Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-04-06

in,ended tor publication. Your answer
TO tho above will much oblige many wing
friends.
am, very respectfully.
ISAAC WELLS.
ANSWER.
We prefer giving public answer to
the foregoing communication, made, we
doubt not in good faith, for several rea-
sons. Principol among these, is the
strong desire we have that justice should
be done to all men, and we think that Mr..
Van Buren, has not been fairly dealt
by 10 the matters referred to. Its true,
that Mr.. Van Buren, was one OF the ear.
y supporters Of Mr.. Clinton for the Office
of President in the year 1919, in oppo
silion 70 Mr.. Madison, that he took part
in the republican legislative caucus Of
which Mr.. G. was first nominated. That
caucus was held, and that nomination
was made, on the 28th Of May nearly a
month before the declaration Of war
The elections in this State were then held
in April, and the political year COM
menced on the frs, Monday Of July
Mr.. Van Buren, had been chosen to the
Senate 10 April, but was not, of course. a
member Of the Legislature that made
the nomination. His Senatorial term
commenced on the first Monday OF July;
and he first took his seat at the extra
session held in November, to choose the
Presidential Election.
Furthermore, Il is also true, that Mr..
Clinton became the cnndidHe of "ihe
peace party" Yet il is not true that he
scas org ndiiy nom,ndtcd as such, or that
Mr.. Van Buren,, after taxing his seat in
the Legisia 'urc, supported him as such
He (Mr. ca wis, in fact, dr,uen into
that position BY The force Of circumstances;
and Il is no more ,han jusi,ce 10 Mr.. Van
Barren &, say that after Mr.. Clinton be-
came identified Nth The peace party as
their candidate, his support Of hm became
langm'd. Indeed, we have reason to be-
lieve that he thenceforward threw his
influence, as far as he could do SO, consid-
ering the previous committal Of the
legislative caucus, which he held to be
binding upon the party, IN behalf Of Mr..
Madison. The truth is, Mr.. Clinton was
never nominated or supported as an
opponent to the war, but directly the
reverse. He was thus nominated and
supported expressly upon the ground
that the crisis demanded a more vigorous
arm al the helm OF State than Mr.. Madi-
sons.
The war had not been actually declaI-
ed, 1t is true, but every intelligent man
saw that it was inevitable, and very
near; and it was feared, as the result
proved, that under Mr.. Maiison's admin
istration i, would be feebly conducted ~
Believing thus. that the times demanded
an executive Of greater energy and Tor e
OF character, the attention of many pa
trotlc men Of both political parties, was
directed elsewhere than 10 Virginia Cor a
candidate; and from the high int lectu.
al qualities Of Mr.. Clinton, and the ac-
knowledged energy Of his character, il
was conceived that he would prosecute
the impending contest with great vigor,
and bring tito a more speedy and honor
able close than could be done by Mr..
Madison.
This was the ground upon which he
was nominated, md upon which he WIS
supported by Mr.. Van Buren,, and such
Of the old republican party as adhered 10
him through the contest. As to the
opinions and conduct Of Mr.. Van Buren,
in the early stages Of the war. we have
reason to know that they were not ex.
actly in harmony with the majority Of
the people Of this State, even Of his own
party at the time; for it must here be
borne in mind that very decided major
ity Of the representatives in Congress
from the State Of New York-with Oba
diah German in the Senate at their head
voted against The declaration Of war,
not, however, that they held the contes,
to be unjust, but they believed the coun-
try wholly unprepared for war at the
time, and consequently that the DECLARE.
ton was inexpedient. Such, probably
were the original views Of Mr.. Van Blu
ren-such, certainly, were the views Of
Mr.. Clinton. Asks
But, the sDar har,ng been declared. it is
due to Mr. Yam Buren 10 say, that no
public man IN the Stale snpported il more
thoroughly, heartily. and zeolously
throughout, than he did. Such, we know,
is not The received opinion in many parts
Of the country, especially in tho distant
States; and we frequently see attempts
making, in the presses opposed 10 him, to
render him unpopular By charging him
with opposition 10 the war itself, as well
a. TO Mr.. Madison. But the charge is
untrue.
| Many Of our political friends will
sccwl upon US, we know, Tor our frank
ness OH this occasion. But We care no,
for that. "Jus,ice to all men," is oul
maxim, and We wish not to beat even Mr.