Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-08-25
From the Albany Daily Advertiser.
PRESIDENTIAL SHUFFIING.

A letter written hy Mr. Van Buren, TO GER
tain citizens of Virginia. referring, amongst
other matters 80 Mr. Poinsct's Militia Bill, Is
Just now attracting considerable attention ~
the Old Domiaion, not so much for any inirln-
sic merit the letter itself possesses rs from
discrepancy between the sentiments It con
talns, and those heretofore expressed by tie
President on this same subject. The project
submitted by Mr. Ponseu, Mr. Van liuron's
Secretary OF War, during the recent session
OF Congress- for the reorganization of the
Militia ofthe United States, has elected per
haps more discussion than any other subject
OF national importance. Bv n great proper
ton OF tho public press il has been viewed and
VI souneed as an approach To the establish
ment OF A STANDING ARMY, and its details as
they have been spread before the people, have
everywhere met with the most decided disap-
probation. In some sections of the Union,
this plan OF the Secretary of War has been
censured as equally costly, oppressive and in
lJudcous, and as it has Justly enough, been
represented as an administration measure, il
is supposed by many the Van Buren, party
10 have affected injuriously their cause, and
TO have turned the scale OF the April elections
in Virginia against them. Acting under this
belief, and feeling, it would seem, the nccessi-
sty of an authoritative disavowal Of Mr. Van
! Buren, Of any connection with, or cogniz1nce
| OF, Mr. Poiuseits plan, some OF the party lead
| ers in Virginia have addressed letter 10 the
President (d0ublcss at his otcn ipsfisdiiOn) ask
ing for his opinion OF the Secrctary's scheme.
Tho reply OF Mr. Van Buren, 10 characteristic
Of the man. After giving long history Of the
various legislative cnactments, since the adop-
ton OF the Constitution, relative 20 the organ-
za,ion Of the Militia, he comes down to the
plan in question and ventures upon the follow
ing lucid opinion Of its merits
at is but lately that my attention has been
particularly drawn to this subject; and, as
there is no doubt that the great men TO whom
! have alluded, contemplated an organization
ofihe militia, and provisions for its better in
struction, embracing substantially the princi-
pies contained in Mr. poinsett's plan, it be-
comes me, in the face of so much apparent
authority, to hesitate before pronounce defni-
hueiy upon as cORstitutiOndlty. | shall, am
confident, in the opinion Of all candid minds,
best perform my duty by retratnrng 10 do so,
until Il becomes necessary 10 act OGic,dify n, The
matter. In the mean time, will content my
self with saving, that the nciinGii0n Of my
mind IS, that the desired measure cannot be
safely accomplished, in the form proposed,
under the Federal Constitution, as ii stands"
Having given this clear account Of the sin
clination OF his mind" on the subject, the
President next takes the Wings to task for en-
delvoring TO repre- sent him as having counten-
anced Mr. Poinsett's plan lie affects TO be
greatly surprised al this charge, inasmuch as
the plan 90 quote-from his letter AGAIN. mot
only had never been submitted To him, but
'was not even mltured until three months
after the message was sent in. And he com
plains in round terms of the ''attempt TO prove
i this unfounded assumption by the publication
of garhled extract from the document, &. e..
the message,) with its true meaning falcliied
by the suppression OF material part Alter
reading these paragraphs we were really DIS
posed 10 believe that Mr. Van Buren,, with his
usual prudence, had rerained from express
ing any opinion upon Mr. l'oinsetts plan, until
HE had an opportunity OF observing how 1t was
received 10y the people and that now, having
satisfied himself OF It's unpopulariiy, he had
boldly come forward to disavow all knowledge
Of the plan, and 20 shuttle off the responsibility
lof the measure upon the shoulders of his sub
missive Secretary. We were curious 10 see,
however, what part OF his message had been
SO "garl led" as 10 produce this false impress
sion, and we accordingly turned TO the docu-
ument, and, 10 our great establishment, read,
As follows
"The present condition of the deiences Of
our principal sea-pors and navy yards, as rep
resented by the accompanying report OF the
Secretary of War, calls for the early and sorl-
Gus attention OF Congress, AND As CONNECTING
ITSELF NTrATELY WITH THIS SUBJECT, /
CANNOT TOO STRONGLY RECON-
MEND TO YOUR CONSIDERATION
tuPrHE PLAN SUBMITTED BY THE
SECRETARY OF WAR FOR THE OR
lGANIZATION or THE MILITIA or
THE UNITED STATES"
Hero then, if the letter above alluded TO be
realty Mr Van }Irens, we hear the President
declaring that he "cqHnof too strongly recon-
a,,ad 10 HE consideration of Congress- plan
which ..not oniy had Hcref been Submuttcd IN
LMa,n but ",cas not eecn maiUred until more
than three months after the messlge,so strong
IN recommendatory of il. was sent in, What
the people " an think Of MT Nan Buren's prcs-
en- disayowal Of any knowledge OF Mr. Pom
sets plan, m tho face ofthe 'slrong' recon-
mendation in his rncssage--or how far they
viii hold him. Notwithstanding his reluctance
responsible for his Secrctary's scheme, II Is
orihem 10 say. Meanwhile, we leave the
subject for the moment, intending, when we
resume II. 10 contrast the conduct OF Martin
Van Buren, in thus steadily grading 'ihe re-
sponslbinty," with his predecessors policy OF
always taking the responsibility.
SHOtLD WORKING-MEN EAT MEAT.
Tie Argus of Yesterday publishes the
sDcoch Of SIR Williams, lOco-foco member
ofCongress from Massachusetts, and beslOws
upon Il high commeadaiion This is the
speech from which we extracted tho following
passage some weeks since
at Is true, SIR that greater portion Of the