The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1840-07-02
Correspondence Of the n. Y. Courier & Enquirer.
MR.. VAN BUREN, DURING THE WAR
OF 1912.

/
| OF 1912.
1t is frequently asked, what was the poll
cy pursued by Mr.. Van Buren, during the
warof 1912? His friends boldly reply, he
was the Jealous advocate of that measure,
and supported the administration of the Ge-
neral Government in its prosecution. His
opponents speak doubtinely and give evi-
dence in their answers TO the interrogatory
of a want of correct information ON the sub
ject. Nor is this strange or wonderful.
| The actors In the scenes of those by-gone
days, are rapidly passing off the stage OF
| life. Another generation has sprung up.
| Men born After that war was declared, may
now be in the councils of the nation; and
thousands of such are amongst the most ar
dent, and are of an age to be the most eff
cient, in the mighty political struggle that
agitates our country. They are younger
than majority of those gallant spirits which
commanded our battaIions in the battle
fields of the revolution, and shed lustre
upon the land of their nativity.
No mans position is more easily defined
than Mr.. Van Buren's in 1912. A very
few historical facts, which are matters of
record will remove all doubts on this point;
and however much they may be obscured
by sophistry and metaphysical refinement,
they stand in bold relief, placing him in the
ranks of the opponents Of the srdr and Mr..
Madison, and the champion of the "peGcc
party" candidate for the Presidency, select
ed and nominated by the New England
high-toned Federalists, designated, in those
times, as the "Es8er Junt0."
In April, 1912, Mr. Van Buren, was elect
ed member of the Senate of the Stale of
New York The whole country was then
convused with the question of war or no
war with Great Britain. In those days the
Democratic party designated Presidential
candidates by Congressional caucuses.-
They were the test OF party men. In this
way Mr.. Jefferson had been toice nominated
and elected, and Mr.. Madison once. On
the 23d of May, 1879, MIR. Madison was
nominated a second time by the Democratic
members of Congress. He was selected
by them as the known and acknowledged
war candidate.
On the Goth of May, seUen days the NOM
inaton of Mr.. Madison, the New England
Federalists, with certain distinguished Fed
eraIsis of the State of New York and else
where, held caucus in in Broad street, in
the city of New York. Their deliberations
resulted in nominating what they termed a
"pedce party' candidate for the Presidency
in opposition to Mr.. Madison, the ''lrGr par
fy" candidate. On the 9Th June, 1912
war was declared against Great Britain and
E from that time until the meeting of the State
! Legislature on the Sd of November follow
ing, Mr.. Van Buren, denounced the war and
its authors. He was actively engaged with
! the Federalists in disparagng Mr. Madison
and in untiriHg efforts to defeat his re-elec.
! ton.
: At that time the Legislature of the State
of New York chose the Presidential electors
Mr.. Van Buren, was a member of the Legis
: Iature. The electors were chosen viva voce
:, Each member rose in his place and read of
J the ticket for which he voted; the clerk ia
\ king down the names of the persons voted
for, and by whom, and then entering then
> upon the iournal.-There could be no mis-
. take, therefore, as to whom tie member
voted for. War had now been raging 70
nearly five months. The disasters which
the country had experienced, were well cal
p culated to awaken the national feelings 0
e every patriotic American, and to prompt hin
e (if he had any sympathies in common witt
r. the administration to act in concert with
J. and give his support to it. What was Nh
20 Van Buren's course of conduct at this event
:. ful period?
Is On the 3D. of November. 1912, the Legis
II lature of the State of New York convene
b in the city of Albany. 1t was special ses
10 sion, held for the purpose of appointing
ot Presidential electors. On the evening c
o the 4th, a caucus was held in the Senat
10 chamber, for the purpose of designating car
n didates TO be voted for as electors. Their
rs were three parties in the Legislature. FRS
n The Democratic party, the friends and sur
r. porters Of Mr. Madison and the war. Sc,
nl ond, The party which have since acquires
r. and is in the possession Of the administratio
nd of the federal government-self styled no
ed as then, consolidationsts-tE
a advocates of executive power-professr
he economy, but practising extravaganza: :
And third, The high toned federal party.
Tia The t,oo first met in caucus together
Ir. Great violence ensued. MIR. Van Buren,
a speech of some length assailed with viz
lence, Mr.. Madison; the statesman of Il
an South, the war. and all its supporters. 1
BE then Landed in most furlsome manner, Il
ia presidential candidate of the ssESScr Jalnto
ars and ayowed his determination to suppc
M that candidate, which pledge he redeeme
IN He was replied TO by General Root, now
III. the Senate of New York, by the late Cha
- celor Sanford, and by others. Gen. Rol
and the other friends of MIR. Madison, fin
inu themselves in a minoritv wifhflrew fro