Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-10-05

gainst the Savehoding plot of the Annexation OF
Texas 1t was written prior TO the nomination OF the
candidates for the Presidency by the respective par
ties and with the hope of promoting popular de-
mand that they sho'd be committed against that meas
ure. At the moment, Mr.. Van Buren, was generally
regarded as the most likely to obtain the democratic
nomination. and it very much apprehended by me,
that notwithstanding his known resistance to the An
nexation, while President as knew it was impossl-
BILE to secure the nomination without agreeing to IT.
he would sacrifice his own views, and the cause OF
Freedom to this new demand of the Slave power.
JJe to this moment which was in April, 1874, the
opinions which had formed of Mr.. Van Buren,, and
which expressed In this pamphlet, were honestly and
openly held by me. | expected that he would sacr-
fee the Free States to the selfish purpose ofsecuring
his own interest and thus gain the Presidency again
This expectation dictated the passages which have
been quoted by Mr. Ashmun. fully believed that
what said was tue. But great indeed was my sur
prise to find in May that had been entirely mistaken
Instead Of sacrificing his opinions, MIR. Van Buren,
wrote the letter to Mr.. Hamnett of Mississippi, which
sustained his former opposition to the annexation oil
Texas And this letter, in my belief then, as well as
now cost him the nomination Instead, therefore, OF
verifying my fear that he would be true to his own
interest only" ound that he had done what so sa-
Gacious Statesman could not help knowing would
prove, MS it did prove, fatal to it. He did what MIR.
Leavtt lately said of him, and what other man in
the United States has done; "lald the Presidency up
on the altar with his eyes OPEN"
need not say that my opinion of Mr.. Van Buren,
was changed from that day and throughout the cam
vass of of 1874 as well since, wherever address
ed my fellow citizens took occasion to enlarge up
on this fact to the honor Of that gentleman For much
as still disapproved Of many of his former acts,
become convinced there was point beyond which he
would not co. and that had been reached in the of
Texas. Since that time have watched his course
with anxiety and not without apprehension and occa-
slona fuctuaos of opinion, until the meeting of the
Buffalo Convention. And the result of all my obser-
walton is, that he seems to me to have done more to
concentrate and rally the friends of freedom Of
all parties in the Free States than all the leading
members put together of the late Wing party, who
now, by way of proving their zeal against the extern
sion Of Slavery advocate the claims to the Presiden
cy of the only Stakeholder in the field.
Thus much have felt it due to Mr. Van Buren, to
say, in reparation of the injustice did him in 1874
He entirely falsfed my prediction of what his course
would be. Whenever any one of my late Wing
friends will make err on the same side, by doing
for the cause of Liberty than his previous pro-
fessions have led me to anticipate shall stand equal
ly ready to do him the same justice.
| am very respectfully, yours &C.
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.