The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-09-10
From he Richmond nhic

PUBLIC ATTENTION REQUESTED.
The Globe of Saturday contains let,e!
from President Van Buren, TO Citizen OF
Martin county, n. Carolina, indicating
his course in the case of Lieut.. Hooe, and
as lis length is not too great, we transfer it
TO our columns.
1.-The simple question says the President, pre-
sen,ed by these proceedings was whether the ad-
mission of illegal evidence assuming II TO be) TO
sibstaniiate parts only Of the charges, ought 10
be allowed to invalidaie the finding of the Court,
&cp
With submission, that is not the "simple "
question, nor the single question, nor at all
the material question which has been put
10 issue. The Southern Public has troubled
itself very little 10 regard 10 the guilt or IN
nocence OF Lieut.. Hooe, or the justice or in
Justice of the sentence found against him by
the Court Martial. That is personal
question of subordinate interest, incapable
from lis nature, Of exciting the profound
sensation which the publication of the case
has created Throughout the Slave holding
States. Lieut.. Hooe Instead Of an honora.
bic gentleman, might be proved The verlesi
mr nster that ever stained humanity, as no
question the Administration would be glad
! 10 prove him, if il could, and yet the true
question would not be affected by his gull,
or Innocence, his worth as man, or his
want OF it. The true question is as 10 the
admission Of the testimony Of negroes
against white men, its proprieiy or impro'
prlety, the right or the wrong o. H. The
People OF the South do no, find fault with
Mr.. Van Buren, for not inlerposlng the au
lhority of his Office 10 save Lieut.. Iiooe
from the sentence Of the Court Marts.-
OF the fitness or the un6iness Of that sen.
ience in the abstract, Its justice or injustice
they care no more than they would care 10
any other case of trial by naval Court
Martial and Mr.. Van Buren, can hardly be
unconscious of the fact. Ii is the principle
I involved in il which have arrested their at
iention. II is the refusal of the President
Of the United States to interfere, when he
could consil,utionally and legally do so, TO
put down the principle of negro evidence
against white men, that has es,orted cen.
sure and animadversion, and shaken the
confidence of the South in the sincerity Of
! those professions which describe him as "a
! Northern man with Southern feelings" 1t
IS his ratification Of the principle Of negro
evidence against white men, when he obvi
ousiy had it in his power 10 strange II eff.
/ tec,ualIy, that has reused Southern indigna.
ton against Presiden, Van Buren,, and pro
cured his nearly universal condemnation
! condemnation that would be universal and
unqualified save slone from the influence OF
party lies. Let us be respectfully permit.
ted TO assure the President that these con
slllute 10 Southern eyes the true issues, and
not the guilt or innocence Of Lieut.. Hooe.
Were tina, getleman the very humbles, and
mos, worthless sailor that ever trod a
deck, instead Of an accomplished officer as
we have heard he was, Southern feeling
would stlli be tue same. Ii is the principle
( and not the individual OF his conduct, which
has attracted Southern observation. il is
the virtual ratification By Presidential au
lhority, of tie intoerable doctrine tina, ne.
groes may swear away the honor and The
lives of Southern men, thu. has klndled
Southern passion and excited the keenest
Southern reprebension. Here are the true
questions and issues, and It is beyond Mr..
Vac Buren's powers Of sophlstry and inge
nu,y to evade, TO dodge, or to blink them.
The President cannot wonder a Southern
excitement growing GU; Of the case Of 1t.
liooe, nor upon reflection, that il should
have shaken to their base, the remaining
pillars OF his popularity. Does he not know
/ the peris and the insults TO which the South
IS exposed from the Aboll.lonist! Is he not
aware tina. perfect equality between the AZ.
rlcan and the white races-equallty in all
things, even TO our marrying our sisters
and daughters out OF our colnur-is the
burden Of oil their songs, and the Interior
end Of all their exertions Does he not
perceive that to edmi, negroes 10 give
testimony against white men. IS par.
ilal recognition al least, Of this equality,
aud seven league stride towards consum.
mating the foul and nefarious schemes Of
The Abull,ions,s Is i, wonderful then
tlluk ttlE CtUtU sUbutu Us Ui-blJ 1bltuiIb
when this recognition is made by Pres,
dent Of the United Staies--whon instead Of
ln,erposng hrs righiiul authority 10 crush
the damnable doctrine, lie declines to inter.
fire, add permits the precedent to be estab
/ lished--when, instead Of protecting South.
ern rights with the broad shield Of Eyccu
tive discretion over the subject, he, Indl.
rectly indeed, but substantially announces
to the world and the A5nilonisis that ne
groes ought 10 be allowed 10 give witness
against white men, Our wonder is, not
that the South is excited and indignant, bu,
that consuming fame has not been kndled
Throughout, her borders, aud tina, Martin
Van Buren, has single disintevested friend
Jeff TO tell the tale Of h's par,y's annhIIa,ion.
Again Mr.. Van Buren, has announced
hlmseIfa foe ofthe Aboliionists, and his par.
.izans in many a grand flourish Of Rhode.
nontade, have proclaimed him the +" North.
ern man with Southern feelings" whose
whole soul was devoted TO the preservation
Of Southern institutional Many fool has