Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-11-12
Ex-pREsIDENT VAN BUREN's LETTER.

me of your desire 10 place my name, after the
close of the then approaching canvass IN Penn
sylvania, at the head of your paper, as the
choice of The sterling democracy OF your dis
trict for the presidency, and also informing
me of similar disposition amongst the demo-
Gratis of the surrounding districts.
The frankness of your communication, and
the disinterested motives by which ii has OBJ
viously been dictated, command my respect
and confidence Instead, therefore, of reply
ing to it through my old and fast friend in
your vicinity, as you suggest, l address my
self directly to you, and shall express my feel
ings and opinions with the freedom and sin
cerity which are due to the subject, to my posi-
ton in regard to it, and to the respect and gra-
titude with which your conduct has inspired
me.
| cannot apprehend that what am about
to say will induce any one to suppose that
undervalue the honor of the Office with which
your favorable estimate of my capacity and
principles has inclined you once more to con-
meet my name. Every right-minded AmerI-
can citizen must regard an incumbent of the
presidential office, possessing the confidence
and esteem of those who raised him TO power,
and challenging the respect of all parties by
an honest, wise, and manly administration of
his trust as enjoying the highest distinction
known to the political institutions of mankind.
Nevertheless, | assure you that, whatever
may have been my aspirations at other peri
DDS of my life, have no desire to re-occupy
that most elevated public station. | have al
ready, by the partiality of my countrymen,
partaken very largely of the en- oyments of
public life, whilst | have not Stunned its Ia
bors, or been exempt from its inquietudes -
The favors and honors which have been pro-
fusely bestowed on me by the democracy of
the Union are, and trust will ever be, pres
ent to my mind, and greatfulIy impressed on
my heart Every day more and more confirm
ed in the soundness of the political opinions
to which have adhered, conscious of always
having done my duty othe people to the best
OF my ability, having no heart-burnngs to be
allayed, and no resentments to be gratitled by
a restoration to power, and finding my pres
ent position entirely adapted to my taste and
disposition, am sincerely and heartily desi-
rous to wear the honors and enjoyments OF
private life uninterrupted to the end.
If, therefore, the support which you, with
whom have not even the pleasure of per-
sonal acquaintance, have so frankly and hon
orally rendered me, included that not only of
the infexible and victorious democracy of
your congressional district, but also of the de-
mocratc party throughout the Union, and the
consequent assurance of success, | could not,
consulting only my own feelings and wishes,
hesitate, respectfully and gratefully, but de-
cidedly, to decline it. That any state of things
will hereafter exist in which this indulgence
of my own preferences would, in the opinion
of true and faithful friends, conflict with my
duty to the political party to which my whole
e. loo loo Jo1,o ii nd 10, oh T
personal sacrifice, is in the last degree impro.
bable
appreciate and honor your anxious desire
to see the integrity and frmness of the demo
cratic party of the Union fully vindicated.-
one who is, by his position and just obser-
vance of its prophecies, debarred from active
participation in partisan conflicts, can aid in
restoring its former efficiency, in rekindlng its
waning zeal, and in preserving the high anc
pure character for which it has been long anC
rightfuIly distinguished, you may confidently
rely on my cooperation. Whether these de
sirable objects can be accomplished, mainly
depends upon the course which is pursued by
the respective friends of those prominent cit
. Zens among us who are made candidates fol
the presidency. Should the capital of ths
| Union, during the approaching session of Con
t 5ress, become the raIlying- point of their parti
sans, & not only their attention, but the time &
, attention of those who are charged with thu
+ direction of public affairs, be devoted to presi
nt-making instead of their appropriate du
ties, we shall have little 10 hope in th
regard.
But if mere political schemes and ntrgues
! however cunningly devised, and however pro
q fitabe they may have heretofore appeared
I shall ii the present emergency give p ace Il
the unceasing and vigorous efforts of all t.
preserve and protect the bleeding interests an
n perriled honor Of our country-efforts whicl
q can alone attract the confidence and supper
q of the democratic masses-the result will prov
far more suspicious.
$ Scarcely ever has the essential welfare O
= the country been in a more critical condi
ton, or its administration in greater nee
Of the energetic support of those who raise
it to power With a probable majority agains
# it in the popular branch of the national legis
" Iature, and but small, and it is to be regret
5 ted, not very harmonious majority in its ia
" vor in the Senate, it may be called upon t
:. vindicare the past, and will be obliged to sup
port, possibly for an indefinite period, dis
r. tant and difficult foreign war. The exisenc
O. of that war has received the official sanctio
% of every department of the government whic
!. is required by the constitution; and il is du
o. to the future fame, as we'll as the present pros
% perity of this great nation, that it be triun
- phantly sustained. Whatever may hereafte
l. be the proprlety of instituting inquiries int
8 the necessity of its occurrence with view
IS the just responsibility to public opinion of OF
public servants. such an investigation may,
J. this time, and under existing circumstances, {
j. we'll upon principles of sound political mora
d ity as of national expediency, be we'll rega
" ded as out of season. The war cannot no
# be concluded with honor, unless we receiv
70 from Mexico a just indemnity for the pas
o and reasonable security for the future.
" these be not obtained, the survivors of O,
pr gallant army, who have by their deeds of va
h or confirmed the respect and compelled tt
f. admiration of the world, cannot be brougl
home without impeachment of the laurels the
n. have so nobly won, nor the memories of tt
pr heroic dead shielded from the reflection OF ha'
: ing sacrificed their lives in worse than US
less contest.
These solemn duties must be P erformed,
is TO be feared, with perhaps few honorab
exceptions, without the proper aid of an o.
position, numbering in its ranks many gel
tlemen of great talents. who have had an I'll
l. usual share of Legislative experience, and a
=, well versed in the tactics of partisan warfar
D. Under circumstances so adverse, the re
i'll friends of the democratic candidates for nom
u nation will wofully misjudge the interests
&c their favorites, if, without desparlng of Il