The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-07-21


ry of this auy, Mr Van Bren was received at the
whnrfay the Mayor under a salute from Col hgrams
hattann. lie wac handsomely addressed at the Amer.
lean IiOuse hy s. ~larkweSther, To which lie replied
in most Interesting manner u. Statesman.
From the Cleveland Herald.
SPEECH OF MR.. VAN BUREN.
The steps taken by the Common Council uIon the
the occasion Of my first visit to Cleveland-lhe pro-
ceedugs of the meeting without distinction Of party
by which they were recommended, aud the sanrtI"n
which both gve received from the people, ms has been
fully demonstrated 5y this vast assenbage Of Gil zens
deserve than passing notice
1t would seem supe huous to say that to myself they
have been in the highest degree gratifying To have
the opportunity afforded me 10 visit This interesting CITY,
which has sprung Lo existence and advanced so lar
iowar,ts mauritY in wonderfully short period OF
tmei city which, for the advantages and iacl'les OF
It's position is extensively and avOTaby aud EOm
what can deservedy distinguished aud which
if It's farther advancement could be accele aztec in pro-
portion To my wishes would soon lelve It's lnun"
d4rs and supporters nothing to desire, is OF t>ef su
fpnD gratlicaOn. How greatly then must that plea
sure he increased wh that visit is cheered by the
welcome 0" iIs c'2ons expressed with The ardnr and
uudnimily have this day witnessed.
but toe transactions 10 which refer have higher and
more npor an be lriagS than those which are merely
personal, The enemies as well, as most OF the best
Informed, and trne>t friends of our political system,
have looked and are every day looking with more
and intensity to the severity of OF our CONTESTS
for the Presidency Onelof the greatest Of the dangers
by which this Government is beset. growing ndli-
florence towards Republican Institutions, will it lie
hoped by and feared by Others be likely to arise
from the antpahies, the heart burnings, and The re
sentiments which are thus engendered Few events OF
equal magnitude, would have stronger tendency TO
dspe those hopes, and to aay those apprehensiOns,
than the transactions of which am speaking Surely
cuntes for the Presidency SO severe as that
through which have just passed. never before was
the hlic mir dppn Uit
the feelings Of individuals so greatly exced and
no where did this condition Of things exist in higher
degree than in this State. The reasons for this are too
well understood 10 require to be stated. II even here,
then, early period whilst the noise and the bus
tie of the contest Is still fresh in our recollection. the
immediate and most active parties in the strife can meet
together, not merely in harmony, but with cordiay
and sincerity to Obvious 10 be questioned for The Pur"
pose of doing honor 10 one, who occurled the position
in relation to that contest which did; may we not
hope that the impressions which have described are
! on both SIDES eroneous1 Have we not reason to 5e-
leve that there is something IN the American character
aud in the nature of onr political struggles which pre-
vent the that too often ateud them, from ma
king such injurious and enduring impressions upon
mems minds as are always the bitter fruits of civil
cOmmotions in other cOuntress and have we not much
reason 10 rejoce in the belief that it Is so.
You have correctly described Slr, the feelings with
which have looked n2on the commerce ofthese une-
quaed lakes. Nothing can be more true than the opn
|
which the Erie Canal has had in promoting the ad
vantages which have, in this respect been already be'
cured and wHl doubtless continue To exercise an O..
quay favorable influence upon what relnains 10 bs ac'
Gompshed
You have done me Justice, Sir in the part which yor
have allotted to me in the passage ofthe law by whicl
that great work was authorized. In prrnrmng it,
had TO enoounter some of the tenpiajeps 10 whicl
public men frequently exposed; which have 50 of.
ten resulted in Tie poliica ruin Of hose upon whom
NIL In nIn nd dpirImpn
to the public service. Cnuldm conduct have been IN
huencrd by the consideration that the largest share o
individual credit for the successful accomplishment o
that magnificent undertaking would rlghtfuly he aware
ed TO the distinguished individual whom you hav
named and who was then at the head OF the pohllca
party to which | was opposed. end would servo Il
render his name forever luslrions in his country
annalss my course might nave been different one
Nothing woud have been easier for myself and friend
than 10 have defeated the massage of the law in que ton
No conversant with the history of tht period car
be ignorant of this fact In deciding differently, and
giving to that great measure, as well at its inception
as at subsequent stages, a steady, certain aud humb
hope efficient support, fulfilled what believed
be my duty the State, and had the good fortune toren
der service to the country of which you have bee
pleased speak terms which deserve my best thanks
Allow me- SIR, in conclusion, to return through you
to the municipal authorities and people of Cleveland
and to my fellow citizens Of the surrounding countr
whchave honored me by their presence, my sincere an
grateful acknowleds semen for this evidence OF thel
respect and regard and them that their kind
ness is duly appreciated, and will be long remember
ed"
lie left in the evening at II o'clock, for Bnfalo,
his native State. Mr. Van Buren, s whole tour ht
been one the most brilliant conferred upon mar
considering Its extent and the warm hearedness Of tn
people lie visited in his route twenty States grea
glorious, magnificent States, Surely no private gentle
man on a tour of pleasure ever before received sue
brilliant magnificent bursts Of welcome. His charac
above suspicion or reproach and his intercourse vii
his fellow men an example of the highest order, pol
litic4l friends and opponents could not refrain fro
Welding him that courteous attention, their conscienc
t.d them he so richly mrrited -Statesman.