The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-07-04
CONSISTENCY OF MARTIN VAN
RI-REE

We have very little faith in the sincerity of SIr.
as only amattcr of PRINCIPLE snd of honest attach.
ment to Free Territory doctrines. We believe
the whole movement has in it sonerLat of the
spirit of revenge. One so long notorious with
abundant reason) for being Northern man with
Southern principles" and who is not likely to for
get at once the injury done him by the trucking
movements of Cass in 1914, is certainly very
liable to suspicion. He has been converted too
suddenly. We ask our readers to recall to mind
the following facts in the history of Van Buroni
political career-facts relating to this very qucs
ton of Slavery.
1. John Q. Adams became the champion of the
right of petition. Southern members of Con-
sress insisted that all petitions relating Slavery
should be rejected. Mr.. Van Buren, then cndors-
cd this doctrine, and stood BY the ultra savchold.
ers in this odious principle, which was afterwards
reversed, after Nr. Van Burens defeat in I64n BY
an overwhelming vote Of the House of Represcn-
tativeS
2. Mr.. Van Buren, Vice President of the
Union, was President Of the Senate. Previous 10
the election Of 1896. bill was introduced in the
Senate Of the United States, to authorize Post
masters to open the mails and take out anv mat
ter relating TO abolition which in their opinion
should be of an incIndary character Mr. Cal
houn forced the measure to see how far Mr. Van
Buren, would go in subSeryiencv TO the South. At
the moment of the passage of the bill The Vic
President was not in his scat. The vote was
tic where shouted Mr.. Calhoun, rs the Vice
President The glow Of exultation at having cor
ncred the Magician was visible in every nea.
ment Of the South Carolina agiiator The VIC
President takes his seat, and gives the castiu,
vote in favor of the bill to establish censor
ship of the press in this enlightened country And
why did he do it Because Southern votes wors
required 10 make him President, and the South
must be proptiated.
3. The votes Of Southern States were obtained
and Mr.. Van Buren, was elected Prcsidcnt-Hc
was sworn into Office, March T. 1887, on which
occasion he issued his inaugural address, in which
he proclaimed his determination 10 veto any bill
abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia
His conduct aroused the eloquent Leggctt, &c.
f. Let it be remembered also that the Amis-
tad negroes, during Mr.. Van BurenS admin
tration, were taken into Connecticut. There they
appealed. by the influence and protection of some
philanthropic individuals TO the laws for release
from thraldom. Mr.. Van Buren,, supposng that
the decision might be against the unfortunate AZ
ricans, ordered the U. S. vessel Grampus off New
Haven, in the State of Connecticut. with direc-
tons to her commander tc lie off that place and
await the decision Of the court on abe application
of the slaves, shonld it be adverse to the slaves,
not TO allow them time TO remove their case tot
higher tribunal for review, but TO hurry them on
board his vessel and carry them to Cuba without
delay, to be delivered to their master All this
indecent haste was to prevent the poor and friend
less slaves from having the benefit of our benign
laws and in the hope of propitating Southern
support Buthe was disappointed. The slaves were
by order of the Supreme Court of the United
States emancipated, in spite of Mr. Van Burcn's
activity to hurry them into slavery