Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-15

veterans sigh Of planaess and TRUTH and although.
It's author is nirm BODY he is serene in intel
iect, ana ~ ps.tiocay devoted. the last days of
ms earthly EXISTENCE The welre OF his country and
the success OF Democratic principles, though he
just entering upon the stage OF active lie
yellow Cit'zens-l have been induced to throw
myself upon your notice upon the present occasion,
by strong desire to make TO you what may, in
all human probability, be las, and valedicory ap.
psal-Now, in my seventy-sixth year, and in ex.
ceedngly feeble health, | have no good reason to
expect that | be much longer amongst you at
least as a public character. therefore hope | may
not be charged with too much egotism in desir-
ing TO make 10 you few remarks upon this great and
interesting OCCASION both it relates TO 4 connection
Of go long standing with the honest Democracy u
hamilton county, as 10 that great and COED man.
whose account this great aud Respectable meeting h2s
been called together
Goa the ith March, 1887, Mr. Vaa Barren TOOK ha
seat AS President of the U S, and perhaps o
ever accepted Of public office under more un,oward
circumsIances. On the 9th May following, the !epo-
STORES Ct the public money shut against the Go
vernmeni and dollar could net be had 20 deiray the
current expenses Thus the Government, who
had been rich 10 overflow OF between % and ~ mil
hons OF dollars, within two months after Mr. Van Blu
ZEN acceded 10 power reduced to absolute bankruptcy
and all this by the treachery Of the State Banks,
vino mad received public repositories, the money OF
the nation, used III loans to their avortes the land
spectators, stock gamblers and other fraudulent in
posters, under the most positive engagements that
every demand Of the Government would be duly honor
ed when presented And here was new Govern
meni, JUS; organized who, Of the many millions -
The pubic maney the hands OF those fraudulent
BANKERS, could no: raise much money as would pay
or The most lrii'ng demand agains. then.
| "Ihe President, under these circumstances, was
obliged 10 call Extra Session Of Congress, in order
that Ways aud Means might be devised. TO get rid in
some way, OF this embarrassment. The July and
August members of Congress had not been elected,
and, therefore, Congress could meet before Sep
tember and, when they did meet, they showed but lit
tie disposition 10 do any thing for the relief OF the Co
vernment They passed bill, however, authorizing
the President to issue Treasury Notes, payable within
the year, ind receivable at all times in paymen, of
dues to the Goyernment-which latter arrangement
had nearly rendered the whole thing nugatoFy,
there authority for their Issue. Indeed, there
seemed 10 be Ia tins Extra Session of Congress,
stronger disposition 10 increase, than 10 diminish The
embarrassments Of the Government. Ii, therefore,
CURED all the talent and ingenuity ol The President and
Secretary Of the Treasury, to keep the wheels IN
tion-tte done IN Congress but making long
wnded speeches, and pursuing such devious and de-
sultory course as could evenuaie in no good to the
country, or to relieve the Government.
"During the regular Winter session, however, some
thing done IN respect TO the reissue of Treasury
Notes, by which they could be kept in circulation, for
one year, al least.
"During the extra and regular session of the 25th
Congress, every possible eSerlion was made BY Mr.
Van Buren, 10 have the Treasury OF the United States
put into such order, that the collection, sale keeping,
and disburs Of the public money should be sae
|
for the country, and under the heaviest responsibility
of the pubic officers The great question was ire
quently debated, but very little progress made IN the
business-as If had been the desire oil Congress 10
keep all things relating 10 the Treasury at loose ends,
SO that in fact, nothing done, conclusively, till
near the end of the Goth Congress- when an excellent
bill was passed. nearly had been projected by Mr.
Van Buren,.
"'rh;s law, by which the peoples money placed
in the possession Of the peoples officers, which,
had not been the since the charerng of the Bank
of the u. S in l700-seemed 10 the ercest ener
gies of the whole Federal Wing party, and full and
final determination entered INTO by them TO have IT
repealed in their power-and, accordingly,
regularly organized Teeiing took place, in order to
bring abou. that repeal, with many other precious
schemes OF theirs TO obtain poWe: and perpeuate ~ III
their own possession forever. The whole opposition IN
Congress directed their entire energies Tor this purpose
first to break down Mr.. Van Buren, by every species
of falsehood, fraud and misrepresentation was
charged with the most exravagant expenditures Oh the
public money in ways and means which never existed
the public documents fasfed, and he charged
with paying out money which he never possessed-nor
ever had the control of-;he trust funds vested GO
vernment Offices charged against him as expendI-
lures of his own, and credit gwen Tor the amount
received by the Government as trustees IN the case
and thus trust fund paid away according to law, was
brought IN expenditure OF the government, when
nothing had been done with it, but merely receiving
and paying away the money-wi,hcnt any connexon
with the public MONEY that o the Government al all
sThe Secretary al War had been called upon for
plan Tor new organization oil the milltia;--and'
though the plan had been called for by Congress, no
had the Secretary made his report than that re-
por. laid hold of and saddled upon Mr. Van Buren,
his scheme of perpetua.ug his own power by means
of a standing army of 100000 men.
Gan order having been issued by the Secretary OF
State TO the Marshals of the Union TO include IN the
census of 1910 statement Of the agricultural, nine.
rail- and other products of the u s. another grand
scheme suggested, as the basis oil system oil direct
taxation greater fasehood than which was never IN
al Eoay, hy Tho ne
that year. and since published
"Feow cilizens, you have all heard of the celebrated
gold spoon story, nvened and circulated by an mia
mons wretch, now 10 more, who had dTgraced
the floor Of Congress hy his unhaowed feet, and lis
anos pbere with his pestfer0us voice, the whole OF
whose charges we're founded tie gtossest aisehood
and calumny. IL is useless 10 put yon IN Inird al Inc
rotous and drunken orgies Of lSl0that VIII
stand disgrace TO the party who got them up SO long
Us they have name-but above all, the infamous pro
ceedngs al the ballot boxes in that year! here PERJURY,
corruption and every crime degrading 10 human nature,
was the order of the day, and al this consequent upon
that unhoy combination entered INTO ny members oil
Congress the express purpose OF breaking down an
honest man. and nm honest administration, capable
honest and willing 10 do nothing injurious to the well
fare of their country, but every thing 10 promote It's
prosperity and happiness. And how they succeeded,
and Inc use tcY have made If their success, is part ot
our history and is equally tsaonorabe 10 them as IA
sruc:ivc our countrY-as no rational man can be
l,eve again suc! atIaron5 proceedings can
be suffered, while the nation contains civilized people
"Feiow citizens-You have been repeatedly told
that MIR. Van Buren, is non-commal N his character
that he afraid open his mind freely and frankly
upon political subjects But has eIpOitnce taught you
tha, the assertion ia well founded? VIII yon not JON
me in asserting that the contrary is the feeP ! AN
sure you will; for, you could not have known his cha.
rac,er so long as lie has been connected with you,
without being convinced, that there is no man IN cx
stence less Of n non-cnmmltal than Mr. Van Buren,
Witness his readiness 10 reply TO all inquiries made TO
him in writing and in arroper manner; aud indeed 1T
would be difficult task for his enemies to show that
he has ever declined define his position on any pc
cu subject not even the celebrated mercantile de-
nntaon frar E-.g Yofk ~ l-3. When was evidently
cot Mp Tor the n,,dous ?nfpnsr ct "n!'appmE him cRa
fix uoou .Im tie character &c co!nmtalism on
may all remember that H. "as orally addressed b.
those men tina, he expressed his perfect Willingness
to reply to their inquiries, provided those inquiries
were communicated 10 him paper but that expe-
rence had taught him that oral communications were
easily alsifed misepresented and that there we're
both safety and proPrety in answering paper with pa
per- and no oral Communications whatever. And he
even. showed he right for his refusal to make
II IT. a