Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-09-01
Martin VAN Rnren and Free Soil.

ne FeHOuiceS ana TfBucfS many oi MS loIucI
pledges and principles.
This is a wonderful conversion, for four weeks
to bring about, and many will think, savors very
much Of deaih-bed repentance.
1t will be commended that this letter is a full
endorsement of the Buffalo resolutions respect
ing slavery. We, on the contrary, aver that his
letter convicts him of unprincped demagoguism,
heretofore and falsehood and hypocrisy, now
These are broad and bold assertions, but as
our attentive readers will perceive, are fully
ranted by the facts.
lie says, in his recent letter, that he would
not noe give assurance that he would veto bill
abolishing slavery in the District OF Columbia,
" for the reason that the circumstances by which
the question is now surrounded, are tcideiy and
materially different from what they were when
the declaration was made" And these "di6er-
eni circumstances" he says, were GpPrehensions
honestly entertained that there pas DANGER OF
sERvILE WAR, in consequence Of The ertent 10
lelich he agitation Of the question Of slarety had
been pushed"
THIs IS THE SOLE CIRCUMSTANCE" UPON
WHICH lie RELIns.
Now we undertake to say--and We appeal 10
every citizen whose memory extends back to
1896, for the truth of the declaration-that at
that time, there was no more agitation, and no
more danger Of a servile instruction, than there
is now. There had been no outbreak, and no
one heard of any. The only agitation which
existed ut that time was the right Of petition to
e IL a..
trict of Columbia--a right which the votes of the
South, by the aid of Northern dough-faces, de-
MED. Mr. Van Buren, and his party so far from
! faSoring the measure, would not even hear our
petitions in regard to it.
| They were all contempiuousy hrorn under
the table by Van Buren, and his party and this
was no, done through fear Of scribe insurrec-
ton" but through the craven, ubject fears of
scribe" doughfaccs.
| Again--in his inaugural address, Mr. Van Bu-
rcn reiterated his pledge that no bill for abolish
ing slavery in the District of Columbia could
srer rtesire his assent He spoke for all future
time, without limit or qualification. These are
bis words
al must go into the Presidential Chair the in
feribie and Incorporating OPPONENT OF
any attempt on the part OF Congress to abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia, against the
wishes Of the slaye-holding States"
He did not say tina, he was influenced by APP
prehensions of serVile instruction" and that
be would approve such bill when the agitation
and danger were orer. No; but he declared
unreseryedly that such bill could never receive
his assent
Not only did he speak for all future time, with.
out limiting that his course could erer be inhu.
enced by any cireumsfanees,7 but he stated in
express terms, that the nature and binding fore.
of the reasons which governed his declaration
could not, by ANY POSSIBILITY, be orereome q
tions. Read bis own Language - So - '-'''''-
al do not hesitate TO give it 10 you as my de.
liberate and wel-considered opinion, that her,
arc objections 10 The exercise Of his pOtceT, dgdirS
the trisAes fhe sidrehoiding States, as IMPERA
TIVE in their nature and obligations, in regulat
ing the conduct of public men, as the most pal
pdble ,cdnf Of constitutional porer roould BE-"
II DO BELIEVE that the abolition Of slavery
in the District Of Columbia, against the wishes o
the slayeholding States (Gssuming hat Congress
has the poieer ID effect iD, would ,iOiaie The spiri
of that great compromise Of Interests which lie
!
Now here is a " trea considered opinion, an,
a position affirming that his reasons for vetoinJ
bill to abolish slavery in the District of Colum
bia, against The Ieishes Of The sldreholdin
States" were as IMPERATIVE in their naiur
and obligations, as he most polpdbe rant Of con
: stittitiondl poirer icould BE-"
4 Now for Mr. Van Buren,, or any other person
to pretend that of this character consist
> ed merely of "apprehensions Of servie nsur
rection" (Which, if they existed to-day, Nigh
pass away tomorrow, is to outrage commo
sense. Mr. Van Buren, did not regard it 90, 70
be says;
r Viewing the matter in this light it my clea
- and settled opinion that the Federal Governmer
OUGHT TO ABSTAIN FROM DOING SO, and ths
it is the sacred duty of those whom the peopl
4 of the United States entrust with the control
D its action, so 10 The constitutional potrer ieit
). ichich they are infested as 10 PRE- VENT IT,"
The Federal Government ought to abstai
: from" abolishing slavery in the District of c.
l. lumbia-not temporarily, not for the present, nj
while there is danger of servile Instruction
but for all time to come, against the wishes
: the save-holding States"
y Mr. Van Buren, says now that he made III,
declaration from "apprehensions of serrile il
|. sureciion." Who believes him?
s If be told the truth then, he tells an untrut
n noic. Both assertions cannot be true, for the
e are contradictory; and which ever way you tax
d it, you convict him of hypocrisy and fraud.
It Win the Abolitionists admit that Van Buren,
e excuse for his past conduct is sufficient? Ifs
4 what judgment do they pronounce upon the
&c own conduct in lSS62
% Are there any Wings who approve of Mr. Va
At Buren's conduct in 1886? If so, they condem
themselves; for it was the Wing party whic
&c contended for the right of petition, while Va
IN Buren, and his party opposed it.
is One fact is worthy of notice. This declar
e. ton of Van Buren's was made to suppress II
he petitions that were pouring into Congress for IL
ie abolition of slavery in the District of Columbi
ID john QUINCY ADAMS stood up The chdmpic
Of The Right Of Petition. The last ten years
~ his life were devoted to that object Almo
alone, that " Old Man Eloauent" breasted II