Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-04-20
WAsHINGToN, 4Ih April. ls4O.

My Dear Sir-l have received your letier, bring
ing 10 my notice an article which originally appear.
ed, as l understand il, in a Southwestern paper.
charging Mr.. Van Buren, with heading a popular
anti-war meeting, at Hudson in the State of New
York, in 1912 on 1913. and moving "A resolution TO
the effect that the war was inpolitic and disastrous,
and that to employ the militia in an offensive war
was unconstitutional. You do the president bu,
justice in regarding this impuiation as being wholly.
destitute OF ioundalion in truth. The story Of the
meeting, the attendance and course Of Mr., Van
Buren,, and the ''resolution" so formally gwen, are
sheer fabrications, without a single Circumstance in
fact to give countenance 10 the coinage, or
to pdlllale the profllgacy Of IN who first contriyed
! send you by this mail a pamphlet containing a
succinct narrative of Mr.. Van Buren's course during
the war. from It's commencement 10 its close. Ii IS
almost e. tirely a transcript from public documents.
and public records, about the authenticity of
which there can be no dispute. BY il YOU vii
see, thar. Instead OF regarding lie war as 'impo'itit
and disastrous, his voice was invariably raised "a
wen on the Senate floor. as at public meetings and
through the public press, in favor "of the high
justice and indispensable necessary Of the attitude
which our country had taken; of the sacred duly Of
every real American to support 1t N that dtttude,'
ana against ''the parricidal views of those who re
fused to do so.'' His opening declaration, upon
taking his seat in the State Senate, in the fall Of
1912, was, it will be perceived, in favor ''of a rigor.
Gus prosecution OF The war until the necessity for
ats further continuance should be superseded by an
honorable peace" After the peace, he was called up
on TO preIare resolutions FOR the State Sruate, of
which he was still a member, which are character
ized by the same strain of patriotic feeling and senti.
ineni, declaring ''tIe proud Satisfaction they de-
rived from the reflection that The war in which the
nation had been involved. a,duons and sangu,nary
as II mad been. Wds n0tonty righteous in lis orieii and
Saccesstutm us prosecution. but that our country had
risen from The contest wih renoratd strength and
increased glory"
Oi,he steadness, the zeal ard the ability with
""'ch the principles and opinions he avowed were
sustained throughout by Mr.. Van Buren,, the pub
Acai'on ] send you will speak for itself.
With great respect,
am your obedient servant,
SlLAS WRIGHT, in.
10 THOMAS RITcHIE, Esq.
we beg leave to observe, that Mr.. Virgin, in the discussion
VI Mr. Van Burcn's courSc during the War, lodges the true
question, as do all his friends. No one pretends that Mr.. Van
""reh was moi a War man even so early as 'the fall ofl8l2'
wou' what was his position in the Summer of that year?-
"ny DO Senator Wright and his friends skip over thut impor-
p"' period Of his history, when he was the political ally OF
"e 'eoeraIsfs OF the Boston stamp True, we are some
.aes Old that Van Buren, supported Dewitt Clinton against
''"o'soh' IN order to ensure II more vigorous prosecution of the
""' But such a plea can deceive no man convcisanf with
'e history of that lime. What! support the Peace party
.ahuidate-ally himself " it'll those who declared il, 'nnbecon.
~ u moral and religious people to rejoice at the success o
country $ arms'-for the purpose Of sirens tlrning the
T''pady-for the purpose ofeontiburiug TO that success
Inc idea is p,eposterous.