Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-07-20
From the Cleveland Daily Herald, Harrison
Mr.. VAN BUREN'S VOTE.

Mr.. VAN BUREN'S VOTE.
Mr.. Van Buren's vote on the bill to pro-
hbit the transmission, by the mail, of incen-
diary publications has been the subject of
much speculation. The vote on this bill,
in the Senate it will be recollected, was
equally divided, and was determined by the
casting vote of the Vice President. Party
politics, as we could see, had no influence
whatever in q decision of the question.
Senators voted, in this case at least, as their
judgments dictated, without reference to
the political principles of their cotempora-
ries, or of the party with which they stood
connected. Hence the discrepancy in sen.
timent among members of the same polit-
ical faith, as indicated by the ayes and noes
which were ordered, and published some
days since. By reference to these it will
be seen that he was separated from many
of his warmest political friends, and voted
as we never knew him to have the indepen-
dence to vote before, with many who
scarcely entertain sentiment in common
with him upon the great political questions
which have agitated the country. He vo-
ted in direct contradistinction to Benton,
Morris, Hubbard, Hendricks, Niles, Rug
giles, Shepley and Wall of his own party
and with Goldsborough, Cuthbert, Calhoun,
Preston, White and others of the party OPP
posed to him. We cannot see, therefore,
with what propriety individuals take excep-
tons to this vote upon political grounds,
since it must be evident to any person of
the least observation, that politics did not,
in any manner, influence decision of the
question. We regret to perceive that even
Wing Editors, in some instances have ia
ken up upon this ground. IfMr. Van Bu-
ren's vote is justly the subject of animadver-
sion, it follows as matter of course, that
the vote of other Senators, who, politically,
have ever been opposed to him, is equally
so. There can be no inviduous distinction
here. Candor admits of none. If the
party lines, in this case, had been properly
drawn-if Senators Of the same political
faith had acted in harmony and concert, vo-
ting either for or against the measure, then
the expression given might fairly have been
received and taken as the sentiments Of the
party and used to the advantage or disad.
vantage of the same; but under existing
dent of such considerations, abstractly con-
sidered, it can be used by individuals to
the advantage or to the prejudice, perhaps,
of the Vice President, or of any other sen.
ator, be his political principles what they
may, who in this instance concurred with
him in sentiment and voted for the bill. We
are not, as every body knows, the apollo.
gist of Mr.. Van Buren, !. for we have seen
much in his public life that we have had, as
we conceived, great reason to condemn
but if we have ever been disposed to
give him credit for independence, homes
ty, and integrity it has been for his vote on
this bill.
Those Editors, or few of them, who
have made this objection to the Vice Pres.
ident have not had the candor to furnish
their readers with a copy of the bill itself
that they might Judge for themselves of its
provisions; but have kept up an incessant
clamor about an Infringement of the ''liber.
ty of the PRESS" "gag laws" &c. taking
special care to conceal the important fact
that the simple and only object of the bill, in
question, was to provide against most fla.
grant abuse and perversion of the original
design and object of the Post Office Depart.
ment in the transmission of incendiary pub.
LEGATIONS by the mail in those states the laws
of which prohibit their circulation. That
our readers may be fully advised upon the
subject, we subjoin the bill.
"a Bill prohibiting deputy postmasters from re-
receiving or transmitting through the mail, to
any state, territory, or district, certain papers
therein mentioned, the circulation of which,
by the laws of said state, territory, or district,
may be prohibited, and for other purposes.
"Sec. l. Be it enacted by the Senate and House |
of Representatives of the u. States of America
in Congress assembled, That it shall not be law
full for any deputy postmaster in any state, |
territory, or district in the United States know
ingly to deliver to any person whatever, any PAM
phlet, newspaper, handful, or other printed pa |
per or pictorial representation touching the sub
ject of Slavery, where, by the laws of the said |
state territory, or district, their circulation is |
prohibited; and any deputy postmaster who shall |
be guilty thereof shall be forthwith removed from
office.
'Sec. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That MOTH |
ing in the acts of Congress, to establish and reg
ulate tho Post Office Department shall be con- |
strued to protect any deputy postmaster mail-car-
rier other officer, or agent of said department
who shall knowingly circulate, in any state, ter.
ritory, district, afore said, any such pamph-
let, newspaper, handful or other printed paper or
pictorial representation forbidden by the laws of
such state, territory, or district.
"Sec. 3. And be it further enacted by the au-
thority aforesaid, That the deputy postmasters of
the offices where the pamphlets, newspapers,
handbils, other printed papers pictorial rep.
resentations aforesaid, may arrive for delivery,
shall, under the instructions of the Postmaster
General, from time to time give notice of the
same, so that they may be withdrawn by the per. |
son who deposited them originally to be mailed,
and if the same shall not be withdrawn in one
moth thereafter shall be burnt or otherwise de- |
stroyed."
It will be seen by the provisions of this
bill that it does not propose to affect, in any
way, shape or manner, the liberties, rights,
Or inte.ests of the people ofthe north. The
law is called for by those of the south-it
is adopted, if adopted at all, for their ezclu.