Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-09-29
Van Buren's Free Negro Vote.


III Is n fast now admitted hy mon of all
parties, as we'll by friends as opponents, tha,
NIr. an Buren,, as n member of the New
ork Convention, called To amend their state
constitution in 1921, voted, TO gire free me-
groeS Tie right Of suffrage
propose IN my plain way, 10 examine
LIST. The grounds on which MIR. Van Blu
rem and his party in the Convention, claimed
the exercise OF this right in behalf of fee
negroes.
Dad. To show some Of the consequences
| iIkely TO flow from the views entertained by
| MIR. Van Buren, and his party on this qnes,
tIon-views, which il correct, must inc. tia.
Oily lead 10 the abolition of slavery in the u
States, or a dissolution oil the Union
/ In my remarks upon the first branch,
/ Shall no, rely upon newspaper statements
(ior regret TO say, that in the general they
are but too little to be relied upon) but /
shall appeal 10 the journal of the N York
! Convention itseli.-From that journal il Az,
rears that the grounds taken hy Mr.. Van
hnren and his party, on the question of Civ
ing Tree negroes the right of sullrage--Wcre
| lst. That 10 refuse free negroes the rich,
10 vote, was violation of that sacred ins,ru-
ihen', The Declaration of Independence
which among other things declares, 'lhat ali
men are created equal, that they are endow>
cd by their Creator with certain unalenelle
| rights, that among them are lie, liberty and
The l'ersuit OF happiness"
2nd. That il would be n violation OF The
constitution Of the United States 10 restrict
Tree negroes from voting
ord That taxation and the right of voting
should go together
" i'll not say that Mr.. Van Buren, in dis
cussing this question before the convention.
did III express terms, contend for the Two
hFst propositions Yet do say, without the
! rear OF contradiction, that the party with
whom he acted and voted on this question
did In express terms, contend that 10 prohib-
| IL Tree negroesirom voting, would he Il viola
non OF The Declaration OF Independence and
! OF the Constitution of the q. States See
journal OF the convention, pages 100 & 1879
NO" ii MIR. Van Buren, did not entertain
lhese sentiments, if he was really that friend
oI The South, which some OF his friends
would have US believe he is-could he, would
he have sat silent, and have heard such a :
oomlnabie heresies as these proclaimed? p
was II moi duty which he ow ed to himself
/ 10 The South, 10 the Union, 10 have gotten
up, and have repuaiated these sentiments
and entered his solemn protest against them !!
But he does no such thing, and his silence
and his vote with the party who proclaimed
such sentiments, amounts 10 en- adoption Of
them as his own--Such an inference is Jus, ns
ialr, as That, when man attaches himself 10
any particular denomination OF christians or
party in politics, that he is to he taken and
considered as adopting the renetS or views OF
Inc denomination or party 10 hich he so Dt =
thches himself What, ! ask the ueop,e OF
The United Siates-what more EN- halical.
! ~ ask The people of the South, do these doc
!Fines and sentiments lead 10 ?
I DO they not proclaim trumpet tongued 10
The people of the Z. States-lo every state
IN the Union, whose constitution or laws do
moi extend ~ Tree negroes the right of sufTi oe
-Ihat they are lrampling upon The rights of
Inc Tree negro, aud living in open and daiiv
violation eli the Declaration of Indc3endenrr
and OF tie constitution of the q. States;
ca! Do not these sentiments ero farther.
do they not lay the axe to the root Of slavery
itself?
Do they not at once ann initiate the insl;.u
tion of slavery
Was IL not these doctrines " hch produced
about the same time, the death struggle for
line admission Of Missouri into the Union
and had we'll nigh ProGuced its dissolution !:
w not MIR. Van Buren, of that party, who
opposed the admission of Missouri INTO the
Union, unless slavery was prohibited tLere-
IN All, oil admit that he was-But admit
ior the sake OF argument, that am wrong
IN describing to MIR. Van Buren, the enter
iaInment of these sentime nts.-Yet. he Ger
talnly did, and as far as we have evidence
still does entertain an opinion, equally =;
war With the views, Tie interest, The wishes
the feelings of the south and west-lbat X
!hat taxation and the right OF suffrage shoals
IN the case Of Tree negroes 30 togelhe-. Does
any man doubt whether MIR Van Bure,,
ever expressed such an opinion? You shall
have his own recorded words for it-Mr. Z
Buren, said, " lie had uotrd against n total
ana unqualified exclusion Cof The 6lacts for
ne Uouid not draw reuenue from then, mi
yet deny them The right Of aufrGcc.-Sec
journal OF convention, page 376 -F;rginja
certainly, and every other state in the T'pi,r,
as tar as my knowledge extends, does lew -
tax upon Tree negroes or their pro,erjy
Then according 10 Mr.. Van Buren,. The,
ought 10 have the right of voting --People
| OF Virginia, are You prepared to adopt such
principle rs this, or willing tina. man who
holds Il, shall be called 10 rule over Won,
Pause, beseech you, and reflect upon the
consequences 80 which il will lead. Some of
these will, if life and health are spared ma
attempt to point out in my next number
JEFFERSON.
GEN. HARRISON.