The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-04-29
Mr.. Jeferson's and Mr.. Van Buren's opin.
ions on the Missouri Question

ri Question aroused and filled me with
alarm. The old schism of Federal and Re.
publican threatened nothing, because it ex.
listed in every State and united them togeth.
er by the traternlsm of party. have been
among the most sanguine in believing that
our Union would be of long duration. |
now doubt it much, and see the event at no
great distance and the direct consequence
Of this question.
p" bad Tor a long time ceased to read
newspapers, or pay any attention TO public
affairs: But this momentous question, like
fire bell III the night, awakened and filled
me with terror. considered it at once as
the knel Of the Union. II is flushed, in.
deed, for The moment. But this is re-.
priere only, not a final sentence.
"Our anxieties in this qnarter are all
concentrated IN the question. What does
the Holy Alliance in and out of Congress
mean to do with US on the Missouri Cues.
ton ?! And this By the bye is but the name of
The case. The real question, as seen in the
States afflicted with this unfortunate popu.
Iation, Is, are our slaves to be presented with
freedom and daggerl For if Congress
has the Po,cer 10 regulate tie condit,oas of
the inhabitants of tie States, 1t triU be but
another erercise of that poper TO declare
that all shall be free"
Nr. Van Burea'S opinion" The Con.
Stiiutlon OF the United States clearly gives
Congress the right TO require Of new
STATES, not comprised within the orr.
gina boundaries Of the United States, the
prohibition OF slavery, as condition OF their
admission into the tnion therefore,
"ReSoirci, That our Senator's be instruct.
ed 10 oppose the admission as a State into
the Union, Of any Territory not comprised
as aforesaid, without making the prohibition
Of slavery therein an Indispensable condition
Of admission"
VIII YOU listen to the warning voice of
jefferson, or will you turn a deaf ear to his
counsel
From The HuHtsri8e fdrocqte.
THE VICE PRESIDENT IN THE FIELDu
On Friday evening last shower Of pam
pllets fell upon the devoted Post Office in
this place, under the frank Of that dlstIn.
gulshed iunctionary, Martin Van Buren,.
These pamphlets were Of course directed to
various good citizens ol the Town andCou
" OF Madison.
THIS nea, little eIectioncerng document is
entitled f" Northern Sentiments upon the
movements Of Abollllonists and enbra.
ces, within the compass Of sixteen pages,
the Proceedings Of the Anu.Abolitonlst
meeting at Albany, Mr.. Van Burens letter
from OHasco to gentleman IN Georgia,
upon the Slave Question, an extract from
Governor Marcy's Message, and the speech
Of Mr.. Wright \. York, IN the Senate, up.
on the disposition Of the Abolition petitions.
The major portion Of tins pamphlet is of
old date, and has already been submitted to
the rlsid ordeal Of political criticism. The
party conneSiou, bearing, and tendency OF
these papers We shall not pretend at this time
to discuss. Butlhe fact that they are frank.
cd by the second officer of the Government,
aud that officer too candidate for the Pres. /.
ldency, descrvs a serious comment. One /
ofthe boldest, most striking, and most alarm I
lug innovations upon the usage OF our gov /
crnment, is the free and extensive use which /
Is made, a: the present day Of the ranking
privilege, for party objects, and party o6- /
jtcts solely, by men high IN office. .
1t has been we'll remarked, by that int!e.
pId foe OF corruption, the celebrated JunluS,
that "what Yesterday was fact to day is
doctrine, Que precedent begets another
They soon accumulate. And constitute the .
lar" When the use of the franks was first /
attempted, simply with a view TO promote /
or defeat the political fortunes ladiridudls,
the boldneS and novelty of the undertaking
produced shock fsurprize and Indignation
IN the public mind and even the reckless
partisan, Instead of yielding a ready and
blind appreciation, sought ingenious perplex-
tiles and palliatlons for theproceedlng. But,
now, these sentiments of unfamiliar repug. /
nance to a daring and extraordinary prac
tce, have passed away entirely. The use
of caarassiag franks by every officer in the
government is openly and uabluShingly rim
dicated. What Yesterday was fact, to-day
is doctrine! It's now the settled usage of
the country to frank, not only public docu-
ments, but opinions, coming from any and
every quarter, to answer the transient ends
of party, or to serve the selfish aud corrupt
of individual ambition. One officer
franks for another, and each for himself
The way has been opened and met with SUI.
fc,ent sanc,ion-and Martin Van Buren,
boldly avalls himself of the advantages his
position, and paves his road to the
Presidency bv the liberal distribution of 20.