State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-26
FOR THE JOURNAL.

Mr.. Editor: In this land of liberty.
any man, who consents to be placed before
the people as a candidate for their sutlra-
ges, must expect to have his character and
claims fully canvassed. And if the Gait
vass is conducted with fairness and civility
he has no right to complain. His friends
may say every thing in his favor consistent
with truth and his opponents may fairly
state every thing, that renders him unfit or
unworthy to hold such an office If he is
immoral, intriguing, aspiring, revengefu,
or tyrannical, they have a right to place his
true character in view, and to warn others
against confding in him. But they should
always keep within the bounds of TRUTH
and it is mean to resort TO SANDER and deia-
nation.
Mr. Van Buren, has consented to be pla-
ced before the public as a candidate for the
Presidency, and it is now proper that his
claims should be fairly tested. | shall say
nothing respecting his conduct while a
member of Mr. Iackson's cabinet, nor of
the manner in which his nomination is got
up and is supported. | know of no act,
great, or ,0iSe, or good, that should entite
him in any degree to the confidence of the
nation. But | have somewhat against his
being elevated to the Presidency; and |
should think that every sincere protestant
would pause and ask himself what is To be
the end ofthese things? do not say that
Mr. Van Buren, is Paplst, that he has
reconciled himself to the church of Rome,
or that he has entered into league with
the Pope to destroy our civil and religious
liberties: But when | read his .fulSOme
letter to the corrupt head of the Roman
church, | must think him utterly unworthy
of the confidence of u free and independent
people.
Ii is well known that there are in this
country many, who belong 10 the Romish
church, and that large accessions are made
to their numbers yearly. 1t is also known
that the papists are uery much under the
direction and control of their priests and
that the priests are all the sworn subjects Ct
the papal see, and ready to execute any
order sent to them from Rome. Now, let
it be considered that Mr.. Van Buren, had
his eye upon the presidency, while mem
Der of the cabinet (see his resgnation) that
there are two or three hundred thousand
voters in thiscounry,a all under the influence
of the pope; and that in some states they
are the majority, and in others their num-
bers are so large that they can hold the
With these facts in view, Mr. Van Buren,,
when Secretary of State, sezes an oppor
tunity Of addressing, through the American
C sul at Rome, n most tlatering letter to
the Head of the Roman church. In this
letter he very politely recognizes his pro-
fame titles, and fawns around him like u
true son of the old whore of Babylon
What else can he the meaning of such eX-
pressions, his Holiness the Pope,,.-'hiS
HJliness, - apostolic See Head of a
great and ChriStian Church. Holy Father
Sc. But there is one clause that is pecu-
liarly ominous: "And seduousIy to abstain
from oil interference in their occasional
difficulties with each other, ercept toih The
benign uie,o Of efecting reconciliation be-
toeen them" This is the very point, after
which the ambitious bishops ofRome have
always been seeking. As supreme head
Of .he whole Christion church they have
claimed the right to interfere in settling the