Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-17

suggestion Of MIR. Van Buren, IN the IonSenton VI
York but were again folled. meeting OF th's par!
has since been held in n Carolina, of which resoiu
ton condemnng Mr. Van buren, course on "S ho
voted for the adoption of his plan III the ~ Caroihn
Convention Such is the injustice and madness OF
party spirit! , ,,od
until the present time the hostility oil the Ab"liloh'St'
to Mr. Van Buren, has been vIruIen unremtcu, ul'e-
.n,;nr Whilst TO almost every other candidate they
have addressed their ntrrrogatores, thcy nave never
troubled him with queries. Ills and Their relative OPT
Mons lave always been snihcni'iy "InN'u' 'i'a
have been too rood politicians to give HIM an opporu
pv o ASSUMING them the reasons Tor his reproDatio
of their tencts and practices Yet strange |" say lhSe
very steps the he pursued on me Missouri qrs
ton. and with regard TO the right OF suffrage by the
blacks nv which Mr. Van Buren, drew down upon HIM
Ic H., ,,r,nprnsable hostility of the Abollt!onlss ma
ne before the more general avowal of his opinions
10 be hereafter noticed have ever since he irst became
candidate for the Vice Presidency, been made the
theme of the most outrageous Vitup'ra'ioh ana ,s'e
presentation by Southern wings affecting 10 regard '''e
Abolition question as paramount 10 all others.
Mr. Rives rernainin. charge against Mr.. Van Bu.
rem is that he voted in leg, against striking out
clause in the Bill for the organization OF the Terri
toral Government of Florida TO PROHIBIT the miro
ducon of slaves, except by citizens OF the States re-
moving therein as actual settlers What will the read
or think Of this grave charge, when he IS informed at
the bill containing tins clause was reported tn me
Senate by WIN. Smith of South Carolina as ChaiF'
man Of the Judiciary COMMITTEE, who, although he
voted for striking out the clause when the motion was
made would not have reported it at ALL had he regard
ed il in the reasonable light in which Mr.. Rivcs now
affects it; nay tatsthc clause Itself was taken
from the organize the Orleans Territory IN l-Ol,
which was reported by Committee OF five, OF whom
four were shareholders and of less distinction than
Breckenridge of Kentucky, Gov Wright of Mary
land, and those eminent men, Jackson and baldwin OF
Georgia. And what will he think when he IS further
told, that the provision which hes at the i"un-
daon Of the legislation Of the Southern States, and that
aw. similar 10 this IN succession passed and APP
Piled to themselves by the States OF Irgna, Delaware,
Maryland, ~ Carolina, 5. Carolina, Tennessee, Ala.
bama, Mississippi and Louisiana: But we are ashamed
at having bestowed 50 much lime upon an Itnputation
prcpostcros, the stale recurrence to winch proves
that MIR. llivcs very much nj loss To hnd even
plausible topics for the nourshment OF that malice
which has degraded his intellect well a. corrupted
his heart How lost to all scltrcspcct, must be the
man who is reduced to such contemplate shifts
But is this all; Are there other matters connect
ed with Mr. Van Buren, position, III regard 10 the ADO
ton question, which elucdate has actual opinions,
Are there events OF recent date, by which he can
be tested that til, ttcnon 81! the people IS thus car
rcd back 10 transactions of now almost quarter cen
tury 5 standing, The highnInded and upright people
of Virginia not TO be diverted from the true and ac-
tual issue by such shallow devices When Vice PrcSI
dent Of the United States, Mr. Van Buren, gave his
casting vote, with prompt aIacrIty, IN favor oil the Ia"
prohibiting the transportation by the mail OF nccnd!ary
publications. II this salutary law, we believe,
which denounced blowing the knee 10 the dark
spirit Of slavery" by the present Harrison Elector,
Rtner, whom Mr. Rivcs secretly supported At time
when his hostility to he Administration was denied,
BY ms friends, although he IN the letter under review,
savers the Democratic incumbent, who succeeded III
spite OF his secret mannuvres with hypocritIcal euiogy
as if he though him gorgeous dupc, as TO be de-
biuched by such damning and insulting praise When
addressed before his election, on the delicate topics
connected with Southern slavery, BY those who thought
thus to ernbarrass him. he replied, and manner to
forever, all genuine doubts abont his views
and intentions. lis replies 10 the Jackson and Shocco
committees, contain all that the South can demand not
given pledges, but frank and full exposition OF
his sentiments questions OF such vital and urgent
Importance TO Justify her, IN requiring satisfactory
assurances from those who candidates for her sup
port. There is IN these manly replies, shniilng, no
Prevaricarion equIvocaton much less cowardiy or
calculating silence from the fear OF ncurrIng the dis
pleasure Of formidable body OF fanatics, who may
hold the balance of power He Denied in the most
explicit manner, the constitutional right OF Congress
interfere with slavery III the States and declared that
there considerations equally imperative, winch pro-
hibt ii from touching the subject III the District OF Co
lumba These main propositions he entorces by various
other considerations, aud supports by the strongest ar
gumcnts derived from the Constitution lt.elt, the aa
cred compromises which resulted III It's formation,
tempOraneouS events present duties, and The precious
interests of liberty and national prosperity lie
appealed To the patriotism of ALL citizens OF poi"
teal community, originating in common struggle,
bound by mutual ties, and united by identical interests
to abstain from agitation perIlous TO every thing
which dear upon earth. And not content with this
full and emphatic expression OF his sentiments lac de-
carcd that che must 70 into the Presidential chair the
lnilcEIblc and uncompromsing opponent OF any at
tempt the part Of Congress TO abolish slavery IN the
District of Columbia, against the wishes OF the slave
holding States; and also with the determination equally
decided to resist the slightest interference with the
subject, IN the States where ii exists.
What more can he desired IL any thing additional
is wanted il is TO be- found in the renewed declarations
the same purpor, IN his Inaugural Address, when
he had the highest prize Of honor and could speak
out without mourning the mputaton Of being acuated
by selfish motives. 'Pecevng, observed he on that
proud occasion, "beiorc my election the deep interest
this subject beginning 10 excite believed 1t SO
Tenn duty fully 10 make known my sentiments IN re-
gard 10 IL; and now when every motive for mISrrprc
Senation has passed away, | trust that they will b.
canddly weighed and understood al least, they will
be my standard of conduct in the path before M.
then declared that II the desire Of those OF my coun-
trymcn who favorable 10 my election grail
fled, must 20 into the Presidential chair, the niirx
bic and uucompromsng opponent of every attempt on
the part Of Congress Ia abolish slavery III the District
OF Columbia: against the wishes Of the slavcholdmg
States and also, with determination equally decided
I" resist the slightest interference with the subject IN
the States il exists. submitted ais" Ia my fell
low citizens, with iulmcss and lrankncsS the
which led me IL this determination. The result at!
thor2es 10 believe that they have been approved
and ar cmiiord III by majority Of the people of the
States including those whom they most immediately
Affect 1t now only remains TO add, that no bill con
dieting with these views receive my Constu
tional sanction.
We regret that want of space has compelled US in the
main TO condense into phraseology of own the lucid
views, patriotic sentiments and manly language of Mr..
Van Buren, on these vital and stirring topics We hope
we have said enough however, To show how unounded
are the hypocrtca doubts expressed AT this late day
with regard to his this great question by has
former supporter VIM c. Rvcs, who, il he be sincere
which is impossible, would have been guilty of treason
to the South in advocating his election As TO General
HARRISON we will not insult Mr. Van Buren, by compar
ing their respective attitudes in relation 10 this para
mount topic. They do not admit oil comparison: con
tras alone exists, and it infinitely advantageous 10
the atter.-We just happen TO recollect, that the
day which is TO give light TO this number Mr.. RIvrs is
TO be greeted with the "honor dshonorahlc of a Fcdc
raj banquet al Winchester We hope friendly mis-