Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-07-01
NM. VAN punEr,s LErrrR,

| DarhpurherS at OtlCa, N' l., In regard 10
his nomination for the Presidency. The
letter is dated at Lindenwald, June 20, 1S4S
Mr.. Van Buren states that in 1874 he de-
termined to retire from political life, and
must therefore, decline the honor of a
nomination. He condemns the proceed
ings of the Baltimore Convention in exclu-
ding the New, York delegates, and considers
them of no binding effect. He says it is not
to be disguised, that the Barnburner delegates
were rejected on account of their views on
slavery. He then proceeds to discuss the
question of slavery, which forms the main
portion of his letter, as follows:
You desire also my views in regard to the
prohibition by Congress, of slavery in terrific
ries where it does not now exist, and they
shall be given in few words, and in man.
ner, which will not, hope, increase, if it
does not diminish the existing excitement in
the public mind.
| The illustrious founders of our government
were not insensible to the apparent inconsist-
ency between the perpetuation of slavery in
the United States, and the principles of the
revolution, as deineated in the declaration of
independence; and they were too ingenious
in their dispositions to attempt to conceal the
impressions by which they were embarrassed.
But they knew also, that its speedy abolition
in several Of the states was impossible, and
its existence in all, without fault on the part
of the present generation. They were also
too upright and the fraternal feelings which
had carried them through the struggle for in
dependence were too strong TO permit them
to deal with such matter upon any other
principles than those of liberty and Justice
The policy they adopted, was TO guarantee
to the states in which slavery existed, con-
elusive control over the subject within their
respective jurisdictions, but to prevent, by
united efforts, its extension TO territories of
the United States, in which it did not in fact
exist.
On all sides the most expeditions means to
carry on this policy were adopted with alac
rity and good feeling. Their first step was TO
interdict the introduction of slavery into the
northwestern territory, now covered by the
states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin. This may justly be regarded as
being in the main, Southern measure. The
subject was first brought forward in Congress
by Mr.. jefferson. Virginia made the cession
of territory upon which the ordinance was in
tended to operate, and the representatives
from all the the slave holding states gave it a
unanimous support. Doubts have arisen in
the minds of some whether the ordinance of
1887 was authorized by the articles of con-
federation bill was introduced in the
new Congress at its first session under the
constitution, recognizing and adapting it TO
the organization, and it has ever since been
treated and regarded as a valid act. This
bill received the constitutional appreciation of
President Washington, whose highest and
sworn duty it was to support the constitution
under which it was enacted Nor was the
north backward in doing its part TO susta n
the policy which had been wisely adopted
They assented to the insertion of provisions
in the constitution necessary and sufficient 10
protect that interest in the states, and they
did more.
The trouble apprehended at the commence
ment of the government from this source, be-
gan to show itself as early as the year 1890,
in the form of petitions presented to Con-
gress upon the subject of slavery and the
slave trade by the Quakers of Philadelphia
and New York and by Dr. franklin as pre-
sdent of a society for the promotion of aboli-
ton. These petitions were, in the House Of
Representatives, referred to committee of
seven, all but one of whom were Northern
members, whose report, as amended in COM
mittee of the whole, affirmed 'that Congress
have no power to interfere in the emancipa.
ton of slaves, or in the treatment of them
within any of the States, it remaining with
the several States alone to provide any regu-
lation therein, which humanity and true po-
Icy might require"
The perseverance and gool faith with
which both branches of policy thus adopted
have, until very recently, been recognized
and carried out, are highly honorable to the
whole country. The peculiar liability of the
subject to be converted into an element of
political agitation, as well in the slaveholding
as in the non-slave holding States, may have
led TO occasional attempts so to employ it,
but these efforts have been very successfully
frustrated by the good sense and good feelings
of the people in every quarter of the union.
A detailed account Of the numerous acts of
the Federal government sustaining and carry
ing into full effect the policy of its founders
upon the subject of slavery in the States, and
its extension 10 tho territories, and the steps
taken, in the non-slaveholding States to sup
press or neutralize undue agitation in regard
to it, would be alike instructive and honora-
BILE to the actors in them. But it will be
readily perceived, that this could not be CIV
Ell within the necessary limits of a commune
cation like the present.
1t must therefore suffice to say, that from