Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-09-22
NEg. Van buren,.


Great stress is Ial by our opponents on the fact
| that Mr. Van Buren, supported Mr.. Polk III 1914,
and thereby contributed to the annexation of Texas
| with its train OF evils.
he position of the two great parties of the ma
ton in 1871, on the question of slavery extension
| by the annexation Of Texas was not very different
| from what it is now. The Democratic party had
fully committed themselves in their nomination and
by their resolutions, to annexation. The Wing
party endeavored to play on both sides of the ques
ton, and the views, position, and purposes of their
| candidate in the matter, not clearly known.
These were the only two great parties in the field,
and the real opponents of annexation were at that
time in great degree powerless. 1t will not then
be forgotten that MI Van Buren, and his friends la
bored to give such direction to The action of the
Democratic party would defeat that measure.
The Secret Circular, which rrpudiaed the anneXa-
ton OF Texas, as party measure, and urged the
selection OF members of Congress opposed to it,,
was got up by the friends of Mr. Van Buren,. Mr.
Polk was elected, but had it not been for base
treachegy, Mr. Van Buren, would have prevented
the ann :xation of Texas in the mode in which it
was finally consummlteJ. 1t will be recolIected
that two propositions, different in their character
were passed b. our government one providing for
summary annexation and the other by negotiation
with Mexico the President being at liberty TO choose
either The friends of Van Buren, compelled this
latter proposition, and procured positive pledge
from President Polk that it should be embraced
Tappan of Ohio and F p Blair, both make positive
averment to this fact, and on no other consideration
could the vote of Mr.. V. BIS friends in the Senate
have been had for annexation. That the PROPOSE
ton for annexation was chosen by Mr.. Tyler as the
closing act of his administration, furnishes no eX-
cuse for Mr. Polk, for had he had the least desire
TO redeem his pledge, the hasty act OF Mr. Tyler
might have easily been remedied.
Now, let this train OF facts be followed In 1913
after pretty nearly all the delegates to National
Convention had been chosen, and majority had
been instructed to vote for Mir Van Buren, this gen
tleman that no misrepresentation might exist as to
his position distinctly announced himself as oppo-
sed to annexation in any shape in which it was de
sired by the slave power Here was a distinct ma
nilestation of principle, made under circumstances
which entite its author to our warmeSt admiration.
1t defeated his nomination for the Presidency. and
he retired to private lie. Had he and the few who
sympathiscd with him at that time on this great
principle desired it, no practical mode by indepen-
dent organization, of resisting the annexation pro-
icct presented itself The wings nor their candi-
date were committed against annexation, and Mr..
Van Buren, had no effective mode of operation open
to him, but 10 support Mr.. Polk, and use his niu-
ence to counteract the plot which was going for
ward. And mark the result; he was defeated in
his purpose only by open treachery, an element he
had not calculated to meet in opposition. This
was Mr.. Van Burens position IN his vote FOR Polk,
and al the question of annexation
The game of 1914 is being tried again in this
contest. The democrats have got man pledged
10 slavery, and the Wing candidate plays mum and
seeks to deceive both sides. This has aroused the
feeling which in S44 was smothered and from be-
ing comparatively alone, Mr.. Van Buren, has now
host-a practical par,y-with him, who determln-
ing to resist this treachery and double dealing, and
10 treat or tamper no more With the slave power
have absolutely dragged him forth from his volun-
tary retirement to lead them 10 battle.
This great demonstration known as the Free Soil
movement is not the creation Of an hour or a day.
nor was it made at Buffalo The Buffalo Convention
was but an exhibition Of it. II had been growing
in the hearts of the people Tor a long time, and
among the very first Of the prominent men who
manifested their devotion 10 it, was Mr. Van Buren,
lie has BEEN in a great measure, the parent Of the
movement He sacrificed the Presidency TO it, and
when he did so, he gave impetus and growth
TO this Free Soil principle, in thousands Of hearts
which has produced the feeling we now witness
The men who accuse Mr. Van Buren, of folly or
crime, in sustaining Mr. Polk, in 1914 are now
themselves guilty OF the same offence, without any
Justification whatever. They are voting for a man
who is as fully pledged to the slave power as Ian
guage can bind him or for another, whose interests
and associations pledge him just as strongly to the
same power And they do this, not as Van Bure>
voted for Polk, with the strong conviction that he
had the power to give direction 10 his admInistra-
ton, but knowing themselves totally poweriess 10
avert the evil they are invoking. They do II un
der the influence Of old party machinery, in the
vague hope that an lnterposlton OF Providence IN
some shape will occur, 10 ward of he consequent
ces OF their own deliberate folly. Il becomes e.
pecialiv the adherents Of Lewis Cass to consider