Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-07-02

The subject was by that memorial presen-
ted in terms which offered no violence TO
the feelings of any class Of citizens, ano
were best calculated TO secure TO the ques-
tions involved fair hearing and impair
lial decision. After several days discus
sion, the prayer Of the memorialists was
rejected, by vote Of thirty four 10 Sir,
An expression Of similar opinions on the
part of the Federal Executive with al, a.
vowaI of determination to carry them
ou, in bis official acts, taken in connex-
ion with the known condition of the Con.
gressional representation of the several
States in regard to the slave question,
would, il was thought, during the contlnu,
auce of his constitutional term, prevent all
agitation of the subject before Congress
The consequent certainty that nothing
could for years at least be accomplished IN
that way. would, it was hoped, present
sufficient inducements to all who were
governed by conscientious motives, TO de;
sist from presenting their memorials, and
leave all others without even a plausible
pre,ence for continuing 10 agitate the sub
iecl in that form. No one could, it was
supposed, believe, that our Southern
brethren could be driven into peaceab!e
emancipation by the mere force OF aRita-
,ion-by appeals to the fears Of the master
and the passions OF the slave-these might
Indeed; If persisted in, draw after them a
servie. and probably civil war, with a
final dissolution of The Union. Attempts
to expose our country, to such fearful haE-
ards for no other assignahle motive 'hau to
barrass the slaveholding States, or to sub
serve political purposes. would moi, 1t was
confidently believed, be endured, much
less coun,enanced, by the American peo-
pie. Partaking largely i'll the general ap-
prehension in regard to the fatal effects OF
this hateful agilalion-baving seen enough
10 satisfy me that no circumstance so direct
ly and inevitably tended to impair The STA
bility and interrupt The harmonious action
of our complicated political system, as Tue
existence of doubt in the public mind
concerning the action of the Federal Gov
ernmen, upon this disturbing subject-sin-
cerely anxious to promote the commenda-
bic design Of CeagEsss e 54
lion of the Union-and deeming the sub
;ect 10 be of sufficient importance to jus'i-
fu denar,ute from the ordinary usage OF
tho Executive, embraced The first public
occasion to refer to the opinions I had ex-
pressed before my election, and to declare
formally, that no hill conflicting with those
views could ever receive my constitutional
sanction. These opinions, and that deter
mination, have been greatly strengthened
by subsequent experience and reflection.
No One can doubt that the tendency Of
this species of agitation is, as your House
Of Representatives have very justly OBJ
served, to "disturb The amicable relations
subsis,ing between the holding and
hoi-slaSehoIding States Of this Union"
and it is not the least remarkable feature
10 this history, thai the means employed
are precisely those best calculated to de-
feat the avowed objects Of its authors. 1t
is to my mind, most dangerous delusion
to believe that the people Of the slavehold-
ing States are likely TO be induced 10
change condition Of things over which,
under the C constitution, they alone have the
control, which they had no agency in pro-
ducing. and for tie consequences Of which,
whatever they may be, they cann6t be just
" held respohsibe-which is in:erwoven
with their domestic relations and political
institu,ions-by charging its existence up
on them as crime against God and man.
against humanity and religion; or that TO
awaken the opprehensions of the master
by appeals TO the passions of the slave, is
the way to itnpfovS the condition of the
latter. All candid aud temperate observ-
erS must, ON the contrary, admit that such
are moi the means by which salutars ends
are pfoduced-that furious deHuhciations
and uimitiga,ed reProaches as little ac-
cord with Christian charity as with broth
efly live, and are much more likely to
produce stern resistance than quiet acQui-
escence. These truths are demonstrated
in The results Of the labors Of the Abolition
lists in the United States, which have hith-
erto been productive of nothing but evil:
new restraints Is Upon the colored race, vex-
alton to the owner, and distraction to The
councils of The nation. In reference, then,
to such practices as those to which you
have called my attention, can, as a pub
lie man. find the path of duty only in one
direction-.,hat of undisguised opposition.
I am, gentlemen,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
NJ. VAN BUREN,.
To Ta,; T,ler Jacoh Ge;oer n Mer;