The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-08-05
LETTER OF SAMUEL W. MARDIs
IALApEGA, Anvil l5lh, IoJb.

vote for President and vice fresldent OF ule bhi-
ted States at the approaching Presidential election
reached this office some weeks since. An absence
from home on professional engagements, must
be my apology for not having furnished you an
answer at an earlier day.
You say "ths, il is the desire OF AT portion Of
nv fellow citizens whom you represent, that you
should know of me whether if elected would vote
for Hugh L. White for President, and such other
person as may be selected by majority OF his
friends as Vice Pres ident (he being demoerat :"
ansx er, that will Having made this distinct
ayowal of my determination. with your indulgence,
will proceed TO state some Of the reasons. that
have snpernduced this decision, and this | am
the more inclined to DO, from the consideration,
that | find myself opposed on this question, by
friends for whose judgment and patFi' I'm have
ever entertained the most psoiound respect, and
because at one time thought it possible, in the
event that Judge White shoad cease to be can.
dictate or have bu, slight prospect Of being clect
ed, | nigh, be induced 10 vote for Mr.. Van Do.
ren. / am, however, frank 10 confess that more
thorough knowledge of his past political history,
in conncxion with recen, developements satisfied
nv mind that TO vote for him would be TO commit
moral treason against every political opinion that
have entertained, or expressed, up 10 the present
hour, and 10 prosrGte my country at the shrine OF
unha lowed ambition. | viii now proceed ~ az
concise a manner Us the nature Of the subject viii
admit Of 10 state some Of the reasons why am In
favor Of Judge White. and opposed 10 Mr.. Van Blu
ren. Judge White holds that tie true riches OF
Government; consls, in the happiness and property
Of It's citizens That lis wealth is held IN trust for
them, and IN the language Of our venerable Presi.
Dent that the "ileTs u tie sol are he bones and
siners Of the Rrpubiic and are entitled TO he ios
lering Of Congress" and that by reducing the
rf tl,p f4thl ria IN fha
Of eyery freeman in this country to say too have
home and fIeside OF my own; | too have the
means Of educating my chIdreu,-thus pfesery-
ing that principle OF equality which lies al the toun
dsiiou Of the happiness OF every community. That
these are the sentiments Of Judge White, wia II
seen from The follow ing proceedings IN the Senate
OF the L States IAN 81 February, 1877, cu Mr..
Bcrt1n's bull reducing and graduliing the price O.!
tie Public Lands. The fifth section OF the bill IS
IN these words
iad B, Il furfhsr t,1acisd, That all the land
which shall remain unsod for one year, after hav-
ing been offered Tor year at IS cent, per acre,
shall be, ard HE same il hereby cedcd IN full pro.
perty to the States in which tie same may lie
See Congressional Debates vol. 3, pa e 3iG.
Was Mr.. Van Buren, with Us on this PROPOSE.
ton He shall speak for himself " hen the bill
was taken up, Mr. Van Buren, rose and submitted
tho following remarks
"Mr. President, (sad Mr. Van Buren, al fu-
ture day, and When the Senate have full iniofma.
lion, be would most eheerfuy unite his exerttoBs
with those OF others. endesvoring TO FIX apcn some
plan, which whilst II was equitable, as 1t regards
the old States should relieve ell from present mis-
chief and be beneficial to the new States.
lie did no, despair, no,~ outstanding the con.
ceded dificJllies OF the subject, OF the ultimate
adoption Of some measure that would lead 10 those
results. lie therefore raoycd 10 lay The el on the
table, with an understanding that il would not be
taken up again at the present session"
The motion Of Mr., Van Buren, was agreed 10
and the bill was laid on the table. ,See Congres-
sional Debates, vol B. page 3i6)
After the expiration of more than year TO wit
on the 2lst April, ISIS, Dir. v Buren, was afforded
opportunity 10 the Senate Of the t. States, 70
do for the States that justice which he with.
hsld from them at the preceding session, for ,as
he said the want Of time. The bill graduating
and reducing the price Of the Public Lands was
taken up this day, 2lst April, 1928, when Mr.. Van
Buren, addressed the Senate a. great length. in
opposition to the bill, ard in reply to the ysriou,
arguments which had been urged in support Of The
bill, and its various amendments 50 'saye the re-
port ; see Congressional Debates, vol. 4ih, par
lst, page CTS.
The question was then taken on engrossing The
bill and it was rejected by the following vote
leas-Messr- Benton, Beuien, Boullgny, Cobb
Eaton, Ellis, Harrison, Hendricks, johnson OF h
johnson Of Louisiana, Kane, King, M'Kiniey, No
BE, Rdgeley, Rowan, Rnggles, Tazewell, Tho
mas, WHITE. Williams-2l.
Nays-Messrs Barnard, Barton, Batcmau, Bell
Branch, Chandler. Chase, Dlckerson, Foot, Hayne
knight, M'Lane, Macon, Marks, Paris, Robbins
Seymore, Sillsbee Smith of S. C., Tyler, IL VAN
buren,, Webster, n Wiley, Woodbury. -25.-
Same volume and page
What 10 the Impression made upon your minds
on comparing the last speech and vote Of Mr.. V
Buren, this bill, with his speech of the 18th o
February, 1927 7 Do you believe that he was sin
cerc, in saying that lis object in yng the bill OF
the table, was that he might be afforded an oppor
; tunity OF deylslng some plan, equitable and just
between the old and new States or was II a mer,
triek 10 defer the passage Of the bill Of 1927
Tha, the latter his object is most clear, from
the fact that he opposed the BILL with all lis amend
mcnts, in every shape and form in which it wal
afterwards presented. Is he yc, the uncompro
T missing enemy of the measure He has given NJ
evidence 10 the contrary. Judge White and Mr.
. Van Buren, both represented old States, yet how
different the conduct of the former Animated bl
, sense Of justice towards the new States Willing
and DESTROYS that every freeman should bccom
the owner Of the soil, be adopted the liberal poll
ey Of placing the attainment Of the public domain
or portion Of il, within the means Of the mos
humble individual in the community. Again
Judge White has uniformly opposed the appropria
! ton by Congress Of moneys belonging 10 the Tres
snry of the Union TO orks Of internal improvement
other than those Of papably a nalonG! character.
The importance Of strict adherence TO this prin
ciple, IN the administration OF the Government. i
loo well atlested By the history Of the past, to re
Y ri a. 4art Ibef
: IS none too young not to remember the deep anK
letY felt bY the South on this snbiect dnrInp Nj