Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-07-09

McDufie.
kinderhook, by the general consent Of all OF
Mr.. Van Buren's biographers, was the facus OF
noisy political brawlers. and Marin was always
in the midst OF the raging sea Of parry, and soon
nude himself a name and friends among the moi.
sesi. Like Caleb Quolem, he could plead at
bar, play game at cards, bet on the elections,
attend the races, drive good bargain, whether
in town lots or horse flesh, swear in good round
oaths, make good speech, and in a word, please
the many by offending only the few. lie was
industrious also, and every thing was sacrificed
TO his determination TO become distingushed.-
Talents he had, and they have been much under.
rated by his political opponents. To get office
and get riches no man has shown more skill;
and riches, and what are called honors, were OBJ
tained much sooner by Mr.. Van Buren than by
any other man Of whose history we have any
knowledge. His fortune is now large, and in
every respect he is what is called independent Of
the world.
The inconsistency Of Mr.. Van Buren's politi-
cal course must be admitted by all impartial
minds. lie was against Jeferson's embargo
act, and took up with Clinton and Crawford.-I
He was for Livingston at one time, and Tomp.
kins at another. In 1901 he was for Governor
Lewis against Tompkns, and in 1907 precisely
in opposition. lie was the father Of The Safety
Fund System: a director in one of the STATE
Banks, and then publicly avowcd enemy of all
Bank.
In l8O8-'9, Mr.. Van Buren removed his law
Office TO Hudson and remained there until 1915,
when he was elected by the casting vote of Gov.
ernor Tompkns, in the course Of appointment,
Attorney General Of the State. In 1919 he was
] IL. 1 Z -
De Win Clinton for President against Madison
and the friends of Jefferson. The next year he
acted as one of the Courl for the Revision of Err
rors, and in 1916 removed 10 Albany, where he
remained until he was called to the office Of Se-
cretary Of State, al Washington. In The mean
time he had been elected Senator in Congress,
where Rufus King was his colIcague-and Gov.
ernor Of the State, which repaid him for his re.
lection from the Office Of Attorney General.
| In regard 10 the banking Institutions, Mr.. Van
! Buren, pursued more crooked policy than any
public man we know of. In the war Of 1919, he
also pursued the same successful craft. He was
alternately the friend aud enemy of De Wit
! Clinton, his enemy in adversely, and his friend
! in prosperity Clinton was advised to secure his
! favor by appointing him TO the bench cf the Su-
preme CourI of the State. The answer Of Clin-
ton was like the man-"Il'sa u measure of mere
policy, he said; il might be expedienr; but so un.
principled a man do consider Mr. Van Buren,
that could never justify myself in making such
an experiment merely for The sake of disarmng
his resentment against mo-"
This was in 1919. In l341 the New York
Evening Post held opinions as harsh and decided
as this, declaring that Mr.. Van Buren, had "luIe
moral faith ofany kind" and it was added, "lhe
deficiency drives him into an artificial code Of
political practice, in which he refers all social
actions into individual interests, and all polili.
cal actions to combinations Of those interests
lie believes firmly in the force Of management,
or the cco, consderate ar(ul application Of gem
eral propositions TO the existing temper and opin-
ions Of the masses, as far as those can be ascer-
ained, and without any leading reference to their
propriety or durability. Ills political morality
never reaches so far us 10 a moral power or ne.
cessary truth in public opinion. lie belongs
wholly to present time, and may be said to re-
present trading or business politics!
There are some marked events in Mr.. Van Bu.
ren's life, which need more space than | have
time to give them. 1t is known that he was re-.
ected by the Senate of the United States, as Min
lister TO England, FOR conduct believed by those
who voted against him TO be derogatory to the
national honor. General Jackson SAID, howev-
or, in his behalf that Mr.. Van Buren accepted
the mission with reIuctance, and in all that he
! had done, which was complained of, he had o.
| beyed his Instructions. His nomination was
sent TO the Senate in December, '32, and on the
25h Of January was rejected, "a to %, Mr.. Cal.
houn, as Vice President. giving the casting vote
against him. In March he left England for the
Continent, and in June reached the United
States. year alier, and less, he was himself
the presiding officer of the Senate, as the success.
sor Of Mr.. Calhoun, u position which he held for
four years, and which was followed by his clec.
ton to the Executive office.
In the affair of General Jackson and Mrs. Ea.
ton, which sowed discord in the cabinet, and a.
mong families, Mr.. Van Buren, acted so conspi-
cuous part that il is necessary to notice his u
gency in it. | shall do so in the language of
Gen. Jacksons first Secretary Of the Navy, Gov
Branch, Of N. c., who gives the following ac'
count Of the part NJ, V. b. acted in this national.
" diSgracelul occurrence. Gov. Branch in his
letter Of the day SAYS
"Mr Van Buren, it must be borne in mind,
was a widower without daughters; and he adroit-
y avacd himself orall his privileges as such.--
| His attentions TO Mrs. Eaton were of the most
marked character. Polite and assiduous on all
occasions, he was particularly so in the presence
of Gen. Jackson or Mai. Eaton. His influences
in every variety Of form, both official and unoI-
fetal, was exerled to make it apparent TO those
gentlemen that he entered deeply into their feel
ing; not, in fact, that he cared anything about
them; but he loresaw the power to be acquired
by pursuing such course, and had no scruples
10 restrain him. AT length General Jackson,
after the meeting Of Congress in December, 1929
finding the ladies Of Washington to be imprac-
ticable, determined that The families Of his Cabi
net should submit TO terms or be dismissed.
Congress was in session; the ladies oflhe mem.
hor, Cron, Tennesspn oven held no intercourse