cobst,
'uuonal in itself, but imperiously demand
ed by a proper respect for the well known
will of the people"
The above extracts, though but small portion
of the letter, contain the amount of all that he
has said upon the subjects to which they refer,
and may be taken, we suppose, a fair indica.
ton of the course he will pursue in relation 10
them, should he be elected president Of the Uni.
ted States lie goes against any distribution OF