Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-08-14
POLITICS..
E'rnrn III GLnh< ]

one of Their extreme, though not now uncommon modes
81 sustaining false charges against Democrats, VIZ
This is in the shape 81
a resolution, pnrportIng to have been reported by Mr,
Van Buren, to a public meeting at Hudson in 1872, in
the following words, viz:
ReSoircd, That the war is impolitic and disastrous.
and that TO employ the militia in an offensive war is
unconstitutional.
This forgery appears first TO have been put in circu.
latlon IN Ohio, through letters not written "fnr the
public eye but doubtless through the agency of some
one who was deceived by ii, it found lis way into the
newspapers. As soon as the monster showed lEslf in
III" light oil day, II was annihilated not only by the re-
collections OF many of our people, but BY authentic re-
cords, showing that MIR. Van Buren, had pursued u
course exactly the reverse Of that attempted TO be
proved upon him by falsehood and forgery.
A new tack is now taken by some of the enemy, in
the desperate hope of fixing the charge of Federalism,
it not opposition 10 the War, on the early life Of Mr..
Van Bnren. In this hope, the Albany Evening Jour
nal makes the following statement, viz:
"Mr. Van Buren, made his first appearance upon the
theatre Of public life in November, lcl2. He came
forward as a member of the Senate in this State. The
first Presidential term of Mr.. Madison was then draw
ing to close. a powerful combination of interest and
delusion, federalism and faction was ARA yed against
his reelection. War had been declared against Great
Britain in June previous-with that war Mr.. Madison
was identified. In this State the war was not popular,
and the opposition to its great Champion was in.
tense.
"Mr. Van Buren, cam upon the stage, nj Il time
when, If sound nj heart and sincerely attached to the
principles and policy of MIR. Madison, his friendship
should have been manifested Then, If ever, at the
outset OF his career, a trying and doubtful crisis in the
fortunes Of the country, hs devotion, his patriotism
and his principles should have been exhibited. How
were they exhibited: The first vote he was called upon
10 give vas Tor the choice Of Presidential elector..-
Was tina, vote given for electors friendly 10 James Ma
olson and the prosecution of The war: Far from it
The first vote gwen by Martin Van Buren, was for cleo
tors opposed to Madison. The Federall>ts of the As.
sembly voted for and concurred IN the electoral ticket
which received the support OF Van Buren, in the Sc
nate. And that ticket revailcd in the Legislature of
this State. The first public act of Van Buren's life
was TO defeat the choice of the Madisonian electors in
1912.
"The first exhibition that a man makes Of himself in
the political drama, is generally the truest index TO his
character
This statement, in lis moral depravitv, is but a little
better than the forgery to which we have referred. II
n forgery Of resolution, it is 4 fabrication OF al.
facts, as the records of the day prove beyond con.
tradiction.
In the first place, the Federalists in the New York
Legislature IN 1872, did not vote for the Clinton elccto.
raj ticket; but ran one of their own. TO which they gave
iG votes. None but Republicans voted for the Clinton
ticket, and mp 10 that time ClIntons fidelity 10 Repub.
ican principles had never been called in question.
4 third, or anti Clinton ticket, was run by a portion
If the Republican party, which received twenty-cight
votes, NniIt the regular lbtnulilcdH OF Nllitnn llChtli
received srventy-iour votes, all thorough Republicans,
friends of the war and of lis vigorous prosecution
This vote so far from proving that MIR. IAN Buren, was
/ FchcralIst, proves exactly the reverse Tor Clinton
the nominated candidate of the Republicans of
New York. 1t was not until about seven years after
..--I 'L-J ri:"'"- sow ratnd himself from tho Rcnuh.
BIT this is not the oalv point on when history =
r,Is;tird will, a view to cast a shade over the political
of Mr.. Van Burcn's early life.
First, the alleged fact is fabricated that VII. an bu,
- -..l. a., L,l.r,l;Sts n N that pcplSIDn. and
then 10 make this fabrication, it is asserted, IN contempt
truth and history, that he 'made his first appearance
upon the theatre of public life in November, l-I2
Falsely charging that he united with the fe6eralls's
then. Inc editor draws the inference that he could not
be "snund at heart, because that UNION was upon HIS
first appearance on the public stage.
Now The Editors reason for belief in Mr.. Van Bu.
rcn's unsoundncss of heart, is Just as haseless as me
lleued fact that he united with the Federai'sts. for
at least three years before, Mir. Van Buren, had been
conspicuous on tn" public theatre IN support
,hc Administration of Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Ma
d;son. In confirmation of this fact, we copy the el"-
~ nj and conclusive testimony which has been collect
cd BIZ the Editor of the Albany Argus, and published IN
fla, napcr of the l4th INST with a portion OF the com
Inentary, viz:
Mn. VAN buren, BEFORE THE WAR.
The facts stated in the preceding paper by the STATE
Central Committee, place the question of Mr.. Van Bu'
ron's support Of the war, with all the energies OF his
and The commanding talents which IN that day,
had d.ycloped themselves, beyond ,ic power "f contra
d,c,ion. They are truly an "~"l"quent record, wh'ch
M ma can raissay, unless he IS prepared II once To
!, ,,lo,e historical and moral truth, and 10 within I'D ltt
,o,cd NJ Justice at the dictate of party malice or political
.oceiudIce.
Indeed, the Federal opponents of Mr.. Van Buren,
IN same Federal party that has assaulted and opposed
n, y from the earliest period of his political life I" tue
,-oscr. moment-arc driven 90 confess that ntfcr th'
presidential election of lSl2, in which Mr.. CLINTON
defeated. he gave the war and the Democratic VA
tionoI Administration an earnest and most elhc'eht sup
nor, The same Federal party and their presses ina
r,rrht IN and Supported Mr.. Clinton, from the peFioo
az he bardonmtat Of the Democratic party IN l'l'
n that Of his last election to public station, are driver
n Tho admission that Ihc vote which Mr.. Van Bnren
!, common with the great body of the Denlocratt
,ucruhcrs of the Legislature, and in compliance VIII
the nearly unanimous nom,nation OF the h'Pu''.""'
members Of the preceding Legislature, gave 10 ~
presidential electors friendly 10 MIR. Clinton, Is III
on,v ,roor they can offer that he WI not IN all respect
= var Democrat and a steady as DC was an aoe sup
porter of that measure. lilo,
In Ibis spirit. the Federal organ in this 4ctty-dr,ve
IN the wall, and convicted of publishing aho s0'''
to Mr.. Van Buren, a resolution SAID TO nave oeeA ''ss,
at a Federal meeting in Columbia county, y y ~
the war as "ImpolltiC ana disastrous
ing language: u,
sNr' Van Buren, made his first appearance upon u
theatre of public life in November, Jcl<. 'e ~
forward as a member of the Senate IN th's sun
first Presidential term OF Mr.. Madison WIS ~" 80"
in1 to a close. A powerfml combination OF interest," az
deIusion, federalism and faction, was nrrayco "g"",
his re. election. War had been declared aga'hs, u'e'
Britain in June previous. With that war VIZ. hanIso
was identified. In this State the war was not p'Pu'd
and the opposition to its great champion . IT'S
"Mr. Van Buren, came upon the stage AZ q t'hie ""e'
If sound at heart and sincerely attached 20 ~ P,'"I
pies and policy Of Mr.. Madison, his fr'eAs."p snou'
have been manifested. Then, It ever, at ~ us g
his career, at a trying and doubtful crisis 10 ~ 49,
tunes of the country, his devotion, ms =.
his principles shonld have been exhibited. f"M y,
they exhibited, The first vote he was caHeu up'W w.
rive was for the choice Of Presidential electors, w
hat vote aivcn for electors friendly 10 james VANS"
! and IN. prosecution of the war; Farttom u. 1"J"'
rofe giren by .Nariin Tan Buren, "ns t"r aert"'s "Ppo.e
10 Madison. The FrnEHALIsTs OF The p ssf",oly Wv
cnr and concurred in The electoral ticket wh'ch I'ceist
Tho support OF Van Buren, in the Senate. ana 1n
,ctet prevailed in the Legislature OF this STATE. 1!
frat nublic act Of Van Burens life was TO defeat u
choice of The Madisonian electors IN lcl2
uTbe first exhibition that a man makes OF himself
the POLITICAL drama is gencrelly the truest index to n
character. .,
Except tn , fact, that Mr.. V. B. voted for the elect
raj ticket friendly to MIR. Clinton, this IS a gross 'a'sn
cation Of hist cry. 1t is untrue that "the tEDEkALis
. Of the Asse. nbly voted for and concurred IN ,he te .
. ,.b,,b roca,ynd the support oil VII 'S