The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-26

on motion of Mr. UsoKRwoop, at six o'clock, the
Senate adjourned
Another Letter r om Martin Van Buren,
Accs ptance Of the Utica Nomination.
L,NDEswALD, July 20th. 1913.
SIa:-Your letter addressed to me by you as chair
man Of the Industrial Executive Committee of the In
dusrial Congress recently held at Philadelphia was
duly received 1t is accompanied by pledge which
ked to subscribe. Of the candidates for the
Presidency, that will henceforth all my influence,
whether in out of Office to prevent all fur her Graf
fc in the public lands Of the United Stat - aud to
cause the to be laid out into farms an lots, Of
limited quantities. for the free and exclusive u-e OF
actual settlers not essed Of other lands and you
also request my views the subject in general
The nature of the reply which design to make to
he communication with which you have honored me,
renders appropriate reference to circumstanc not
immediately connected with the subject Of your
qury. In the years 1882 1886 1910 and 1914 my
placed before the country, with my consent,
us candidate for offices in the federal government-
the three occasions FIRST referred to for the election
and on the last for q nomination by National Con-
venton On each occasion the right Of the elector to
interrogate candidate who asks his suffrage for pub
lie trust exercised chiefly by political opponents,
though occason ally by friends. to extent not sur
passed In this or any other country SINCERE friend
TO this right in ITS most enlarged sense and to liberal
exercise Of it, p escribed no other condition to COM
plance with the numerous requests Of my interroga-
tors than that the enquiries should be made in good
faith, and even that overlooked in great number of
These questions and replies embraced nearly,
II not quite. every important point which had then
arisen which, in the opinion of the interrogators
might arise in the administration of the federal 60
vtrnment were extensively published and
still before the country brought together they would
n AXE q volume respectable for its size, and the
proof would afford my repect the wishes the
people in this regard. have, in addition, occupied
the ce of President for four years of great political
excitement, during which period executive RESPONSE
bity was voluntarily assumed in regard to the most
mpt rtant Of these questions whenever the public in
terest required and unfrequently imposed in
regard to Others by political adverares Of great tact
and ability, preparatory to the Presidential campaign
Of s4o when tie Importance of the information to the
public service was not so apparent.
Had my name been presented to the country under
ciroumstar similar to those which accompa MED its
+ntation on either of the occasions alluded to,
should pursue the same course now, which then felt
it my duty to adopt.
But the circumstances of my present position are
widely different and are entitled think, to exercise
controlling influence over my obligations and the
rights in this regard as well Of the Industrial Con-
gress Of the individuals who have already
made similar applications to me.
II could have been weak enough, in the first in
stance to believe that 1t would be in my power
der services to the country which could not be well
or better performed by Others, should not have felt
yself at liberty to consult only my personal wishes
and interests in deciding upon the application of my
friends IN regard to maxim; me again candidate for
a use of my name by the Utica Convention neces-
sary, either to enable the democracy Of this State
sustain Themselves against the great injustice which
had been done to them at Baltimore or to the ulti
mate success Of the great, if not the only apparent
Issue before the public and upon the maintenance Of
which believe the honor and future welfare of the
whole country depend, should not, for similar rea
sons, have declined to comply with the application
made mao TO me oy the New York delegation Not being
power unnecessary as it may have been in regard
the Baltimore Convention, to prevent the use Of my
place. which, though the most hon oreble in the world
did not in the absence of the motives which have
adveIted, possess for me single attraction, and
which 1t was my earnest desire to avoid
The Utica Convention chiefly composed of men a nd
the descendants Of men who have been my political
associates and fast from the commencement to
The termination OF my political career, believing that
the use of my name as candidate for the Presidency
was essential to the proper support of their principles
and the maintenance of that Independent position
which they had been driven by the injustice others
to assume asserted and the right or so en-
ployiDg 1t. That they could, under existing circum
stances do this without exgosing this fidelity to their
old associates ia politics to just mpeao no can
did mind, well Informed upon the subject will deny
and ! understood them too well to question the
well that they would have respected INV known
wishes in the matter they had supposed that they
could do so with justice to themselves and to their
cause Placed as their fellow. in the same situs
ton, and bound to them by the strongest gratitude
and respect and holding the opinions for enter
tanning WHICH they had been virtually expelled from
cal field could not hesitate in authorizing the decIa
ration that should not feel myself at liberty to inter
not but anticipate that this decision might dssatfy
any sincere friends in all parts of the Union who
mad entitled themselves to my respect and warmest
gratitude and who were naturally more intent upon
trumphing over their adversary than upon M
to the doings at Baltimore 10 the fullest exercise Of
their opinion in the matter, had neither the right
the disposition to object We therefore
the circumstances, however able, which were made
with that respect for the right Of opinion in Others
whcn honest hearts and pure minds seldom fail to ex-
ercise with other feelings thon those of profound
respect, that circumstances beyond my control had
wishes for whom felt equal resoect anS rs
gard Obliged to conform my action in this ma rtiou.
lar matter to the wishes Of the other class of
friends whose differences. among themseve was ire
concilesble 1t affords satisfaction to reflect that
inclined to that portion Of them who seemed to have
the lea at their disposal and who were at the moment
struggling for their political existence against inius
tice and attempted degradation OF the course nur-
sued by those who manifest their dispeasure by q re-
sort to personal abuse but little need be said That
deuson Is only to be pitied which allows its victim to
imagine that man who, for more than forty wears
whilst ne possessed strong personal interest In the
result OF Poltical contests, had steadily pursued
through moods OF caumny what he believed to be the
path OF duty can now, when his political aspirations
are fully satisfied, and when the public taste in such
matters has been greatly be deferred nv
personal invective from pursuing the same course
My name having been brought before the people in
the mann er and under the circumstances have de-
scrbed land have made the des the more full
as hope to have this communication REGARDED "a q
reply also to many similar appcations) 1 cannot, |
think deceive myself in believing that nd justified
In declining as respectfully do all farther expana-
lions Of my political views opinions An
card to rsor.t 81 VI my wishes in
make terms for political support would of itself be
great objection to answering inquiries as to the
QlsCnarge
duties OF President Of the United States But the un-
precedented extent to which have on former occa.
SONS replied to such interrogatories and the indi-
cations OF my ocialcours in the very Office in oues-
ton, wi am very sure, be regarded by candid and
liberal minds rs justifyiDg my decision SO compre-
hensive have they been, that it would require not
little skill to shape any nterrogatcry into any poll
ucai question: touching which my dispositions and
opinions may not, with reasonable certainty be de.
rived from them The subject upon which you have
ADDRESSED me WIZ serve to illustrate the truth of this
remark In August, 1885, when first n candidate for
the Presidency said in reply to the of
my political opponents, that regarded the public
domain as trust fund belonging to all the States 70
be disposed Of for their common beneftn That
ample authority for that purpose had been con-
ferred upon Congress. That in making such djsno-
sition that body should act upon the principle that
the people OF the United States have q greater in
terest In an early settlement and substantial Inn.
provement Of the public lands than in the amour
OF revenue which may be derived from them =
That Ito accomplish this object, the accumulation OF
large tracts IN fewihands should be need
and liberal facilities afforded for the acquisition OF
small portions by such Of our citizens wherever re-
siding as are In good faith DESTROYS of them