The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-02-29
NJ. Van Dpren apa pennsylvanIa.

The friends of this distinguished man. recently held
Stale Convention al Harrisburg They nominated
Martin Van Burea as heir hrst choice, and appon
ted Commuc 10 address him, and express their feel
fAgs Tolhis address Mr. Van Buren has replied in
besaul letter. bul 200 long for us 10 publish entire
We give ssFsss ftOm MI Van Burens reply, as
follows
sgcannot refrain from saying thai have received
your ecmmuncatioA with feelings Of no ordinary char
sctr An expression Of opinion so imposing as that
which you have been depued to convey to me, coming
from any portion Ofmy political associates, could not
fAil - any time to excite my profound graitude -,
There are circumstance, however, attending this,
~hich seem % deserve more particular notice at my
hands.,i
Speaking ofAAs p.hOeracy Of Pennsylvania he
1ays--
1Why should not embrace IN occasion so oppor
tne and possibly the last thatmay occur to assure them
that neither then nor any ohertme during the whole!
coutse n my political life, have ever for moments
doubted their disposition to do me ample justice7 Al
though they dssented from my nomination felt assu
red that they astuated by motives which were en-
titled 10 my entire respect have, therefore, never
ceased 10 cherish in common with the friends Of our
cause throughout the Union, towards the unconquerabe
and as the fullest experience has proved the unpurcha
sable Democracy of Pennsylvania sentiments Of sincere
respect their adherence to Democratic principles un
der circumstances the most adverse and admiration Of
The nnfseng spirit with which they have from time TO
Sime struggled with domestic dissensions"
Ot Buchanan he says
MI certainly becomes others better than myself to
comment on he popriety of his withdraw from the can
vass when had been ascerained that the wishes Of
Ais more immediate friends were NOT for reasons how
syernot deracting from the merits Of their faVore, in
accordance wlhose Of the great body Of their political
brethren in other State"
Ofihe Coon campaign of 1910, he writes
Fs'I cannot, am confident. add anything to the mar
terly and eloquent description which you have given OF
that national struggle Neither am unmindful OF the
bias, which the relation in which stood towards it. Is
calculated to exercise upon my opinion ofts character
Yet cannot Think deceived myself in believing that
the justice Of the censnre which you have pronounced
upon those extraordinary scenes viii now at least, be
recognized by vast majority OF the.American people
AIT has hitherto been pride to live under political
institutions which are founded reason and virtue iE
the establishment of which neither force fraud was
employed, and we have cherished the belief that is
only byan nAexibe observance Of the exalted princi-
pies which prevailed at the period of its formation, that
Sur government car be upheld. Without more particu-
larly noticing the humiatiIg details to which
you allude in your communication, can it be pre-
tended that there could be any expectation Of success for
such efforts unless founded upon the assumption that
the popular voice asnot under the guidance of reason
and virtue" orupon the supposition thathe moral prin
eples Of the people to whom those degrading appeals
were made might be corrupted by resort to such prac
tsesl The belief that the use OF such means coutribu
ted to the result Of IS40 must have lowered the charac
Ter Of people in the estimation Of mankind and If So
how much @ou1d their respect for be diminished
should the coming canvassbc conducted, as to esab
sh the impression that the American people are liable
10 be always thus imposed upon"
Liability to occasional error Is an in6rmity from
which no ihdiyiaual is exempt What night have We
en to expect that co1munifies should be inallibe.-
Bui,here is wide difference between an occasional a
bsration and confirmed defect ol character Can we
expect the people Of this country 10 maintain the eeva
ud standing in the eyes of the world which they have
hitherto enjoyed if after the lapse of years, and the
fullest opportunity for reflection they suffer hemselve,
to be second timeoperaed upon by appliances, from
the use of which every friend to free government mus
turn with modification and disgust
Yoa do not, therefore, gentlemen, in my judgment
orersstirnate the Importance whichthe proceedings o
1870 are destined to give to those Of 1874 Censidera
tons will be brought viewby that connection Of ges
termagnitude than any which have ever been involved
in our political conflicts and compared with which al
personal and party interests dwindls into insipia
= eance
I am. gentlemen, very respectfully
Your friend and obedient servant,
z. M. VAx BuRaS"