Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-02-08
From the Nashville Union.
r VAN BuREN,s GOOD FAIrH


When during the campaign of 1899 the FEEDER
al Leaders OF Tennessee charged Mr. Van Bu-
zen with layoring fJohtonisia, we endeayoted TO
repeI H. and to show that Mr. Clay had been
more particularly friendly 20 the fanatics than ever
,he President was General Harrison was brought
torwar,l--and while those same ederalsts quoted
heir bold charges against Mr.. V B. they declar.
cd il contrast thai General Harrison cas no 40
9ifoaist. We then threw forth the charges Of
sboIilion preferred against Harrison By Mr. RI
chic" the venerable Mr.. RNchie as the Ban
yer appropriately calls hlm-and IN turn we were
charged with accusing Harrison Of being an abo.
Eiionistl Thus did it work General Harm
sons true position on That subject we shall exam
no a, another time We would nov speak Of
Mn. Vas BrEEN's GOOD FAITH TO THE
SOUTH. With reference to the abolition Of Sla-
very IN the District of Columbia be SAID many
years ago
IL do moi hesitate TO give it to you, as my de-
lberate and weIl-considered opinion, haI there
are objection. to the exercise OF tbs power,
acalns, the wishes Of 'he slaye-hoding States, as
i@nsralipe il their nature md obligations, ID re-
auiarng the conduct Of public men, as me most
BqlpaLls lcaHt Of constitutional powcr rodd
Be- -
lie became candidate for President and he
declared that If elected
~ mist 20 into the Presidential char. The IN
ilcrible and incorporating opponent q any
q.iempi, on the pmtof Congress 10 abolish sla-
rfrq "a thc District Of Columbia, against tie
pi!i ofhs Stare holdiag States and also with the
determinations equally decided, to resist the slight
est Interference with the subject N the States
where il exists.
Again, he declared
THAT il is the sacred duty OF those whom the
people Of the United States ontrusl with The con.
lrol Of It's action, so 10 use The constitutional pom
tywifh ulch Mey are infested, as 10 prereM IT.
THAT is about abolition IN the Djstrictl
Aud We wlll quote from him once more
In his letter 10 Mr.. GwInn, IN 1884, he
said
My opinions on the subject Of the power Of
Congress over Slave Property III the Southern
States are so well understood by my friends, that
am surprised that an attempt 10 impose upon the
public respecting them should be hazarded. The
subject is, in my Judgment, exclusively under the
control Of the State Government and am not
apprsed, nor do believe hat contrary opinion,
10 an extent deserving consideration is enlerldih-
cd In any part Of the United States. The charge
Tue efore, TO which you have had the good
eess 10 call my attention, that am in FAVOR OF
an Interference by Congress IN manumins your
slave property Is destitute Of foundation 50 Tar
tromit, do not see on what authority the Gener-
Al Government could interfere rrtthoat change
q The Constitution, eren at the Instance y q
Tier or Of all The Slars-holding States ("
These rere MR. Van BUREN's PLEDGE
TO THE SOUTH. Now, let Us sec whether
he redeemed those PLEDGES. They were moi
"non.comnttal" not ambiguous, not evosive-
they were made in the whole face Of the nation
=" made in the most solemn manner Open, IN
qualified bold, up 10 The hub, and perfectly salts
factory to the South (" .Notr, let us see whether
he was true or false 10 those pledges. He was
elecied-and IN his Inaugural Address ofthe 5tt
Of March 1887, he said
Percelyng, before my election, toe deep m
crest this subject was beginning To excite be
'eTed il a solemn duty fully to make known my
sentiments in regard 10 il and now, when every
motive iot Misrepresentation has passed away,
rust that they will be candidly weighed and IN
dersIood. At least, they VIII be my standard O
conduct il the path before me. then declared
+NNf - NAt utSHt " ilfost VI my INuiiH At4Nt
who were layorable'to my election was gfatllied
must g1in,o the Presidential Chair the lnflex
'o'e and Incorporating opPonsn, Of every at
ienpt on-the part Of Congress, to abolish slavery
The District Of Columbia, against the wishes
u The slaye-holdng States, and also with a de.
elimination equally decided, to resist the sighies
interference with It in States where It exists.
submitted also to my fcllow-crzens with luiIness
ana iEankness, the reasons which led me to thu.
determination. The result auihofses me TO be
..eYe I'm, they have been approved, and are con.
aaed ~, by majority Of the People Of the Unit,
3 states, including lhosv whom they most imne
a'aiely affect. IL norc only remains 10 add, TIA
4ooM conflicting ,sith these riews can tper re-
gre ing constitutional sGHeiioa. These opin
pos have been adopted IN the firm belief TIA
"ey are IN accordance with the spirit that actual
20 'ae venerated Gathers Of The Republic, and tina
succeeding experience has proved them TO be hu
,.4ne' patriotic expedleni, honorable and Just
: .ls agitation of this subject was intended Il
each the stability Of our Institutions enough ha:
5'caFred to show that !; has signaly failed; anc
,'4' N this as IN every other instance, the apple
asas'ons Of the umid, and the hopes Of The r.ick