Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-19

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mon upon u,s question, we might add his further
declaration in his letter the Shocco meeting in North
Carolina as late the year 1852 But We iofbcar TO
enlarge further upon this topic that candid
man, with these evidences before iE can doubt that
this objection at least is groundess aud that Mr. Van
buicns Opinions upon tins subject in unison will,
I'd. Mr.. Van Buren, is charged with haying voted for
The tariff OF io2l and iSS In relation this subject
II has been stated on the highest authority (Ar Butler
letter 10 Mr.. Garland in 1880 that MIR. Van Buiens
rciscoa feelings have been at ali inSs adverse To the
ugh tariff pplIcy. Bot his constituents were general
IN layer OF protective durs and his in the Sc
nate OF the United States as faithful representative
was strictly IN compliance with their sentiments Ac
cotulngy we Ind hn giving silent vote in favor of the
tariff of 1924 and for that OF ISIS he is known to have
voted ~ consequence of express instructions iiam the
Legislature of New York gotten up no doubt in CON.
sequence of speech made by him at ALBANY on The IOh
OF July 1877, which he expressed his serious fears
mat The Friends oi protective duties urging thyir
measures with loo much eagerness And in that speech
he openly spoke of The Tariff political manuu
vre, and said that it was ga measure proceeding
more from The closet of the politician than from The
WORKSHOP of the manufacturer Bnt for his opinions
upon the subject of the Tariff, will quote his own
language as extracted from his letter the Shocco
meeting IN 1882: The protective system and It's pro-
per adjustment became subject of fiequent and neccs
sary consideration whilst formed part of the CaL
net; and the i'm which the President pronosc
10 carry INTO effect the policy in relation mposts re-
commended in his previous messages has since been
avowed WITH that frankness which belongs his cha
racter. 10 Tins end he recommended ga modification
81 he Tariff chich Shouid produce reduction Inc re-
ue,ne 10 Me icdnts ohc GorerRme and an adjustment
" "'e 13ty upon HHi0JtS,
fs!a.ioR 10 at oar n0t.0ndt interests and tie
J0rety" Poey, so far may be Injurious to those
Interests. In these sentiments 1 fully concur and
have been thus explicit in the statement of them that
there may be for misapprelcnsion us 10 my
! views upon the sublect.'' - i.s''
Here, then, is expression of Mr. Van Buren's opi
mons upon the Tariff from his lips, and we think
hai all must admit, that representing as he did State
favourable to tie tariff and acting under the instruction
Oh tie Legislature oil New York III 1923, lie in duty
bound TO have pursued the lie did Let il be re-
nenoeied That he gave silent vote both OCCASIONS
ana situated as he was, lie could not have done less
81 IL IS also objected to MIR. Van Buren, because he
voted in 1890 in the Senate of New York for rcsolu
oh instrucing Mr.. King TO vote for the Missouri re-
srlSoh; ana also voted in the Convention of that Stale
IN isl permitting free people of colour TO vote Sure.
~ these votes can have but little to do with the qua-
cation of Mr. Van Buren, for the Office of President of
inc on'teu States; but 1t Is duty lay before YOU
ue TACT IN relation TO both of these votes TO guard
you against The misrepresentation of his opponents.
IN January, lo20 Governor Clinton, in his annual
Siessage called the attention of the Legislature of
New York To the question of admitting Missouri into
Tue onion with the right to hold slaves An expression
VI 'nc legislative opinion was earnestly recommended
In compliance with this ndaton tic House of
representatives. OF that State adopted resolution instruct
ing ther Senators and Representatives in the Congress
ITO oppose the admission State in the Union of any
Territory not comprised within the ORIGINAL boundary Of
the United States without making the prohibition of slave
iy herein an indispensable condition of admission -
The Senate of New York concurred in this resolution
without division or debate and among them Mr. Van
Duieh; though 1t was not brought before the Le-
Ssalure ny has agency still he be regarded as hay
ing conctirred therein. And it is remarkable fellow.
cltiLchs, tnpt as member Of the New York I,egis.
la.ute, ne should have assented TO opinion which
at That time was not only the common sentiment
oil MS state, but was the universal sentiment of the
Whoe OF The non-slaye holding States of the Union p
III TINS opinion OF Mr. Van Buren, expressed by silent
vote while he member of the Legislature of New
York, is 10 dlsqualily him as candidate far the prps
uehey; III wha ght ought we 10 regard the of the
Legislature OF Virginia herself passed December the
5Oth, 1893, in which she confirmed the ordinance for The
government OF the North Western Territory (now
comprising the States of Ohio Indiana and illinois,
which contains an article, declaring. There shall be-
neller slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said
In relation to Mr.. Van Burens vote in the Convcn
ion OF New York, the facts may be briefly stated-By
the old constitution of that State no distincfion vos
made with regard to colour in the qualification of voters
In the Convention in 1871 proposition To restrict the
Iiaht OF yoling to white citizens, rejected by vote
OF o3 to o. long and eloquent debate preceded this
REJECTION, but it does not appear from journal that
ME- Van Buren, participated in the debate that stage
OF iG but he voted with the majority who subsequently,
gave inc ght OF voting to those persons of colour only,
who had JyeehOid Mad trerM $3.50 and ex.
emped them om taxation until their ht ac-
c'ueu whie the white voter only required to he a
tax payer, and TO be liable work tie highways
aud TO the performance OF MILITARY duty. Ills reasons
for concurrng in this arrangement give you in bis
own language at the time: " Mr.. Van Buren, said he
hdd voted against total exclusion, Tor he would not
draw revenue from them, and yet deny TO them the
right OF suffrage. But This prOvso met his approha.
ton- They were exempted from taxation until they
iao quailhed themselves TO vote. The right mol
denied, to exclude any portion OF the community
VINO VIII mol exercise the right of suffrage in its pu
riy. This held out Inducements industry, and
would receive his support The obvious principle
upon which Mr. Van Buren, here voted was, that taxa
on and representation should 90 hand in hand; and it
Is wei known that c resisted all attempts reduce
qualification OF the cOlouied voter separate the
Pihcfpcs oil taxation and representation. Hence.
the motion oil Mr. Eastwood to strike $3.50, and
insert $lOO, IT'S the value of their freehold he voted
against ~ and sustained throughout the highest qualf-
Cation The effect of this arrangement was to exclude
all the worthless part of them from voting and greatly
10 restrict their lights in this respect from what they
were under The old Constitution; and practice
operated almost total exclusion of them from the polls
hut, however privilege OF this might be regarded
Ia Virginia, or IN slave holding State yet ali know
the non slave holding States And strange may app
pear IT Is nevertheless the fact that in neghDOuring
state OF North Carolina free negroes have always been
enttied TO vote until within HE last twelve months
when her new Constitution went into operation.
These, then, fellow citizens the popular objections
most usually urged against MIR. Van Buren,. We know
iat they VIII be pressed upon you again tile polls
with all the Misrepresentation which tie most emLer.
ed hatred can eDgendcr. We know, too that efforts
nave been made to deduce from these votes rven
10 years ago IN his own State, Inference prcjuGcia
10 hin III the South But let il be remembered that the
missouri compromise has settled that question forever
ana That there Is probability that it can ever again oc.
cur aud that has vote in The New York Convention
related only TO question Of Slate policy with which
we nave nothing 10 do. We are aware too. that
great efforts have been, and will no doubt continue
TO be made, to prejudice Mr. Van Buren, in your esti-
matiOn by holding him up a Northern mao; and TO
give colour to this mode OF attack you must have oh
served the extraordinary oxprons Of his opponents To
connect INN with the movements Of the abouonsts.-
Dut ~ ~ most Oftunnte Tor him. and for the
tuth and justice, that his friends the North and in
congress are those who opposed to them and
70 whom we are to look for real and efficient aid in sap
pressing their movements. For le truth OF this obser.
rel r,,ffc r.t~ A