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

requested TO use their utmost exertons and take every
means to prevent the extension oil slavery "ith Tue
Territory Of the u S. West of the Mississippi and
tho new States 10 be formed within that Territory,
which the Constitution and the treaties made under It
will allow. . =
We have already shown from his proposition IN Con-
oress that he thought the Government invested with
Tho mover of prohibiting slavery in the States and
Territories so that the apparent qualification IN the
last clause of the resolution goes for nothing PIE
hero this and martyr for the unconstitutional rights OF
the South. Mr. Rives, Sheridan SAID, us indebted TO
his ina rinann for his facts TO as To wit, he displays
none, original or borrowed. Gen. Harrison was not
in Congress when the Missouri question was settled,
but IN ls22, he again became candidate, when he
was successfully opposed by Mr.. Gazlay, but not on
grounds connected with the Missouri controversy, the
irritation generated by which, had been displaced by
more recent topics His demonstrations in the Ohio
Legislature would have saved him on that score so that
the cant about his closing his seat in Congress, from
s.patrotic se:dcvoton, is all mere fudge MI RIves
martyr shortly after elected TO The Senate OF the
IT, S. from which he was transferred 10 the prohtable
station of minister 10 the Republic of Colombia, by the
second Adams s he had received his early honor from
the first prince of that venerable Federal dynasty
His diplomatic not brilliant one, and he re-
turned after short time TO sink INTO the obscure but
lucrative ccrkship of Hamilton county, whence, after
dosing away the declining years OF n life, marked
by nothing much by the almost uninterrupted
tenure of public office, he is suddenly invoked by
Whggery, in It's utmost need as MS only available
candidate for the Presidency. This is the concise his
tory of this hero and martyr of the Unconstitutional
rights of the South about whose merits services and
sacrifices Mr.. Rivcs is eloquent lie not only
yaunts the political talents and claims of this ''mIItary
chicftan" TO the first office in the gift of great and
free people, but holds him up us model Of "clc
gance of expression, of which his "eagle speech,
delivered the other day. upon the presentation OF cap
tive bird of Jove, by described utlve fish.
hawk is a rich specimen. To listen tn MIR Rircs, we
would believe that his "Rcpubcan candidate, is the
very Phoenix of warriors, statesmen and orators. But
fortunately the people of Virginia are not such fools
as this gentleman takes them TO be-. If we have com
mttcd any errors in statements we hope TO be cor
rected, as write hastily, but with determination,
from policy rs well as from princ pie, TO be far.
On the momentous question cursorI!y discussed by
in this and previous number, the opinions OF MIR
Van Buren, have been too often expressed, and are
too decisive and satisfactory TO need any further VIM
dcation or calculation. Still, this late day, Mr.
Rvcs has thought proper To impugn them, few words
IN reply will not be deemed out of place. The
cnur displayed by this magnammous critic, is the strong
est proof Of the injustice of his TaCts observes
that the hatred Of Tibcrus for Germanlcus was the
greater because il unprovoked. The aspcr.ty of
Mr. Rives is whctted by the calm superiority, with which
Mr. Van Buren, looks down upon his puny malice. He
arragns the Of the President two grounds viz
that "as a member Of the Senate of New York, he vo
ted in favor Of instructions To the Senators and Repre-
Missouri restriction and year two afterwards,
member of the Senate Of the $, voted i'll favor of the
proposition To restrict the Introduction of slaves into the
Territory Of Florida" Surprising all this 10 be true,
Mr.. Van Buren, did less than done by Gen
Harrison in the Legislature Of Ohio. 1t may be
marked also, that Mr.. Van Buren, ought not to be held
responsible for his immature OPINIONS these questions
when in the Legislature of New York, or young mem
her of the Senate of the U S, especially he has
taken 50 decided stand, at the hazard Of much ohio
any al the North for the constitutional rights of the
South" This matter amp y discussed, and par.
tcuarly in an able letter Of Mr. Butler, during the last
Presidential canvass, when MS Mr. RIvcs boosted, no
man labored more Tor the success of Mr. Van !uren
than himself that the plea Of ignorance cannot be put
IN by this dsngenuous critic.
But fortunately, the President on these points, does
not stand in need Of the generous orbcarance of Mr.
Ryes The circumstances under which the New
York resolutions passed. the high excitement and
great unanmity upon the subject, which then prevailed
throughout the Northern States, are known to all who
were then conversant with public affairs have at
tended the publications relating 10 II which have
since appeared. Mr. Clinton then, and for the SIX pre-
ccdng years, the great opponent OF MIR. Yum Buren,,
was at the Governor of the State, and the latter
member of lis Senate, IN active opposition to the Ad
ministratinn of the former. An expression of the
opinion of the Legislature upon the subject OF the
Missouri restriction earnestly recommended by
The Governor III his Message, and resolution,
explicitly, but respectfully declaring the sense Of
the Legislature in lis favor, was introduced by ono
of his friends This resolution passed the body, of
which Mr.. Van Buren, member without de-
bate or Il division. tie had agency in bringing IT
in, ~ way connected with its progress, and
there is nothing IN the proceedings NJ the Legislature
or indeed any thing else, the single fact that
he was member, to identify him at all with the mea-
sure If the political ethics Of Mr. Rivcs school
those also of the friends of MIR. Van Buren,, they would
hav" nothing to do but TO deny that the shtes, r"spon
sbilily attached 10 him in this matter, and challenge
4 ~
more caniour. As Mr.. Van Buren, member of
tina, body and was present that occasion, although
the records show nothing yet e did not oppose the
resolution, he must be presumed to have concurrcd
with his State, at least passvcIy, in this act But for
tunatcly for the truth of history and correct under
standing Of the transactions of that day, and Of The
views Of the parties concerned, this not the only
proceeding which took place Subsequent events show,
that the restriction of slavery was by no means the
principal object of those proceedings. The rcsolu-
lions Of the Legislature were not il appears deemed
sufficient 10 accomplish the purposes of their
ers 4 meeting Of the citizens of Albany also
called 10 take the subject INTO consideration, at which
committee, composed Of both the friends and oppo
ncnts of the State administration, appointed, with
power to call a more general meeting II was held,
and resolutions passed, among other things,
drnuuncing the existence OF slavery the States ''as
4 great political calamity, rs well as moral evil njl
rlos TO the character Of the nation, hazardous to the
existence of free institutions, and rrpugant To the spi
rit and principles Of true religion very much after
the fashion of the resolutions strcnuouSIy advocated
by Gen. Harrison in the Ohio Legislature 4 COM
mtec was appointed, n the same time, To prepare and
present respectful memorial TO Congress expressive
ofthe sentiments contained in the resolutions which
committee MIR. Van Buren,, who was IL appears, at
tending court at the time IN another county,
placed. The memorial forthwith reported and
adopted by the meeting Mr.. Van Buren, refused to
sign it, or have any thing TO do with the proceedings
An angry correspondence ensued between him and one
Of the gentlemen, who had been conspicuous on the
occasion This correspondence and all the facts here
stated will be found in the letter, before alluded to- OF
the Hon. B F. Butler TO Hugh A. Garland, Esq, orr
gnally published in the Richmond Enquirer, in March
lc:iJ
any thing had been wanting TO stimulate to high
er pitch the hostility Of the AbolitIonsts 10 Mr. Van
Buren,, excited by these transactions it would have
been suppcdby the proceedings in the Convention Of
l-2l Under the old Constitution Of New York, the
white and black population stood upon the same footing
it gardcd the right of suffrage The election for
representatives in the city of New York. then as now
generally decided the complexion Of the Legislature