Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1848-06-29

.....<,irr ,ksn.I possess. lido. therciores
.I.t1lr approve u The coufZ you Pro !,
1uSs:ss. II withholding your y1,cs from 10Y ,.
- nd shall d 20 DyselL ~ ~ ulhet c-l.l-
lie. dsnn those noU before ne cOunf{ arg 80
med / shniI not vote Cor President The ma i
q N z hich onr political brethren in oiher 19A
svehLsding States shall dispose q lhs'l eshla-
=. 5 tof them 10 delcrmine, and viii 4 Fe1aye
sfffn.t tc.so. .Bnl. thai lkey aeeord win us n
= eninion As 10 he existence u The power ~ /;
uestion, and The expediency 81 sxersisa1s q
rhenexer The occasion for 70 doing arrives We
ave tie bczs reason % know.
The porer. he exisience II uhichstss1 ~ Eeis
~ daT denfea. Is. IN my opini1ns fully glaHied I
!, f,.agress 81 he Constitution. lis language
he efeeasnsfsnees nnder which i was adopted, ,
e rrecrded explanation which accompan.ee -
- sti.,.,the coustru zion it has received nun
mr. highes, judicial tribunals. and the very 20.
IeInn ana repeated con6rmalions i has derived
from he measures ofiie govern Ment-leale 80
Sc shadow d doubt In my mind IN regard g
lhea fsfhority Of Congress 70 exercise NE. poeel
in QUESTION. This Is note aew fftnen ons4
raj. nor die frsl oecasjon on szhsrh 80
avowtH. Whiisi ne candidate ctmy ir'ends ics
fhe n esi7enevlI distinctly annOuBeed uiy opln-
ion III favor q he po1reF u Con4tess = ano',A
slawerr.in The District Of Colombia. aliheaSn :
ras f0r reasons which we're then and are slil -
|tisiactoFy 10 my mind, very decidedly opposeoD
q =
Iiaply as rleariB respertsothe territories a. Us
Ia regard 10 thai District and asia
nv opinion was also made kn0Sn IN a SUI Mots
solemn form. BY giving the execrtiye.a PRfoyal
IL IA C.,stitul0ns " the bill I'M We o.
ganizatio.i II te territorial government Of Iowa,
which prohibited he inIoduction u slavery in'O
thai ttfrilory. 80,
=, ~. fa.e az A. lsrvsss ~~..ssar7r, .s .tlsss
y =. ere.-ed n forms the most solemn and expliu.t
ihv an or nearly al the nOn-slayeheldins States
and Ne are nctet liberty 10 suspect me sincerity
Ia these expressions. Honest and web meaning
ls.sn a. we kcow the masses OF cor political
frients In those Stsies 70 be surcineapabieot III
aina wiih so graTea.Anhicci
I Our ancestors signaiized the ccmmencemen
ATS glorious goTernnleeto Of ours, By Fereu M
from hIbJeciion 70 slavery, asteTfsiory which y
now covered hY FIVE grcat6tases ndipeopled ~
more Than four mfilionssef freemen, in the iul
enjoyment q even blessing which industry and
good institutions can confer. They did hi
whan the cpinions and rondaet OF iheworldinre
gard tothe instifuienrof slavery uafe very dit
feIenL from whaLilis noy.
They did SO before Great Britain had syeI
commenced those gig7Rfc &c 10 a. e. ~ ,e,a,
y 90 oAcesiofs, We, their descendants, are CALI
ed upcnto doom, or ffihat Is two strong word
expose 10 the infoad of slavery territory capa-
bic OF sustaining an equal number Of new States
TO be added TO our eonfederaey-a territory in a
great part of which slavery has never existed In
fact and from the residue Of which il has been ex-
presslg abolished by the existing government
Weare called upon TO do this at period when the
minds cfneaTly all mainland have been penetra-
ted BY aconyiction OF the evils ofslayery andare
united in efforts for its suppressi0n--at a mo-
mcni, too, when the spirit 81 freedom and reform
iseyerSwhere far more prevalent than il has been
and when our Republic stands proudly forth rs
The great exemplar Of the world in the science
OF free government
TVhocHn believe ffat aNpgpulation like thaa
which iHhabits tie non-slayeholding States. pro
badly amounting TO twelve millions who BIZ their
own acts or by The foresight Of others have been
exempted frec theeyils Of slavery, can, at such
moment, be induced, byconsideraiions Of any de-
scription, 10 make q Feirogade Increment Of a
character so extraordinary end 50 p0infulyl--
Such movement would in my view ofihe mat
lei, and say il with unfeigned Difference to the
conflicting opinions Of others, bring reproach up
on the infnence offfee institutions, which would
delightthe hearts and excite the hopes of the nd
Tocates OF arbitrary power throughout the world
Holding these opinioRs you have dutics1o per-
form as important as they ure delicate In the
krsi plere you should adhere inhexibly to ycur O.
Paniens Is leng as Yeu bolieye them 10 beTight,
andno longer. TkisyOu vIil do. In the next
place you should present your views in regard to
Iheln, calmly and distinctly, but firmly, 10 your
political brethren Of the siave-holding States.
With fall statement Of The reasons on which
hey are founded, thai those reasons may BE- con-
r7xericdif they arenot sound This you have
lone mother important Tespectsfy positions
Ire uDaSsailable. The moRemetT 10 advance
he principle you desire to promote, was eem-
nenced ntheriyht place, thoagh. PeEkaps, not at
be most desirable momeat, and was net accom- |
anied By partizan measures, OF founded on To-
itical dessgn nfany description, as far as I3now
z have reason ~ believe
III understand yeur eoursc. ycur delegates |
rent to iha eenyeHiien prepared 70 accept the |
ominatiCn of any sound democrat, who had na /
ctrally Submitted 10 sesl which i'm plicated ne I
'elIkaevsa and repeatedly expressed oPniea Of /
our state without inierrogatng him n regard I
, his opinion on this particular question. ID I
king this ground, you pursued the only course
y which the democratic party OF the Union. as
itherio organized, can be perpetnaied; and the
ist and fair minded men ofthe party egefywhcre
~. when The present excitement has passed a.
'ay, sPprSre your eondnct One thing more,
nd your whole action EiR il the end attract the Il
llention, and enlist the goSi feeding Of all Just
nd ecnerous minds. Let your farther proceed
lgs In dis Ehele matter. be 6isfngaishedby me-
Grafton and forbearance.
Injustice must be Observation-Disclosures rcpeyLst
nd all this can be done. With decency and with
Il impeachment Of the motives &C whole com y
uAtttcs, on acc01Dt 81 TIE cOnu9ct Ot lndfTtdu-
$ The situalisa efyour pelhicai brcaiFeR a 1 Y
saveholdDg states Is not as favorable to calm IS
seussiea and dispassienate eonsideTasien IS IL
,urs. and more VIII therefore. in this respect,
expected at your hands. Ii your differences I,
do ron atleast sustain your views e
iihout vituperation OF unnecessary exciements lc
any description. Exemplify your firmness Is
ID your confidence in The justice Of yoar cause i
he best ofaH tests--tAe dignity and nodera- Z
~ with which yea npheldit
When the election Is over, and reason resumes y
I empire, the ground which has been taken by Id
or southern brethren will be reviewed with Nv
lmness. and if found b be RaienabIe, ven are I \
,lnd 10 believe that II win be abandoned lin Il,
5 you are disappointed. il win stil be eonso-
ion TO know thar you have done nothing Wnne<
sariy. whichconld deserve to exasperaie alien. Up
ons which may thea become incurab,e. Il
Accept gentlemen, my varnest acknowledge Ia
ms for the obliging expressions eenIained 4 la
a. ietieT, and believe me to &c
Your friend,
81 MARTIN VAN BUREN,.
Messrs. Samuel Waterbufy, David padlef =
Field. and others. New York. II
IN. CosIBs-A coop RxAMrLE. Il,
Ia