Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-08-11
COMMUNICATIONS.
MARTIN VAN buren, UNWOR-
THY THE CONFIDENCE OF
THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE.
NO .
GcoMMUNIcArIoN.1

NO. =.
Mr.. EDITOR I'm my first number,
| conclusively demonstrated to every
unpreiudiced mind, that Mr.. Van Blu
Zen by his vote, and influence, conferr-
cd upon negroes the right of suffrage.
And that we are indebted to him for
the fact, that the powerful representa-
ton of forty members from the State of
N York, are sent to Congress in part
by negro votes. | shall now proceed
to notice some of his other acts, which
are equally odious to the eouth.
It is fact we'll known, that for three
years before Missouri was admitted
into the Union, the question was dis
cussed and agitated in every state
whether she shout, be admitted as a
stare state, or whether she should free
hel slaves and come in rs a free state.
The Southerners, and in fact all the
liberal minded Northerners, commended
thit Congress could not constitution
ally compel her to free her slaves
This question was agitated, until the
dissolution of the Union was threaten
ed. Some of the Southern members
in Congress, boldly threatened to Sc
csde, if, the North, perseveredin their
unjust and tyrannical exactions. Mr.
Van Buren, was at that time in the New
York Legislature f; resolution was
presented to the Legislature to instruct
Rufus King, their Senator, TO vote
against the admission of Missouri I'M
less she would free her slave popula-
ton. IfMr. Van Buren, had been the
friend of the Union, or the South ;
then was the time to have shown it, he
could by his influence have crushed
this resolution.
He was not however, either the friend
of the Union or the south ; he voted fol
this resolution, and that alone did moi
satisfy him, he wrote to the representa-
tives from New York and urged them,
to use all their influence against
the admission of Missouri, unless she
would basely submit to and accept the
terms proposed.
In fact, the very demon OF Abolition
appears to have seized him about tina
time: He had been an opposer o
Mr.. King, on account of his federalism
until the latter part Of 1819,-abou
six months after he had instructed hin
to vote against the admission of Mis-
souri, ; He then became so enrapturec
with this federalist and abolitionist
that he wrote pamphlet headed Con
siderations on the election of Ruff:
King, and in this pamphlet he strong
ly urged The propriety of Mr.. Kings
election. [ would ask what could
have induced Mr.. Van Buren, to sup
port Mr.. King, if it was not because
he had rendered himself so popular
with the abolitionists ?
I will now leave these acts of Mr.
Van Buren, TO speak for themselves
and pass on to another deed Of his
that will in all future time, call dowr
upon his head the execrations Of every
honorable high minded Southerner.
In 1922, application was made tc
organize the Territory Of Florida
Mr.. Van Buren, was then in the Senate
of the United States, and voted to re
strict the introduction of slaves int
Florida.
And yet Mr.. Van Buren, is held vi
as the Northern man with Souther'
feelings. He who always voted a
g4inst the South is called the friend O
the South. | wish that some friend O
Mr.. Van Buren,, would tell the peopl
of the South Of one vote of his calcu
lated to benefit US, in any way. an
sure all like to know their friends, an,
if Mr.. Van Buren, is our friend, prov
it by his votes in favor ofthe South
: The truth is, he has in every instanc
) opposed the interests of the South. H
it was, that would have Florida, as h
would have had Missouri, become
free Stale. l will now appeal 1
, the candid of all parties, if Missou
! would not have been obliged to mani
nit her slaves if all her friends ha
: been like Mr.. Van Buren,. VIII;
= would be the situation of Florida ;
this time, if Mr.. Van Buren's polio
had been carried out would it not /
a complete den for RUNAwAY's ?wh
;, planter in Mississippi, Alabama, Lo,
i Iisiana, or Georgia, could keep h
d slaves if Florida was free territor
e | opine that if Florida restriction hs
I. been carried out, the next thing Mis-
n ssippi would have had to free h,
n slaves likewise.
is Let Mississippians weigh well Nj
a, Van Buren's friendship for the Sou
n and they will find that it extends il
!, SO far as it will serve his unhallowt
: ambition and no farther; and can al
intelligent honest southern man suppo
Mr.. Van Buren, with all his opposite
% the south staring them in the face
% Let southern men look at their intere
{. hand ri6hfs that bo,,o l.. 49,.