Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-09-07
Speech Of Jsshua Leavilt,
at the Free SoHRaifcatioa meeting, an Fancai'
HAIL. 1agrst 22ad. 1913.

WI
'" men rose in The Buffalo nominating Conyen
Ilcn, 10 propose that the nomination of Martin
aO Buren, should be made unanimous by acc.;,
nation, had in my minds eye hundred
thousand true-hearted friends of Liberty, scat
tered over these States, with whom | had stood,
shoulder to shoulder, through many a struggle
and many trial, and thought they were look
ing at me, and asking me with tears IN then
eyes, how could do so. But sir, had LONG
ago learned lesson in the dearest relations, and
in all the interests which bind man to his fellow
that my aim should be, my country and my God
Applause. With the conviction that | was
doing right, felt at TINT moment that could
look these hundred Thousand brave and noble
souls IN the face, anywhere and everyVhere.--
But, SIT, to lock such greeting as this in the
face, Is another matter altogether. Applause
wish here To add my testimony to the report
Of your delegate, to the utter fairness liberalty
aud generosity of everything that was done by
the New York delegation in the Buffalo Conyen'
ton. brand every chdrge to the contrary as
LIE. say that there is not particle Of truth
IN one OF the allegations which are made to the
contrary. The rules OF proceeding which were
adopted, were written by a whig. They were
reported by a committee of which | was
member, composed of two wings, one Lib.
erty man, and one Free Soil man, from Mary.
land. There was not Barnburner among them,
that had anything to do with them. In the
selection Of delegates, you have been told, the
utmost fairness and the utmost liberaity that any
person could ask was accorded both to the
wings and to the Liberty party in the State OF
New York, in New Jersey, in Ohio aid IN ali
the States. So complete was the manifestation
OF INTEGRITY, Of caDdor, and OF generosity that
confess to you, it melted down all my prejudices
and all my fears.
went to that meeting full of fears, full Of
jeaousies. Fellow-citizens, have had hard
training to jealousy and fear. We had been
treated to resolutions and declarations, and pro
tessions put forth only for traps, until We had
come to look upon every good resolution as
nothing more or less than trap to catch aboI.
ton votes. | remember when Mr.. HalIet, in
Washington city, prepared leading editorial
for the Globe, explaining the course OF the Dem.
ocratic administration in Massachusetts,, in re.
peaing the nter.marriage law, and passing alb.
clifton resolutions He apologized for ii in the
Washington Globe, and suppose it was the best
apology he could make when he and his friends
wanted office he said it was an unfortunate aft.
air; that the Democrats in an evil hour, he'd a.
dopted the policy of tie whgs to pass resolutions
which meant nothing but to catch abolition
votes. And sir, did not know but it was So
with these old and practical politicians the
Campbells, Buffers and Van Burens. had
heard great deal Of "magic" and "magcians, "
and had premonitory symptoms OF all thlt sort
OF thing, and felt that it was necessary to be on
the lookout, or should be caught Well, sir,
understand the "nagcian" now. Cheers l.
don't know how he used to get votes; ] don't
know how he used to make friends, but | know
how he does it now. Renewed cheers
few months ago, Sir all looked dreary and
dark for the cause Of Freedom. On The right
hand and on the left, before and on every side
you looked IN vain fer q champion, for a leader
for statesman of elevated standing and com
commanding character, to throw himself into the
breach and save the country. Who rose in tha
day! Henry Clay! John Mclean! Thomas
Corwln? A laugh from some of the audience
Daniel Webster! "a hundred cheers" No
no, no, it was Martin Van Buren,. [Cheers. -
lie went to the city of New York, and rouse
up his friends, and told them that the%tme ha
come to act. When the whole current ofeycnt
was in downward course, and you knew ne
where to look for help then came out the Utc
letter; and what do you find was the reSponse?-
The shareholders Immediately want comprC
mise Immediately AFTER Clayton of Delaware
leading whlg, offers motion in the Unite
States Senate, for committee to play the Mi
sour game over again, to have Sunday Sc
sion, and make another compromise, And VIII
defeated that! What prevented the compromis
and gave Oregon government Martin Va
Buren's letter, throwing himself into this gre
cause as represented in the Buffalo Conventio
Point me to another man in the United State
who has done what Martin Van Buren, has don
who has laid upon his country's altar such g
as he has presented
When application was made for the annex
ton of Texas, he called his cabinet together, a
told them that the responsibility rested upon
shoulders of rejecting the proposal When
was informed that fresh application would
made to him from the South, in 1874, to KIN
whether his views were still adverse to the ann,
alton of Texas he signifed to his friends, ii
if they thought proper to ask that question: tn
would get it answered. Said he, Gentlemen
you press this matter of annexation, YOU will
more than you ask, but the responsibility is up
you, and not upon me. give you notice, Il
you will get more than you ask; butifyou cho
to put the question to me III form, you will
frank and explicit answer. Has any OF
man in the United States ever laid the Presid
cy upon the altar, with his eyes open, in t
manner? No.
Martin Van Buren, was condemned to ret
ment, as it was believed, and what were his
cumstances? A man who has been Presiden
the United States, man sixly-fve years old
man surrounded with all that could make a
rene old age comfortable and honorable.
you again, why he came up in the midst Of
darkness and gloom, and threw himself into
breach! am not calling your attention to "
Mr.. Van Buren, has said ! am calling your
tention to what he has done. Cheers
And why did he do it! "Revenge?' "
sir, would man as comfortable as he is, for
sake of revenge, encounter what he has enc
tered. with any hope that he could then dis
of success? do not believe it. You say
he foresaw what would follow Did he for
the Buffalo Conventionl Did he foresee
meeting in Faneuil Hall! # he lid, if h
that far-sighted UisiOn, he is tie Uery ma,