The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-09-12

/ never proposed anything IN my life, OF a
general and public nature, that Dir. Van Bu-
rem did not oppose. Nor has it happened to
me TO support any important measure tina. he
did propose. And if he and / now were TO
find ourselves together under the Free Soil
flag, am sure, that, with his accustomed good
nature, he would laugh. Laughter. If nobody
were present, we should both laugh Increased
Laughter from the audience at the strange oc-
currences and stranger jumbles Of political life
that should have brought him and me to SIT
down costly and snugly side by side, ON the
same platform. NJ.
Gentlemen, my first acquaintance IN pubic
lie with Mr. Van Buren, was when he was
pressing. with great power, the election OF MIR.
Crawford to the Presidency, against Mr.. Ad-
ans. Mr.. Crawford was not elected, and MIR.
Adams was. Mr.. Van Buren, was in the SEN
ate nearly the whole of that Administration /;
and during the remainder, he was Governor
of the State of New York. And it is notori-
Gus, that he was the soul and centre, through
out the whole of Mr.. Adams's term, Of the op-
position made to him. And he did more TO
prevent Mr.. Adams's election in 1928, and to
obtain Gen. Jackson's election than any man
yes, than any ten men.
Gen. jackson was chosen. Mr.. Van Bu-
rem was appointed bis Secretary Of State: 1t
so happened that in July 1929, MIR. McLane
went to England to arrange the controverted,
difficult and disputed point on the subject OF
trade. Mr.. Adams had held high tone on
that subject He had demanded, as recip-
rocity and right, the introduction Of our pro-
ducts into all parts of the British territory
freely; since Great Britain was allowed to
bring her produce into the United States up
on the same terms. Mr.. Adams placed this
upon terms of reciprocity and justice. Great
Britain would not yield. MIR. Van Buren, in
his instructions TO Mr.. McLane, told him to
yield that question Of right; and then went on
to saw, that the administration in which he
was Secretary Of State-thatis Gen. Jackson's
ought not to be debarred in England BY the
English government from the enjoyment of
that which he was willing TO call not right,
but boon, or privilege. Gen. Jackson's ad-
ministration, he said, ought not TO be refused
that, on account Of the misbehayior of MIR.
Adams's administration. That is the sum and
substance oft.
Well, gentlemen, it was one Of the most pain
full duties Of my life. account Of this TO refuse
nv assent to Mr.. Van Burens nomination. 1t
was new in our history, when an Administration
shall seek TO obtain privileges on the ground that
cessors. suppose that such a course is holden
to he altogether undignifed. by all public men.
When went into the Department Of Stale uncer
General Harrison, ! found in the c. nduct OF my
predecessors many things that wished other
wise Did / retract a jot or title OF what Mr..
Forsyth had said took the case as he had left
il, and conducted it upon the principles which he
left. And should have considered that dis
graced myself if had said Pray, my Lord Ash
l.,
predecessors, We are more considerable than they,
and intend to adopt an entirely opposite policy
Consider my dear sir, how much moro humble
and available we, the successors are, than our
predecessors
But now. on this very subject of The exten-
Sion of The slave power, would by no means
do The least injustice 10 MIR. Van Buren,. If
he has come up Ia some Of the opinions ex-
pressed IN The platform Of The Buffalo Con-
venIion, am very glad Of H. do not mean
10 say that there may mol be very good rea-
sons for those Of his own party who cannot
vote for Gen. Cass, 10 vote |
for him, because | think him much the least
dangerous Of The two.
But in truth, looking at Mr.. Van Buren's
coDducI a. President OF the Unilrd States. /
am amazed 10 find that he should be placed
nj the head Of party protesting 10 be, be-
you'd all other parties, friends VI Liberty and
enemies of African Slavery in The Southern
States. Why, the very first Thing that Mr..
Van Buren, did after he was President. was
10 declare that il ougress, in any manner
or degree-ihar il Congress inierlrred in The
least del gree with slavery, he would veto that
action; the only instance in which | remem-
her that President agreed 10 veto ACTS be-
fore they were passed. Il must go into the
Presidential chair said he, The Infexible
and uncompromising opponent Of every at
tempt OH the part Of Congress 10 abolish
slavery in the Disirct Of Columbia, against
The wishes of The slave-holding States; and
alto with determination to resist any ezer
cise ofpower against the wishcs OF the slaves
holding SInies'-Thui is, if Congress pass
any law upon that subject, he will meet il
with the exercise of his constitutional power.
In the next place, we know, Tor ! remem-
her, that Mr.. Van Bnren's casing vote was
given for law Of very doubtful propreiy--
law TO allow PosimasierE 10 open the mails
and see ilIhrre was any incendiary matter
in them, and il So 10 destroy il. do moi say
that there was no constitutional power 10
pass such a law. Perhaps the Southern
Statesmen thought il was necessary TO pro-
tecl themselves from instructions. So far
as anything endangers the lives and proper
iy Of the SouIh, so Far | agree, that there
may be such legislation in Congress as shall
prevent such rr.nlis.
But gentlemen. no man has exercised 4
more controlling Influence on The conduct Of
his friends in this country than Mr.. Van b.
rem. take il. that the most important, or
one of The most imporlan. events in our time,
tending 10 The extension of slavery and lis
everlasting establishment on this continent,
was The annexation of Texas, in 1S4i.
Where was Mr.. Van Buren, then 2 let me ask
three or four years ago-where was he
lie had been al the head Of what is called
the Spells Party. He had not heen then al
the head Of the Soil, or Free Soil Party.
Every friend of Mr.. Van Buren,, so ar as
know. supported the measure. The Two
Senators from New York supported H. and
the members ofIhe House Of RepresenIatives
from New York supported it. Allow me 10
say that nobody rcsise ed it but Wings.
And say in the face Of The world. say in
the lace ofIhose connected with or likely TO
be benefited by the Buffalo Convention,
say 10 al Of them. that there has been no