Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-15

/ n
a,1 ,y have reason to know that they were mol
exac,lv in harmony with the majority OF the people o.
this State even of his own party, at the uiie !oi "
ps, he re be borne in mind that very decided n'aor
fbe Representatives in Congress from the state o. ~
~ iii Obadiah German in the Senate at their
ba,d-yoed against the declaration OF war: not, nov"
that they held the contest to be UNJUST out tey
hee ved the country wholly unprepareo Tor war al ""
time and consequently that the declaration was mex
nsd,ent Such probably, were the original views OF
Mr.. Van Buren-such, cer'a'"'y' "eie Tue views ~ "
/ Clinton. NJ.
Vim Karen to saw that public man in the State sup
ported it more thoroughly, heartily, and jealousy
,shornbout than he did Such, know, is not the re
csved opinion in many parts OF the country, esPecai
10 in The distant States and frequently see attempts
wok;no in the presses opposed to him, 10 render hun
unnonnlor by charging him with opposition TO the war
itself as well to MIR. Madison. But The charge 10
untrue. =.
mAIanv of our political friends will scowl upon Us,
we know for our frankness this occasion. But we
care not that Justice to all men is our MAXIM, ahu
we wish not to beat even Mr. Van buren, oy iasehooa'
we have indeed, truth enough at our command 10 90
| that with :, ~
In Hammond's political history of New York, we
find Mr.. Stones statement fully corroboraed IN this
passage: +,
York Legislative Caucus which nominated Mr. Chm
ton for the Presidency were ardent IN support OF he
war measures pursued by the National Government,
and MANY OF them dissatisfied with the sluggish
movements and inertness Of Mr.. Madison. presume
one reason why they preferred Mr. Clinton 10 MI Ma.
olson was because they believed the former wonld
pursue the war against Great Britain with more Elm
cheney and energy than the latter, but they mad
not the most distant idea Of separating themselves from
the great Republican party IN The State or Natlon AZ
any rate | know this 10 have been the feelings OF
! Mr. Clintons Republican friends in the country.
can have no doubt That Mr.. Van Buren, entertained 81
mar impressions. Besides, he was not member OF
the Legislature which nominated Mr.. Clinton lie
ONLY saw in The result of that Caucus, on expression
of The wishes OF the Republican party on given ques-
ton Was he wrong in attempting, in good aith, TO
carry those wishes into effect:
From this it will be seen, that before the war, and
in view of rts approach, the Democracy Of New York
had nominated Dewitt Clinton lis candidate for the
Presidency to give vigor TO IL that Mr.. Van Buren,
found him nominated by his party when he came into
the Senate Of the State IN November following and
was called on 10 vote for Presidential Electors (then
chosen by the State Legisature;) and that be voted
tor the electors nominated by the Democracy in behalf
of Clinton and against those nominated by The Federal
party lie had in fact Of he voted at ally no alerna-
live but to vote for the Clntonian Democratic Electors
or the Federal Ticket; because as majority oil each
House alone had the power, under The Constitution,
10 nominate Electors, and ar. Madison had majority
in neither branch, ticket in his favor was presented
| for choice Tais passage in Hammond's political
history explains this point
"1he parties in he legislature, TO numbers, stood
| l0!lGN's:-In
four Mad s1nan and nineteen Clntonian Republicans;
n the assembly here yeight Federallsis. twen
ty-two VI idlsohan and twenty Clntonian Repub
leans The Federasts could and did nominate Fede-
raj Electors the Assembly and the Republicans no.
minated Clntonian Electors in the Senate This state
of things it will he SEEN would compel the Madsonians
on Joint ballot 10 vote either for Clntonan or Federal
| Electors, or not al all.
From this it will be seen that Mr.. Van Buren, DIFF
fered from the majority in his STATE, which had re-
turned House of Representatives against The war
that he supported Mr.. Clinton, who had been selected
before the declaration of war, by that portion of the
Democracy which supposed his greater energy would
be found essential 10 mPart vgor IN preparing for and
in vindcating II; that, the moment MI Ciihton was
to flag in support OF the war ana make approach
es TO the peace party Mi Van Burens support Of him
"became angud; and he threw his influence, as far as
he could do So considering the previous commlttal OF
the legislative caucus, which he held to be binding
upon the party in behalf of Mr.. Madison and finally
we have the testimony of one Of Mr.. Van Buren, 8
most uncompronlslng opponents, Qhe editor OF the
Commercial Advertiser, when called on as witness ny
his own friends that supported the war more
thoroughly, heartily, and =coiOnsiy, than he did,
The fact is, that Mr. Van Buren, fought the oallie IN
the General Assembly of New York against the Fede-
raj ma orily the House, and against the ablest and
most experienced deba,ers elisha Williams and oihers)
which that party ever boosted in the State lie wrote
all the great man sstoes of the Democratic party, which
rallied The yeomanry OF the State in support OF the ge
neral government, despite of the weight oil the re-
preventative authority His speeches, not only before
the House, but before the committees, brought null
tudes in attendance to listen to the arguments and
weigh the great measures he advocated, but when
were at first defeated by the Federal majority Among
these was an immense loan the part of the State TO
support the general government. The consequence oil
his extraordinary efforts, not only public speaker
but public writer although 1t was his ifst appearance
as public man, was the defeat of the federahs's III
the elections, and the transfer of the reigns oil
the Legislative power to The Democratic PARTY
This achieved, Mr.. Van Buren, proposed his celeora-
ted measure called The conscrption-and which, IN
deed, approached very nearly that great measure oil
public safety of the French Republc-that put the
whole physical force of the State at the command OF
the Government, when beleaguered by the coalition
of foreign monarchs prepared to march on the capital
The result Of Mr. Van Burens efforts tended directly
to throw the whole weight of the Empire state INTO
the field against the invader; and this had as happy an
influence in the North the spirit infused by Gene
raj Jacksons prowess in the South What must be
thought OF party, which, with full knowledge mat
Mr. Van Burens patriotic career began with devoting
his utmost energy 10 the country in its last struggle
with Great Britain, cond circulate forged resolution,
purporling have been prepared by hun, and passed
by his influence. dcnouncing the war at tue onset win
all the art and plausbity practised by the torres OF
the Hartford Convention
From the albany .7iids.)
MR. VAN EUREN AND THE WAR.
OF all the forms Of ialsehood which the hostility OF
the Wings to Mr.. Van Buren, has assumed, that which
attempts TO connect him with opposition TO the last war;
is al once the most impudent and basest.
The fabricators of this charge would hardly dare to
utter it aloud IN this State IL would be rebuked al
once by thousands of The brave who participated
in that contest and who still gratefully remember The
services which Mr. Van Buren, rendered to il and 10
them Yet, it rs sometimes basely insinuaied by the
more proh'ga,e Of the Wing press abroad
Fortunately for himself now, fortunately for the
country then, Mr.. Van Buren, occupied conspicuous
public position in this State during the whole Of the
war He the counsellor, the supporter and the
friend of Governor Tompkns, and, as Senator, was