Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-31

to the avarce than to the virtue OF their feiow men
N the Inst of power and the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the ma
ton: but until our reading, thoughtful, nqusitVe ana
viruous people shall forget the patriotic and una-
swerable arguments against 1t which have been iar'y
delivered in the National Senate that mischIeyous de-
SION can never prevail 1t must PERISH like the flame
of candle when lowered into the mephitlc vapors OF
well. a..
Obloouv has become striking characteristic OF the
cloudess glory of an eminent man. And the OPPOSE
ton party heaps it with unmeasured Protus'on on
character, FERTILE as verify believe IN every qua'y
that adorns patriotic statesman.
Cool and cautious assduons and perseverng, the ad-
mrable temper the indomitabe courage, the viruous
fidelity and superior wisdom of the President, have
greatly contributed to conduct his country to her
proud eminence among the nations OF the earth.
Wlen the nretensons of Mr. Van Buren, were first
brongbt before the people Of the United States for the
Presidential office every political opinion that he had
ever EXPRESSED and every topic OF objection that could
possibly hinder his election to that high station IN te
country were freely disclosed to the public mind ana
canyassed with unscrupulous freedom ana seventy
Democrats school: and has avowed, illustrated and
sustained those principles throughout his long political
career While but minor years. he gave to the RepuD-
can Administration of Mr. Jefferson, Jealous and IN
defatipabe support And when the hostile
of Great Britain on maritime rights had suspended
tho foreion relations of this country, and reused the
nation TO spirit of resistance, the non-nterconrse act
the embarpo and every efficient measure calculated To
uphold the honor and independence OF ms country re-
ceived Mr. Van% Burens cordial appreciation and con-
tinued encouragement. Ana Whch the national re-
nown could endure no further wrongs when the folly
and Injustice of England had driven the blessings of ho
norable peace from among us Mr. Van Buren, supported
the war with ZEAL wisdom and perseverance Soon after
the declaration of war; he took his seat in the Senate oil
his native State; and while hostile armies mustered on
our SOIL ravaged our coasts burnt our towns, ana IN
spirit of savage barbarity, violated youth, beauty and
innocence-he advocated the belligeent measures OF
the nation with energy which no dsloyalty could
check, no force resist, nor cowardice evade.
Mr. s. F. Butler, the late upright and accomplished
Attorney General of the T. S., resided with Mr. Van
Buren, the time, and has publicly declared, that "there
was no person in the State of New York, OF Mr. Van
Burcns age, who had given more efficient aid than
lie did to the measures of the General Government
during the whole period Of the restrictive SYSTEM
His contemporaries of all parties might be appealed to
as witnesses, on this point. He was an open and de
cided advocate of all the strong measures proposed
against Great Britain, during the session Of Congress
in lsll-l2, the war included. Having been born and
reared in the town with him; having been from
July, 1872, until after the war, inmate OF his family
am, says Mr. Butler, able to speak on this subject
from personal knowledge.
The hostility of the Federalsts towards him, as
party in the county in which he then resided,
decided and violent during the year 1872 as it had
been before, afterwards. Indeed, it has never
been withdrawn nor suspended from the commence
ment Of his political career to the present day.
In 1913, after the peace-lovIng Warrior OF North
Bend had abandoned the armies of his country for the
securer scenes of private life Mr. Van Buren, continued
to rouse and animate the heroic ardor of his fellow,
citizens and to impress upon their minds the hopes and
the gores that were staked the vaor of their hearts
and the vgor of their arms. "The same rights, said
he switch you fought to obtain in the Revolution, You
fight to preserves the contest is the same now
that it was them and the feelings which agtaed the
public mind-which, on the one hand, supported, and
on the other hand sought to dcroy the liberties OF the
country will be and felt in the contest OF the pre-
sent day solicit the honest men OF all parties TO re-
member that this is the last Rcpublic that all the IN
huence of the crowned heads in Europe, has been
erted TO propagate the doctrine that Government Ike
ours can never stand the shock Of to reflect that
this is the first occasion in which this Government has
been engaged in war; and thatth great and interesting
question: whether is capable OF self government
whether Republic is to 20 the way of its predeces
sors:-or whether, supported by the hearts and arms
Of her free citizens, she shall dede the revings, and
defeat the Vaccinations Of her enemies now to be
tried"
An eminent public man, now high in the councils Of
this country, in speaking of the services which MIR
Van Buren, rendered the nation during the war, says
"He was the man which the occasion requIrcd-the
ready writer prompt debater, udicous COUNSELLOR
courteous in manners, firm in purpose. He contrived
the measures brought forward the bills and reports, de-
vsred the speeches. and drew the State papers, which
eventually vanqushcd The Federal party, turned the
doubtful scales and gave the elections of April, 1914
to the friends and supporters of Madison and the war
an event, the intelligence of which was received al
Washington with an exuation only inferior to that
which was received OH the of the victory al New
Orleans The new Legislature, now Democratic in
both branches, was quickly convened by Governor
Tompkns and Mr.. Van Buren, had the honor to
bring forward and carry through amidst the appauses
of patriots, and the denunciations of the ant-war
party, the most energetic adopted in
America-the Classification Bill-to army OF
twelve thousand State troops, to for two years
and to be placed at the disposal of the General Go,
verument.
II will soon become our patriotic duty TO determine
at the polls, whether Mr. Van Buren, has deserved TO
forfeit the continued appreciation of his felowlnen-
whether in the administration Of the General Govern
mcnt he has been unmindful of the national welfare,
or has departed from the great public principles on the
credit of which he received the browning honors of the
nation.
Could believe that he has betrayed his sacred trust
or proved himself inadequate to discharge the duties OF
it, in the voice of freeman | would proclaim it TO
the world. But, as can perceive amidst the ardp-
ous delicate, and responsible dnes of his high posi-
ton in the Union the wise, upright, and laborI-
zeal for the public veal that always characterized
his previous career, the deerenta obedience to
the popular willthc dutitul socitude to foster
liberty Which sprouted in the blood, and forished in
the wisdom of the ustrious dead, cannot wrong my
country and my constituents, the ofour
tors and the of free government much, to
fas,en by my suffrage, badge of disgrace the pub
lie character of such
In crisis Ike this TO dismiss that wise and faithful
Magistrate from the Government, would be to throw
the pilot overheard, when the fury of the wind and
waves, and the still destructive elements of hu-
folly and injustice, all in active combination
Al ,t,1 Ia
manifest ngrattude to the founders Of republican
institutions and the grossest ignorance of perous
condition.
If we cannot appreciate the blessings we enjoy, nor
comprehend the magnitude Of the danger to which
they exposed the organs of the heart and under
standing must be barren of praise to Creator, and
unproductive to ourselves of that pleasure and utility
which dutiful recollection of the works of infinite
wisdom should always afford to rational mind ~-
/ trust in Providence that gracious and enlghten-
ed spirit will pcrvade the land, and rebuke that pot-
cal extravaganza which seeks to fasten the country
those baneful principles which have no root in the
Consttuton-no sanction from the wisdom Of our an
cesors, from the dictates of patriotism and which