Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-09-06
Mr.. Van Buren's Acceptance.



proceedings of the Buffalo Convention. Th
, composition, character and proceedings of tha
body, as described by you, and the concessions Q
feeling, and, to some extent, of opinions also, Of
the part of its members, which enabled them t
tnnite their exertions upon a common, and to th
, country, vitality important question, show. it t.
have been governed by pure and lofty patriotism
and demand from ME a grateful acknowledge
ment, for the expression of confidence you have
communicated. q. -, ~
A4y position; irtresara to- she Presidential eIec.
tid4 is a peculiar one; and it is due to me, tha
acknowledge of itshonld besessextensivs, witf
that, @, ,eyeHF Step shaYe takenin tha
canvass. In 1914 7 announced my determination
to continue in retirement the rest of my life anc
my earnest desire to do so has been undiminishet
and invariable, from that moment to the present
l declined, respectfully but explicitly, numerous
offers from friends in other states, to promote my
nomination at the late Baltimore Convention, and
in the same spirit, refused permission the New
York delegation to present my name to that body,
under any circumstances whatsoever.
This refusal would have been equally decisive,
it had been certain, that they would have had
it in their power to carry their friendly wishes in
to effect. The New York delegation to the Utica
Convention requested my opinions, in regard to
the obligations imposed upon them by the Balti-
more nominations, and the constitutionality and
expediency of prohibition, by Congress, of the
introduction of slavery into territories free
from it. They also asked my consent to the use
Of my name by the convention, its candidate
for the Presidency I cheerfuly gave them the
opinions they desired, but declined the last re-
quest absolutely. That they sincerely desired to
respect my wishes in this regard, have never
doubted But the convention were of opinion
that the use of my name necessary, well to
enable the democracy of New York to carry for
ward, with a reasonable prospect of ultimate sue
cess, the great principle for which they contended,
as to sustain themselves in the extraordinary posi-
ton to which they had been driven by the injus-
tce of others; and that the relations which had so
long existed between us, gave them right so to
use it, not only without my consent, but against
my known wishes. Entertaining these views,
they decided to nominate me, and omitted to give
me the usual notice of their proceedings:
The reason why did not feel myself at liberty
to interpose any further obstacles to their Wishes
have been given to the public, and need not be
repeated
1t is in this form that my name, as a candidate
for the Presidency, has been brought before the
people. Occupying this position l shall feel my
self honored by the support OF an assemblage so
enlightened and patriotic, and so devoted to the
maintenance of the great principle we contend for
that in whose behalf you have addressed me.
have examined and considered the platform
adopted by the Buffalo Convention, defining the
political creed of the t'free democracy. with the
attention due to the grave subjects which it en-
braces, and the interesting circumstances under
which it is presented. 1t breathes the right spirit,
and presents political chart with the explanations
am about to make, can, in good faith, adopt
and sustain.
In regard to the chief topic Of the resolutions,
it is not to be doubted that the present unpreceden
ted movement of the public mind i'll the non-save-
holding states, upon the snbject slavery, is caused
mainly BY an earnest desire to uphold and enforce
the policy in regard to it, established by the foun-
ders of the republic. That policy, in addition to
the prospective prohibition of the foreign trade,
was:
lst. Adequate, efficient, and certain security
against the extension of slavery into territories
where it does not practically exist.
I'd. That, in the language of your own con-
densed and excellent resolution, s'Slavery, in the
several states of the Union, which recognizes its
existence, should depend Upon state laws, which
cannot be repealed or modified by the Federal
Government and
Sd. A spirit of considerate forbearance towards
the institution, in localities where it was placed
under the control of Congress.
By wise observance of this policy, we have un-
til recently, been enabled to neutralize the nuri-
GUS tendencies of all element of discord, more
difficult to deal with than any to which our free
institutions are exposed. But unhappily for the
present harmony, and possibly for the future well
fare of our beloved country, pretension has re-
Gently been set up by our brethren of the slave
holding states in regard to the first branch of this
policy, so inadmissable upon principle, and so re-
voting to our feelings, as to produce rush pub
lie sentiment towards the point of resistance,
which, with a population consderate and SO
staid as ours, is never seen, except when con-
vction exists that the honor and safety ofthe
try are at stake, and then always. A train of oc-
currences, all tending to the same general end,
which have, for few yoars past. followed each
other in rapid succession, has raised this feeling
to an elevation hitherto unknown, and produced
resolves which it is not in the power of indvidu-
ais to induce the people to recede from. The
consttutionality, the Justice, the humanity and
expedency of the ground they have taken, are
all so clear as to preclude the possibility of con-
tnued diversity of opinion or action in the nom
slaveholding states.
The consequences that may result from this
conflict of opinion between and those who
are, unhappily our opponents-if their pretensons
are persisted in-are known only to that omnis-
cient and kind Providence which has hitherto pro-
tected our country and its institutions from the
dangers which have threatened them
The claim set up by our southern brethren, is a
departure from the platform raised by our common
ancestors, at period when the chain OF CUR I'm
ion was the brightest, and the fraternal feeling
between the states that composed it, the strong
est. 1t comes upon tne Dack Oh d SERIES ol eVeIls
well calculated to awaken, at the north. that
deep, and, as it respects ourselves, overwhelming
sensation in the public mind, to which have
referred A brief review of them, at moment
so critical cannot fail to be useful.
The future condition of the respective states in
regard to the probable continuance or abolition of
slavery. were correctly foreseen at the formation
of the Government. Those of the old thirteen
which are exempt from it, acted under confident
anticipation that they would soon become so;
whilst those of the number where slavery still
exists, could not look forward to equally favor
able result in regard to themselves. 1t was there
fore well understood at the adoption OF the con-
stitution that although large and highly respec-
table portion of the members Of the confederacy
would probablNfor long, certainly for an indet-
mite period, remain slave-holding States, major
ity of states would be non-slaveholding, and that
a constitutional preponderance in the federal
Government would thus be secured to the latter.
To make assurance of this result douby sure
the slave holding States themselves were proml-
nentlv active in measure-the ordinance of
l7S7-by which six new states were designed to
be, and five actually were arrayed on the same
side. These added to the seven in which slavery
had been, or was expected to be abolished, would
make the division in this regard, II to b. Ihe
evidence we possess of the circumstances and
dispositions of the times, warrants us IN assuming
that no one at that day anticipated that this differ
ence In the respective conditions of the States, III
regard to slavery would ever be overcome or neu-
trallzed by the accession to the confederacy Of
new slave-holding States. Yet in the brief Pc
Rod which has elapsed-we may we'll say brief
when viewed in connection with such great re-