The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-03-21


les was directed elsewhere than Virginia oT can-
iidate and om the high intellectual qualities of Mr..
5nion and the acknowledged energy OF his character,
b was conceived that he would prosecute the impending
contest with create vgor, and bring TO more speedy
md honorable close than could be dPne BY Mr. Madi-
son.
This was the ground upon which he was nominated,
and upon which be- was supported bg Nj. Van Bulenl
lnd such Of the old Tepublican party rs adhered to him
through the contest As to the opinions and conduct Of
Mr.. Van Buen in the early stages OF the war, we have
reason TO know that they not exactly IN harmony
with the majority Of the people of this state even of his
own party, the time for must here be borne IN mind
that very decided oFity of the representatives in
Congress ffom the State Of New York--with Obediah
in the Senate at their headF0ted against the
declaration of not however, that they held the
contest be UNJUST but they believed the country who'll
" unprepared for war the time, and consequently that
the declaration was inexpedien Such probably, were
the original views of Mr.. Van Buren-such, certainly
wore the views of Mr. Clinton
But the war having been declared, it is due to Mr.
Van Bpren to saw that DO public ma IL the State sup
ported it more thoroughly, heartily, and zealously
hroughout than he did Such, we know, is not the re-
ceyed opinon in many parts of the country especially
in the distant States; and we frequently see atemps
making, in the presses opposed to him. to render him
unpopnlar by charging him with opposition to the war
ITSELF as well as Mr. Madison But the charge is un-
true.
Many Of our political friends win scow upon US, we
know, for our frankness on this occasion. But we
we wish not to beat even Mr.. Van Buren, by tasehood
We have, indeed, truth enough at our command to do
that with.
In Hammond's political history of New York,
we end Mr.. Stones statement fully corroborated
iu this PASSAGE
"A large majority, if not all the members ofthe New
York legislative caucuA which nominated Mr.. Clinton
for the presidency, ardent in support of the war
measures pursued by the national government, and
Inv of them were dissatisfied with the sluggish move
lments and inertness of Mr. Madison, | presume one
reason why they preferred Mr. Clinton to Mr. Mad
lison was because hey believed the former would pur
sue the war against Greet Britain with elcien-
CIV and more energy than thelater but they had the
most distant idea Of separating themselves om the great
Republican party in the State or nation. At any rate,
know this to have Been the feelings of Mr. Cintons
publican friends in the country. can have no doubt
that Mr. Van Buren, entertained similar impressions.
Besides, he not membero of the legislature which
nominated Mr. Clinton He only saw, in the result Of
that caucus an expression Of the wishes of the repub
can party on given question. Was he wrong in at
tempting, in good faith, to carry those wishes into Of
fect?n
From this, it viii be seen, that before the war,
and in view Of its approach, the democracy of
New York had nominated De Witt Clinton as its
candidate for the presidency, TO give vigor to it;
that Mr. Van Buren, found him nominated by his
party when he caa8e into the Senate of the State
in November following, and was called on to vote
for presidential electors Chen chosen by the State
legislature; and that lie voted for the electors
nominated by the democracy in behalfof Clinton,
and against those nominated by the federal party.
He had id fact Cf he voted at ally no alternative
but TO vote for the Clintonian democratic electors
| or the federal ticket; because, as majority Of
each house alone had the power under the CON
stituton to nominate electors, and Mr.. Madison
had majority in neither branch, no ticket in his
favor was presented fora choice. Tbs passage
IN Hammond's political history explains h . point:
1.-THE parties in the legislature, to numbers, stood
las followsn the Senate there Were nine fcderasts
four Madisonan and nineteen Clntonian republicans;
in the assembly there were ltyeght federaits, twenty
two MadisonRn and twenty Cilntqnlan an rcpubli-
cans. The cAcrtlists could and did nonInte federal
electors in the assembly, and the republicans nominated
Chnonian electors in the Senate fis state ofthings
1t will be seem would compel the Madaontans on Joint
ballot to vote either for Clntonian federal electors
or not at ALL"
: From tins, it will be seen that Nlf, Van Bugen
ffesod flom the majority in his Siaio, which had
7 returned House of Representatives against the
f war; That he supported Mr. Clinton, who had been
selected before the declaration ofwar, by that
5 portion of the democracy which supposed bis
y greater energy would be found essential 10 impart
ollassesr Y, pFqsrinq foF, and in vipdicating ii
lhat, the moment Mr.. Cliptph was seen to flag in
lsupport Of the war, and make approaches to the
peace party, Mr. Van Buren's support Of him
"became Janguid; and he threa0 his Egeueaces Al
far az he could do so, considering tse precious
committaI of the Iegtslatipc caacns, ub;ch he held
to be binding upon the party, in behalf Of Mr.
AIadjsoa;' and finally, we have the testimony Of
one of Mr.. Van Bureh's most uncompromisng
opponents, (the editor of the Commercial Adver,
tiser, when called on as witness by his own
!, friends,) that no man supported the war "atort
thoroughly, heartily and zeaIonsly, than he did,
{ The fact is, that Mr.. Van Buren fought the
battle in the general assembly Of New York a
gainst the federal majority in the House, and a
gaiIyt the ablest and most experienced debater'
elisha Williams and others) which that part,
\ ever boosted in the State, He wrote allthe grea
: manfestoes Of the democratic party, which ralli
: cd the yeomanry Of the State i'll support Of th'
general government, in despite of the weight o
the representative authority. His speeches, no
. only before the House but before the committees
y brought multitudes in attendance to listen to th
i, arguments and weigh tile great measures he ad
y ygoeated butwhich were, at first, defeated by tn
Il federal majori.M Among these was an immens
B loan on thepss Of the State to support the gen