Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-09-21
From the Rochester Daily Advertiser.
Truth indicated

Publications explained, and the Catumny Re
.futed.
Among all the bare-faced calumnes that party has
resorted to- to malign Mr. Van Buren, no one is char
acterised by shameless disregard to truth and
manly fairness than the casting vote Mr. Van Buren,
is charged with having given as Vice President in the
United States Senate, on the bill authorizing the
Post Masters to search the mails and throw out pes
tlential and incendiary matter"
All who recollect the state Of Southern feeling on
the subject of circulating what was termed lntlam-
matory publications calculated to excite servile
between the slaves and their masters in the South
forget the high state of excitement that pervad
ed the entire South upon this subject, and the only
part Mr. Van Buren, took in the legislation growing
out of the excitement.
Our attention has just been called to letter of the
Hon Seth M Gates, highly respected whig, and at
that time member of Congress from Western New
York, giving history of the bill, and most triumph
antly indicating Mr. Van Buren, from the foul libel
from which letter we are indebted for our extracts
December q, 1885, Mr. Calhoun made motion in
the Senate that much Of the Presidents Jacksons)
message as relates to the transmission of ncendary
publications by the United States Mails, be referred
to special committee The proprety OF reference
to the standing committee post offices and post
roads, to special committee, was debated at con-
siderable length, and seems to have been decided in
favor of special committee, principally tor the fol-
lowing reasons assigned by Senator Davis, Of Mas
sachusetts who a member of the standing commit
tee, and who said-Looking at the notion rather as
a matter of courtesy than in any other light he for
one, would be glad to send it to special committees
because it was desired by the gentlemen the South.
He viewed this as peculiarly southern interest, and
was willing the gentlemen from that section of the
country should present to the Senate their views
southern gentlemen certainly best know their own
embarrassments in relation to this matter, 1t seems
not only courteous bat parliamentary, that those who
are most vitality interested should first present with
their views.
Mr. Ewing also took the same view of the subject,
and said Congress had been called upon in all quar-
tiers by the public press to act upon the subject, and
gentlemen from the South best knew how to satisfy
public expectation The motion carried without
dissenting voice appears by the records, and Mr.
Calhoun, Mr. King Of Georgia, Mr. Mangum, MIR DAVIS
of Massachusetts, and Mr. Linn constituted the COM
mittee
On the 4th of February, 1885, about six weeks after
the reference that committee made very long report
drawn up by Mr.. Calhoun, and accompanied by bill
Of five sections in LENGTH prohbtlnp all Postmasers in
the Union from receiuing and pulling into the mGi any
written or printed matter pictorial representation,
touching the subject of slavery, addressed any per.
son or office in any State, Territory District, where
their circulation was prohibited and prohibiting the de-
uery of any such matter to any person. removing the
Postmaster that should violate the act making an Of
fence punishable by heavy fine; requiring the papers
to be burnt after certain time and also containing
-. variety of other regulations
y Mr. Davis of Massachusetts, rose and said that as
= he was member of the committee, he would remark,
- that the report did not entirely meet his appro-
y baton, though it contained many things which he ap
proved Of MIR. King, of Georgia, and Mr.. Linn, also
stated that they had dSSented to the report but did not
fully concur in all of it. Mr. Mangum asseted and
- concuYred fully in all respects and on his motion five
y thousand of the Report and Bill were printed"
y In April, 1886, the bill thus introduced taken
y up and debated In the OF tbs debate Mr. Nor
N rs, an aboonst from Ohio, and who subse
~ ouently the Liberty party candidate for the Vice
l. Presidency, stated in the depate substantially that the
parliamentary rule to give the friends Of the
~ ure bill every possible opportunity to amend, per-
10 feet and remodel it, all It's Stages previous to It's be-
az ing put upon its final passage and he remarked:
1o "Opposed myself beth to the Bill, and amendment,
~ upon the broad principle that its passage would be
10 an abuse of the legitimate power Of Congress, its de-
~ tails are to my mind, of but little Importance, for
- cannot possibly see any shape in which the principle
or contained both in the amendment and 1.-THE Bill could
he be presented to my understanding, that would induce
ic me to vote for it"
!, In all cases, IS this rule considered as obligatory up
no on the presiding officer of legislative body. Though
~ himself opposed measure he is to give commit
a+ tee from The friends of the Bill and not put child to
nurse that not for it. In OF tie uOte in an!
;s stages of bill, previous to its final passage, it
~ claimed by the friends of that Bill act OF coure
~ sy as in accordance with strict and customary para
their favor that they may have every chance to perfec
70. their measures, previous to its final trial.
No. No final action had upon the Bill at this time
% Here the matter slept until the Both day Of April whe
In Mr.. Grundy Of Tennessee introduced substitute 70
H. The iphoIe Blu which was not acted upon until the 3
he If lime C' AFTER THIS SUBSTITUTE CONFiNEI
o1 THE PROHIBITION TO THE DELIVERY Oh
"u AVAILABLE MATTER, PROHIBITED BY TIL
IN LAWS OF THE STATES WHERE THEY WEIR
cs TO BE DELIVERED, AND HAD NO PENALTY
,ti' ATTACHED BY WAY OF FINE.
nv Mr. Calhoun moved amendment to the origna
has bill which lost the Senate being equally divided
bat Mr. Grundys substitute then adopted by the Sen
l ate tvithou division Thus far all had been done
th Committee of the Whole The substitute MOI
~ reported to the Senate, when Mr.. Calhoun again re
rror newed the motion lost in the committee, and 1t wa
r NV again lost here. The amendment made in comme
mo by striking out the original Bill and adopting Mi
and Grundys substitute was also agreed to in the Senate
M and the question being now immediately called tor
~ the engroSSment IF the bill amended for its thlr
arts reading the Senate equally divided and Mr. Va
HAT Buren, President of the Senate voted in favor OF tn
b engroSSmen and thus the bill down to its last m
to the test in legislation, called It's third rea
ing or final passage. The third reading cannot be
the same day of the engrossment and here the matte
rested until the ot of June when the bill put vi
on its final passage; was debated during the day, an
rejected by vote Of nineteen in favor Of, and twen
- five against it-Seven Senators voting against the oil
on IS Jl1U pDSSdSei WHO ulu NV NOtO
80 me'h
1.-THE head and front" of Mr.. Van Burens ofen
g. ing, had this extent and nothing more" He simpl
A. in compliance with uniform rule Of parliamenta
Wv courtesy gave his casting vote on tie vote in Il
de- Senate ordering the engrosSment of Mr. Grund su
or sttute for Mr. Cahoun's BILL thus enabling the frien
lch and opponents of this substitute who had oppor
m nifty to debate 1t at ALL to fully discuss it at length
~ its third and final reading.
ally This vote did not pledge Mr.. Van Buren, in Il
ea- slightest degree to the principle of the bill to vol
ma for it on its final passage.
There is not q acquainted with parliamenta
CUSTOM who does not know that his casting vote shou
teS have been given gven under the crcumsta
In of the case, if he had been opposed to d
bill.
ect. Yet vote sanctioned by immemOrable parliame
~; ary usage, and expressive Of no opinion on its merit
ILL and which honorable presiding officer would ha
cunt felt authorized TO withhold, has been made the basis
rty false and reckless cAarge-of giving his casting u
fur for the BILL
pitahe indped must ha condition IS -. rt, ~