Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-04-04


commenced OF the first MONDAY in July
Mr.. Van Buren, had been chosen to the
Senate in April. but was not, Of course
IA meinber Of the legislature that made
the nomination. His Senatorial term
commenced on the first Ntordav in July;
and he first took his seat at the extra
session held in November, to choose the
Presidential electors.
Furthermore, il is also true that Mr..
Clinton became the candidate of sthe
peace party Yet it is not true that he
was originally nominated as such or that
Mr.. Van Buren,, after taking his seat in
the legislature, supported him as such.-
He (Mr. c. was in fact. driven into
that position by the force of circunstan-
! ces; and it is no more than Justice to
Mr.. Van Buren, to say that after Mr..
Clinton became identified with the peace
party as their candidate. his support of
him became langujll. Indeed we have
reason to believe that he thenceforward
threw his influence, as far as he could do
50. considering the previous committa!
OF the legislative caucus, which he held
| TO be binding upon the party, in behalf
Of MIR. Madison. The truth is, MIR.
Clinton was never nominated or suppor-
ted as an opponent to the war, Int di-
rectIy the reverse. He was thus nomi-
mated and supported expressly upon the
ground that the crisis demanded more
vigorous arm at the helm Of state that
MIR. hiadison's
''Fhe war had not been actually de-
clarcd, it is true, but every intelligent
man saw that it was inevitable. and verv
near; and it was feared, as the result
proved, that under Mr.. Matiison's adj :
|ministration it would be feebly conduc-
ted. Believing thus, that the times de-
manded all executive Of greater energy
and force of character. the attention of
many patriotic men of both political par
ties was directed elsewhere than to Vir.
g,nia for candidate; and from the
high intellectual qualities of Mr.. Clinton
and the acknowledged energy Of his char,
acter, it was conceived that he would
prosecute the Impending contest with
greater yiscr. and bring it to more
speedy and honorable close than could
be done by MIR, Madison.
This was the ground upon which he
was nominated. and upon which he was
Supported by Mr. Van Buren,. and such
Of the old Republican party as adhered
to him throughout 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
exactly in harmony with the majority OF
the people Of this State, even OF his own
party. at the lime; for it must here be
borne in mind. that very decided ma.
iority of the Representatives in Congress
from the State of ~. York with Obadi-
alb German in the Senate at their head
voted against the declaration Of war: not
no Hever, that they held the contest to
be unjust, but they believed the country
wholly unprepared for war at the time,
and consequently that the declaration
twas inexpedient. Such, probably, were
the original views of Mr.. Van Buren,
such, certainly, were the views of Mr.
| Clinton,
But, the war having been declared, il
IS due to Mr.. Van Buren, to say, that nc
public man in the State supported it more
| thoroughly, heartily, and zealousI Y
throughout than he did, Such we know
is not the received opinion in many parts
of the country, especially in the distant
States; aud we frequently see attempts
making, in the presses opposed to him, to
render him unpopular 5y charging him
with opposition to the war itself, as well
as to Mr. Madison. But the charge is
untrue.
'Many CT our political friends will
scow! upon US, we know. for odr frank
ness on this occasion. Blu! we care not
FOR that. Justice to all men is our max
i'm, and we wish not to beat even Mr.
Var Buren, by falsehood. We have. in
deed, truth enough at our command to
do that with
In Hammond's political history of
New York, weSfind Mr. Stones state
ment fully corroborated in this passage:
a large majority. if not all the mem
bers of the n. York Legislative Caucus.
which nominated Mr.. Clinton for the
Presidency. were ardent in support of
the war measures pursued BY the Nation
al Government, and many Of Them were
dissatisfied with the sluggish movement
and inertness Of Mir. Madison. pre-
sumo one reason why they preferred Mr.
Clinton to Mr.. Madison, was because
they believed the former would pursue
the war against Great Britain with more
efficiency and more energy than the latter.
but they had not the most distant idea of
separating themselves from the great Re-
publican party in the State or Nation
At any rate, know this to have been
the feelings of Mr. Clinton's Republican
friends in the country. can have no
doubt that Mr.. Van Buren, entertained
similar Impressions. Besides, he was
not member of the Legislature which
nominated fr. Clinton. He only saw in
the result Of that Caucus. an expression
OF the wishes of the Republican party on
a given question. Was he wrong in at.
tempting in oood faith IA carry those