Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-11-10
MR.. VAN BUREN's LETTER.
-"A Ir,.I;artou nrt 2 2ft


MR.. VAN BuRENs LETTER.
Washington, Oct. B. le1o
Gentlemen: Your letter OF the 18TH uit' au not
reach me unit! last evening.
Sensible of the trouble to which my friends in re-
mote paris of the Union exposed by peFseverins
isreprescnations OF my course IN reia'oh :" ''e
MISREPRESENTATION as to which It would oc an
obuse Of charity 10 suppose that many Of those VINO
,re most industrious in giving them circulation are
themselves deceyed-and entertaining the highest re-
sncc, for the motives in which your application or
led, cannot hesitate 10 comply WIN your 'e1u
me,spres of the Administrations OF Thomas JEFFERSON
and james Madison which resulted in the declaration
of war" aud which referred to IN your hfst que
ton. ,a ,od IN
tho notification of some of the political proceedings OF
thai enrlv day. in which participated a'ioFahg CO,
omnoroneous evidence of the statement here made.
reoret that il is not in my power 10 SEND you copy u
the full statements which have been mace upon 'iis
snb;sct The enclosed extract will, however, supply
ron With norton Of them, from which you will per-
ceve that as early January, 1902, During the ad,
min;straton of Mr.. JefIerson) prepared and nnitee
in adopiinc resolution, at public meeting heid III
my native county, in which we 'solemniy engaged 10
smn,ort tho Government in the measures they had
adon,d ar might adopt TO obtain redress for our ma
tional nurcs and protection TO national rights
that we never would be driven from the lar and manly
sumner, Of that resolution by the power OF our enemies
nr ho fhrPntS
be found TO abandon the pacific policy it had pursued
and TO unsheath the sword would be iound at our
pos,s ready and willing to sacrifice our lives ana iof'
tunes in our country cause!
You next ask me, "undcr what circumstances, ana
hv what marty De Witt Clinton nominated and
sv,nor,ed for the Presidency in 1912, in New York "
and you state that il is represented that he was Ut max
time, Federalist, and was supportedby me as such
Will precede my reply to your second question: wth
denial of the allegation that Mr. Clinton was ut thai
~, had hofor bpcn Fpderdsl.
the reverse in all things, and had for many Yeas pre-
vous and down TO that period, been the leader OF me
Democratic party in New York. lie The private
secretary Of his uncle George ClInton--was member
of the Legislature in 1857 and lcOO, and sustained the
Democracy the "regn of terror against the Black
coc.,ade party. lie was chosen y 5 Senator IN lsVl
by the former occupied by their choice various pubic
stations in New York was in tie State Senate ior Sc
vcra years before the war elected Lieutenant Cover
nor by them in 1911 which Office he still held IN leis
acted with his party 10 that PERIOD in support Of the
measures of the General and State Administrations,
under Madison and Tnmphins; 10 that period ahas-
ed with unspang bitterness by the Feeealiss, and n
return he applied 10 them his well remembered descrr-
lion of party who would rather rule in Hell than
serve in Heaven
The Republican members Of the Legislature chosen
in the Spring Of 1911, and who held their seats until
July 1872 and Of the Senators for longer period,
met, with the exception of perhaps half Dozen IN
caucus at Albany, in May, Isle, and nominated Mr..
Clinton for the Presidency. He was nominated by men
who were in favor Of pushing the assertion and MAN.
tenance OF rights to the extremity Of war; was
elected as entertaining the same sentiments himself,
and was subsequently supported by them IS trend 10
the war; after it declared, and in favor oil It's more
vigorous prosecution.
War was declared in June following. The same
Democratic Senators, who had united in the noinna-
ton of MIR. Clinton passed resolution the next day
after the declaration of war, but before information OF
that event had reached Albany, the last day OF the
session. ooh Junc,) declaring that 'he existing state
of The country demanded uneGuivoca expression OF
sentiment from every member OF the union anu ihai
under this impression the Senate pledged Themselves 10
supper. such measures shall he adopted By the Gene
raj Gorern,ncnt o, the undication o0 riOated rights
and honor'-and to a man voted against an amendment
proposed by Judge Plat, leading Federalist (Which
amendment received the votes Of the seven Fedcrasts
in the Senate) declaring that "nether the honor mol
the interests of the United States require that war
should be declared again9' cther Of the bcgerent
tons of Europe; and thai The system intercourse
and embargo, lately prac,sed by the o
the United States hostile TO The best interests OF tic
country copy Of the resolution oil the Senate was
sent to Mr. Madison
! ! was not in the Senate when Mr. Clinton was nomi-
mated, or when the proceedings last alluded to took
place. and had agency in either My sena'ora! term
commenced in November 1872, and at the session oI
choice Of Presidential electors voted for electors il
accordance with the Democratic nomination of the pre-
vious May. There three tickets; the regular Re
publican ticket for MIR. Clinton, agreed upon ut eau
Gus of Democratic members, which had III lis favor
majority of the Democratic members of each branch Of
the Legislature, and which, joint ballot, had serenity
four cotes-the Republican ticket opposed TO Mr. Gin
ton, which had centsir rocs, and the Federal ticket
which had 1oics and there seven blanks
and scattering Those who composed the ticket for MIR
Clinton Republicans, and those who voted for it
Except in joint ballot, when few Fedcrasts threw
their votes in lis favor were, every man, elected as
| Democrats.
! In supporting the nomination of Gov. Clinton fol
the Presidency, consulted what believed to he tho
wishes of the Republicans Of the State. My efforts in
his behalf were confined to the State of New York
With those made by his friends in other States, had
no concern. The relation which then occupied to-
wards the Federal party being the same in which had
always before, and have since stood, was not FOL
any period, in any degree, changed by what took
place in The Presidential election of 1879, nor has il
been changed at any period Of my political career.
At the ensuing session of the Legislature, which
commenced in January 1913, the political relation:
previously existing between MIR. Clinton and mysel
were dissolved, and never again resumed.
In reply 10 your last question, have only to say
that | did Support the prominent measures OF Tho
administrations of Madison and Tompkins, 10 the
close
am, gentlemen,
Very respectfully,
Your friend and obi servant,
NJ VAN buren,.
Messrs. E. NJ. Chamberlain, L. W. II. Ellis, 4. G
Chamberlain, and A. n. Hascall
} Goshen, Elkhart co.. Ia
D. fnr tha 1,pn