Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-24

ment was formed W1ncA MT t.ie iii; ,Losc ,iuSs
rnm:hl' anu ,bs indscretion of MIR. Adams and Mr.
c,i,r had been for time SUSPENDED. e,.
S'"S Ie Nr Van Buren, s continuance IN the state
- I.aG, and indeed within the few FIRST months OF
- iryicc some of the most important OF our lorcSh
emJas sics despatched under his drech"n. Among
these NAV he mentioned, the mission OF Mi AcLane 10
In ,nd of Mr. tIres France, Of Mr.. preblr to The
Netherlands and ministers to Spain and Colombia In
short the supervision Of mastcrsprt appeared III eve
~ branch Of foreign relations; and series oi 1p
:nalic effected, unrvard III sicIr ll"
Der and Importance in any other equal prrin" OF "
stree the formation OF our Government. IL was ~.
vcrsa!ly conceded, that E!orc distinguishes .o.'!
been displayed i'll the Departmental S'Ite
the period when it was under The ucct''' y, H.; M,
But tie other departments oi the Cover 49,, -,
proc,ed with ccual s. ccc:s Difficulties arose III ie '
binc,, and party spirit ussallcd MI van husi, ~
tcuar with It's utmost violence. lie WIS "o''0iy
cendnr with rapid strides, 10 The highest ''"H VI r.
G,,cl i.iinc,iuy; and all the :riccs ot envy ana po
Teal rivalry were put rcquisltIon to i'"uc HIS pro-
gress The differences OF opinion between 'e' n y,
the cabinet which he had excrleH ms u.'nIS' e1' W
aIlav and remove, were falsely ascr1cd TO MS agency
In The end il appcarcd that his Judgment, courtesy a'u
r-cat know LEDGE OF the human heart were hot Sui.c
ANY longer, to postpone rupture LIS Ids. ]
b r,lpunui,ous se:Sacicr, 10 attempt the removal
OF difficulties which he iscr!hcd TO Inc jealousy % '
candidates Tor pubc favor; and on tile I'm Gay VI NPIl'
1881 he communicated to the lreSutnt MS uetc't'n"
ton 70 Withdraw from the Office OF Secretary OF 9Gtr
though he continued 10 ulSciiaISc us uu''e' " ~ "
! lowing month OF June
For this act of sr.denying patTlolsm he received
the vrucnt ana ibcral abuse IRON MS poi'.tai
enemies Unable appreciate The pure anu Palllo'tc
motives which could lead the posscssn OF so advantage
GUS situation to surrender the influence aud prospects
which belonged to /, they searched tor other pausibe
causes and failing TO lind them: resored to the West
iubTcaiions. This charge may appear SEVERE bat ID
made in the words OF TRUTH nor hes any thing been de-
ctc disclosed from that time to the present. to tlro"
the slightest cloud the hgl.nndrd and dIslIercs''
ed conduct OF Mr.. Van Buren, When the pervcrsons
OF party feeling and the sts OF personal s!a
have been removed this llustrlous act or scccVo'ioh
10 the best interests Of his country Wi! be conspicuous
nnid the manifold merits OF public iiie throughout us
iingushed Tor magnanlmity ana virtue.
HIS Fictcs or The subject q .760tit10n.
Since his election TO tine Vice Presidency, his OPT
Mons have been publicly declared on two occasions OF
considerable interest. One of these was tile question OF
carleIing National Bank in New York with such re-
sctions in It's charter 70 remove ohcctIois which arc
made to thu present bank. His decided Misrepresentation Of
this measure was expressed i'll his letter to friend, al
ready embodied in the present work
The other subject IS, the right OF interference Will inc
existence d! slavery b. the Gcncra Government Or by
the people OF the mon.slavchclding States Inc follow
ing documents exhibit the sentiments OF Mr. Van Buren,
Oh this question. The first letter addressed by him.
to Mr. Samuel Gwin uf Mississippi, and subsequently,
published III the Richmond Enquirer:
90 WAsHIXGToS, July ii, 1871
"t DEAR SiR:-l owe you an apology for not having
sooner acknowledged the receipt OF your obgng letter
of 10Th MAY. My opinions tie subject OF the power
OF Congress slave property III the Southern States
arc so we'll understood by my friends, that surpris
cd that attempt 10 impose upon the punic respecting
them should be hazarGcd.
| ".The subject is in my Judgment exclusively underline
control Of the State Governments; and am not apirls'
cd do believe that contrary opinion: TO an extent
deserving consideration, is entertained III any part o
the United States The charge, therefore, to which you
Ina re had the goodness to call my attention., that am
in favor OF interference by Congress, IN manunlttln
your slave property, is destitute u foundation; SO lar
from it, do not OH what authority Tie Gchciai 10
ri nj
s;itution even the instance OF either or OF all the
slaye-lollng States.
| With great respect, and regard,
am dear sir, very truly yours,
NJ. VAN BUREN,.
To SAMUEL GwlN, Esq, Clinton, Mississippi.
ihc following letter relating to the saHe subject was
addressed to gentleman III Augusta, Georgia. at mo-
ncn when the people OF the sIareoldng States were
in high degree excited at the proceedings OF an.saVc-
| ry associations at the North:
"'OwAsco, Sept. 10, 1873
"s.Iy Dear Sir Your letter Of the ed ult. met
at this place. on my from the Falls, and lose
time in replying to that part OF 1t which relates :" The
continued attempts to prejudice my friends. well
myself III the estimation OF the South in respect 10 the
| slave question.
is deeply to be regretted that there should be
found on tic part Of any, inducements sufficiently strong
to increase excitement, already 80 alarming b re-
sort to iputaliuns i'll the truth OF which no Ingenious
mind can place the slig hrst confidence lie allegations
which attribute to views and opinions that arr just
" obnoxious to the slavchoidng Staies are made N the
face OF the most explicit declarations ON my part. den: ing
all authority the partoi the Federal Government |" III
tr.re in The nat,er--arast the propety OF an!tatinr
the question in the District .! CuuEba anu III The al
sccc of single fact giving thc least councnance t" the
untoundcd irpulaonS should poorly IeYiIte The can.
dor with which have hitherto been treated by the great
mass OF my fellow. citizens at the SOUTH 10 allow
myself to appreend that those who would otherwise be
dis posed 10 give their Confidence could, under such
suffer ~ be prcudccd in their opinion,
by the unsupported assertions OF my encmics however
reckless vrhcn!cly persisted III. Were these iabricl
tions therefore, designed to affect me only should not
hesitate to l@avc tie !aer II stands to the spoanc
Gus action OF my c0untrynen But when it Is intended
to reach, in this way, those who honor with their
friendship do not feel myself 1T liberty TO withhold any
CORRECTION that may, ~ possibility, be useful to Them
With this view send you Inc enclosed proceedings OF
the citizens ui Albany upon the subject, and authorize
ven to saw that fully in the they
advance. | absent from The city al the time The
meeting held, but tu'k early occasion to advise
lis cal, and 10 encourage the attempt to make IT, what
it has teen, meeting OF the people, without reference
to their sentiments any other subject lhan that which
discussed before 1t. Connected with its proceedings
be found Tie OF principal state officers.
executive and judicial including the Governor OF
State, with array Of private citizens which, for pcrso
nal worth and weight of character has never, my
knowledge bcen excelled at any previous meeting.
'I would he presumption in me to add any assurances
OF own, 10 the sincerity with which the SEMI
mcntS they express cncrtalncd Of their DISPOSE
ton 10 make them etfcctual upon the important subject
to which they relate.
"'Alny not then, hope that the proofs of an a.Ic
tonac and just spirit towards the rights and interests Of
the South, which have been brought out by this hitherto
threatening excitement will have the effect in FUTURE
10 remove all unioundcd Impressions and 10 put end
to every feeling and prejudice inconsistent with the
prncp Piles upon which the Union founded:
"'Earuesy chrrshng this pleasing anticipation,
am, dear sir, very truly your friend and oh't serv
III. VAN BUREN,"
"Thc leading resolutions adopted BY tls meeting al
uded to in the above letter follows:
80" Therefore, Rsscircd, That we regard the Constiu.
ton Of the United States as carrying with il an adjust
of all questions involved in the deliberations which
led 10 its adop,on and tia, the compromise Of interests
in wh 4 n oar dim in