Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-06-11

he istlcir candidate and supported by them
md that ifelccted,, il will be a Federal admin.
slratioh, Would. be siitficientto prevent ME from
Welding him any support. Aud bis position
" afhlialing with the Aboliiionists, as have
shown, would be Of itself sufficient barrier.
is not my purpose TO abuse General Harrison
ar from il. Nor will Iabus+ Federalists, OF
Abotionlsts. II is enough that am not will.
ing to trust the Government in the hands Of
either; and shall be mistaken If tho people
Jf Georgia are,
Having given these reasons why canno,
consent 10 support General Harrison, l
will now assign those which induce me 10 pre-
Ter his opponent. In doing so none will charge
me with comingto the task influenced by any
feelings Of partality.
The vote given for the tariff in 1923, is now
trulnpeted abroad as an objection to Van Buren
For this both The candidates for ,hs Presidency
voted. But here again am stopped. In the
year 1892, party Of which am member
gave again their support 10 Mr.. Van Buren, for
Vice President of the United States. His
vote and the circumstances Under which it was
gwen. were no secret-wefe we'll known to
the public, and at time of great excitement
upon the subject Of the tariff. II is not my
wish TO censure others, bur to assign the reasons
which govern my own conduct. Acting with
my own party, lgave cordial support 10 Mr..
Van Buren at both these periods 1894 and 1892.
Wiiho ut going into vindca,ion of those votes
now think that you will agiee with me that
| should present them with bad grace asreas.
ons why he could not get my vote. We sup.
ported him then without call for his opinions
npon the subject Of slavery--since which we
have had his published opinions, and resolves
upon this vital subject, TO which l call yonr
attention, He wa, interogated BY the Jackson
aud Shacco COMMITTEES before his election to
the Presidency. his answers to which show how
far his votes, twenty years ago. onght to alarm
the South upon the subject Gf slavery. He
says if elected, must 20 into the Presen,ial
chair that ilfexible and uncompromising op.
ponent OF any attempt. upon the part Of Con.
sres', to abolish slaveryin the District Of Co.
lnmbla against lie wishes of the slaveholding
States; and also with determination, equally
decided, to resist the slightest interference with
the subject in the States where II ix.sts But
am aware that many declared then he was in.
sincere, and could not be trusted. Yet after his
election, when, if he had any desire 10 b,.tray
our rights and falsify his declarations, when
there was TO actual call or necessity, in his in.
augnrul address lie repeats them.
But nearly four years has passed, and you
may wish TO know whether he is still infexibIe
upon this suber and whether the growing
rage Of fanalicism has not driven him from his
position. This is right: you should known. and
without distinct con6rinatian, you might pru.
IDENTITY Withhold your votes from any candidate.
On the 10Th of Febuary, of the present year,
a very respectful letter was addressed TO- Gen.
Harrison from aome gentlemen in Virginia. in
which they pr"pounded, among others thee
questions;
sit constitutional. and il 30. would i, be
eSpedlent to abolish slavery in the DisTic. Of
Columbia"
In the event Of your election, shonld bill
to abolish slavery in the District of C umbia
pass Congress would itre,eive your sanctionl"
Now these were very plain questions, easily
answered by an honest man who intends no i'm.
position, and yet Gen Harrison refused to
answer. His friends in the South may say one
thing, and appeal to his speech made al Vim.
cennes. while his friends in the non slayeliold.
ing states krow another. How different has
Mr.. Van Buren, acted. Onrhe 2Ist March, OF
the present year. letter from Virginia was
addressed TO him upon this subject, to which he
replies on the 27th of the same; Il have re.
celted your letter of tlre 2ls, insta I. and q
have no objection TO say in reply, with the sen.
lnents expressed in my letter to Junius AIMS
and others oil the 9th Of March 1896, and sub.
repeated in my inaugural address are
not only still entertained by me, but have been
greatly strengthened by subseque,i, experience
aud reflection" BY this, wc have renewed as.
surances of his determination to preserve in.
violate this species of our properly. There is
M concealnlent-ihere. is no equivocation-
but sentiment candidly and fully expressed.
and published TO the world, should feel nv.
self exceedingly humbed If were now TO say
to the people Of my state, that oppose Mr..
Van Buren for the vote instructing Rufus
King. or the vote changing the constitution Of
New York, or the yo:e Of restriction upon Flo
rida. No matter how Objectionable these votes
and the party with which acted, to say the
least of it. excured them then without any fu.
sorable pledge from Mr.. Van buren,. Not an
objectionable expression has fallen from his lips
orpen since upon this subject, and those re.
peated assurances in our favor; and how could
|. with any sort of consistency, assign. these
votes as reasons for denouncing him now
But there is other public evidence of his SINGER
ily upon this subject. My fellow citizens will
remember, that bill was introduced in the
Senate TO prevent the transportation by mail
of anti slavery; pamphlets, books, newspapers,
&c. &c. This bill came before the Senate on
the question. "Shall this bill be engrossed,
and read third timer" while Mr.. Van Buren,
was Vice President. Upon this question the
Senate tied, 1S and 1s and III decision had TO
be nude by Mr.. Van Buren. He met il prompt.
y and voted for its passage. We are treating
gentlemen from non slaveholding states with
great unfairness, when we abuse them, after
every demonstration they can make in our favor.
| slIaf have to lose my regard for virtue and
consistency, before enlist in the crusade. But
strang as are expressions, and 80 delnsive as
has been the conduct Of Mr.. Van Buren,, l
would not feel that the South won!d be jus, tc
hcrselito yield HIM her support, ifhe was cou,t.
ing abolition votes at the expense Of our rights
aud If his supporters were affiating with these
fanaticks. For this reason. the candidates COR
President iffe the representatives of great prin.
ciples. which principles I must often under.
stand from the zeal and character of their snp-