Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-06-18
lion Of Ihe BaIlimors Convention .

Upon retiring from the Presidency, I
thought iiwOuld best cOuipoFt with the
respect which was due TO that station,
lard 70 those by whose favor I bad bssn
raised 10 Il, 10 restrict my participation
in Ihe political contests oflhe day 10 the
faithful exercise ofibe right Of salTf5ee,
with unresetved expressions Of my Opin>
ions upon ihs public questions TO those
who deemed the latter Of sufficient im>
porisnce 10 call for them. The adoption
Of this rule was at the time publicly an
nounced 10 my political friends, and has
ever since been scrupuously Observed
subsequent events baVe only confirmed
the propfieiy Of its continued and PER-
maBenl observance. II is, therefore, with
uRfeigned regret that find myself con.
strained by circumstances which can.
not and ought not disregard TO decline
The request to preside Al meeting 0f a
portion Of fmy fellow citizens, than whom
nU men possess stronger claims to nv
respect, my confidence, and my .es
lesm. ass.
But let no one for a moment suppose
thal,i in thus yielding to The plOprislies of
my position, l AN in lhs slightest degree
infuencedby lukewsrmness, much less
or hostility TO The success of the nomina
lions to which il is The purpose Of those
you represent 10 respond. Far, very
far, is that from being the true state Of
my feelings. ] have known Alessrs. Polk
and Dallas long and intimately. | have
had frequent opportunities for personal
observation Of their conduct in the dis
charge Of high and responsible public
duiies.The latter has by my appointment,
represented the country. abroad with
credit and usefslness. They are both
gentlemen possessed Of high character,
Of unqueslioned and nnquestionabIe pa
IriOi;sm and integrity, able to discharge
the duties Of The stations for which they
have been 70 spebtfully nominsted with
advantage 10 the country and honor to
themselves. Concurring with them in
the main in the Pohticsl principles by
which their pLblic lives have hitherto
been distinguished, lam sincerely desi-
rous for their success. | am by no
means unapprised Of The occurrences
remotely connected with these nomina.
tions which have caused pain and mDr
] iifcatiOn in the breasts Of my sincere
friends throughout the Union who have
hOnOIed mo by their continued and dis.
, interested friendship.
Bui am very sure that can also rely
on their past fidelity and honor for ready
conurroHCe in The saving principles ofour
political creed, that no personal or private
feelings should ever induce US 20 with
hold our support from nominations, the
succSSS Of which would no conducive to
the permsneDt interests Of the country.
Those therefore, who think as do, thai
its future welfare iSin great degree, de-
pendent upon the success OF those great
principles in the administration Of the
federal government, which we have hithen
TO espoused, and in respect.to which ths
two great parties Of the country have, for
years, been divided, csHnot, Tam sure fail
10 merge all minor consideration s ia sin.
cere and undisguised efforts TO promote
tie success Ofalhe candidates OF the demo.
cratic party.
Having now said all that The occasion
calls for in regard 10 tho general objects OF
the meeting, must Be indulged IN few
parting words 10 The llon'hesrted demOc-
racy ofihe city and county Of New York.
Never before has public man been
honOFed by the support sOf truer, frmer,
or more disintsrestsd friends than they
have been 10 me. In prosperity have
scarcely known whore 10 find them, in ad
versiIy they have been with mo Always
Through evil end through good report, ]
have found the masses Of The New York
} democracy the same unobtrusivs, but un.
shrinking friends. The happiest, day in
my whole pOlical career, was that on
which, on my return from Washington
they met me on the Battery, in the midst
Of a storm Of wind aud rain, which weuld
hayo'kept fair weather friends at home
and extended TO me, private citizen
\ like themselves, their hard hands, and
4 opened their hearts in a welcome as cor~
hdial'as man ever received from man.--
They need no assurances to satisfy them
that shallb be forever thankful for their
unsurpassed devotion to my welfare, they
know ahal can never cease 10 charish
with grateful recollection the honored
relations OfreptosORlatiVes Of and constituent
which has existed between US for so long
a period, ia such varied forms, and which
10 now for ever closed.
! have the honor, gentlemen.to be very
Respectfully your friend & obi serv't,,
rsll ,4slI M. VAN BUREN.
To Ganseyoort Melville, Richard B. Con,
molly, Wln. A. Walker, and WIN, Nc,
MuTrays Esurs.. Commiiiaa.