Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-09-08

myscf ne good aFrcc Soil" man as any menp-
Dor Of that Buffalo Convention. pray to know
where Is therc soil frcer than that on which
have stood2 Ipray 10 know what words they
can use, ~ eau dictate TO INC, frecr than those
which have dwelt on my lips? ! pray to know
with what feeling they can inspire ny liFcast
more resolutc and fixed In Resistance 70 slavery
extension or cncroachmcnt than have inhiotgi
my bosom since the first time lopcned my mouth
in public life?
The gentlemen at Buffalo have placed al the
head OF their party Mr. Van Burcn-s gentle
man for whom have all the respect ! should
entertain towards an associate in public life for
many years. but really should think that il !
were to express confidence in Mr. Van Buren,, or
respect for bis political opinions on any question
of public Policy---cspecialy on this very one Of
the spread Of slavery, slave power and slave in
fluencc-the exhibition would border upon the
ludicrous, if not upon the contemplate. nevl
or, proposed any. Important public measure Of
policy which he did not oppose. And ! never
was obliged to opptvc any such measure which
hc, when with ms in Cengcse, lid not support.
Mud ihc and should now find ourselves IL.
ectlIcr under the Free SOL" flag, J nm SURF,
that with his accustomed good nature he would
laugh. II nobody were with us, we should both
laugh ~ the strange iumblcs OF political life which
had brought him and nc to sit down .nugly ct
sly, aud comfortably on the game platform.
My iirst acquaintance with Mr. Van Buren, IN
public life, was when he was pressing with great
power, the election to the Presidency Of Mr.
Crawford over MIR Adams. Mr. Crawford was
not elected. Mr. Adams was. And MIR Van
Buren,, during his administration, was member
OF the Senate for a part Of his tenn. and Gov
crnor Of New YORK for the rest And il Is no
torious that he wis the soul and centre Of the
opposition to Mr. Adams administration, and
that he did more than any ten o,hur n,cu to de
feat his reelection, and to bring IN General
Jackson. These arp facts which even short
memories can retain. General Jackson Was
chosen, and Mr. Van Buren, became his Secro-
tary Of State. In july, 1929 Mr. McIane was
sent out Minister 10 England, under instructions
to arrange the disputed questions concerning the
Colonial and West India trade. MIR Adams had
taken high ground on this subject, lie had
claimed as a right Of reciprocity that our prod
ucts ia our ships should he admitted into the
West India ports, on the same terms with the
English since Great Britain enjoyed the priyi-
lcge Of having her goods IN her ships, brought
into our ports ON tho same conditions as though
brought in American vessels. MIR Adams took
high and austero ground on this matter. as ono
Of right, ON the principles Of reciprocity. Bat
the English government would not hear 10 it,
And Mr. Van Buren, told Mr. McLanc in his in
s.ruetions TO yield the point, the ground Of right,
to disclaim the prctensions Of Mr. Adams; and
he then went on TO say that the administration,
that is General Jackson's administration. ought
not to be repulsed from the enjoyment Of that
which be- was willing TO call boon, or priSi-
lege. on account Of the misbehayior Of Mr. Adj
ans administration. Tha, wa. the sum and sub
stance Of Il all.
Well, gentlemen, one OF the mos, painful du
ties that ever has deyolved on me as n Repre-
sentative or Senator Of my country IN Congress,
was to refuse my assent TO the confirmation OF
Mr. Van Burrn's subsequent nomination rs Min
istcr to England. But conceived II 10 bc n
new thing in this country or in the diplomatic
history Ut any other country, that when a new
party happened TO come into power, IL should
rcpudialc the doings Of its predecessors. in its
intercourse with foreign powers 10 abandon 4
ground Of right held aud maintained for wears,
aud consent TO receive what was sought rs a
privilege or boon, ! held TO be undignihcd, uu-
worthy OF an American statesman, dei ,ItoTy
10 the national American character. When IL
happened that ] entered the department n Stnir,
under general Harrison, l found many tIfiags
which, ] could have wished To lie otlicrwias. hut
did dotraet anything that my ITedeces COR had
advanccdS Not particir--Iio not II iut NJ us..I~
took the case as he lefi il, and should kavS
held myself disgraced ii 1 had not, Suppose
for instance, with regard to the boundary lTpatl
with England, hal said " Lord Aslihuron
'-Pray, ms Lord, consider that we are mdre sen.
sible people than our predecessors only reflect
how much more amiable, friendly, and hu Nude
am than Mr. FORSYTH ever was, and thereto re ne
cord to us this or that boon What woulc have
been The public fecling2 l need no, saw
Bnt, eenteinci, as "a this subject ui resis ance
10 the slave puwcr would by no mcaL do
any injustice to Mr. Van buren,, End il he has
come MP to the opinions laid doSn in the But lalo
| platform, am glad Of ii. And OF his own par
y, or what has been his party, he Is much the
less dangerous candidate Of thr two. But, loak-
ing at his course and conduct while he was Pres
idcnt of the United States. am amazed that he
should be found at the head OF party, claiming,
above all others, TO be the friends OF liberty.
Why, what was the irsi thing for him 10 declare,
after having been elected to the Pre- idency, but
that il Congress should pass Till TO abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia, he would
veto il. That i the first instance am acquaint-
cd with OF a veto in advance. In his inaugural
message, in 1896, Mr. Van Buren, said,
Il must 20 into the Presidential chair tile in
flexible aud Incorporating opponent 10 every
attempt on the part Of Congress to abolish siav.
cry in the District Of Columbia against the wish
es of the slsyeholding States, and also with q de-
termination equally decided to resist the slightest
interference with il in the States where it exists
And in his Inaugural, he adds, Il submitted also
to my fellow citizens with iullncss and frankncss
the reasons which led me to this determination.
The result authorizes inc 10 believe that they
have been approved and confided IN Ly a ma
jority OF the people Of the United States, in
Guiding those whom they most immediately
affect
II now only remains to add that no bill con-
hicting with these views cnn ever receive my
constitutional sanction"
There is his declaration. ar
In the next place yon know and remember,
that MIR Van Buren's casting vote was given in
the Senate 10 a measure OF very doubtful pro-
priety, which empowered postniasters 10 open
the mails to look after and suppress any doeu-
ments in opposition 10 slavery. will not say
that Congress has no right 10 pass such law,
but its passage certainly indicates a quite Fuif.
cient degree of Difference TO the feelings and
wishes Of the South. Let me not be misunder-
stood. So far as regards the life anaproperty
Of our Southern fellow citizens, 50 far ms they
be actually endangered, so far l agree that il
may be proper for Congress TO exercise its icgis-
latiyc powers TO prevent any such result.
But, gentlemen, no man in this country has
exercised more controlling influence over the
conduct of his friends in relation to this VERY