The Daily spy., 1848-09-19
MR.. VAN BUREN-THE PAST AND
PRESENT.

we have never Objected except in relation to his
course on the question of Slavery while candi-
date for the Presidential Office in 1885, and an in.
cumbent of that office during the four years end
ing in lS40. His policy at that period may be
fairly regarded as an exception to his public ca
reer. He had been known as an anti slavery
man. On the Missouri question he stood firmly
on the side of human liberty, and from that peri
cd till the time when he became a Presidential
asprant, his position, so far informed
was unchanged. That time, we all know, was
coincident with the beginning OF the anti slavery
agitation The public mind labored under
strange misapprehension concering it; the news
papers united with rare exception, in misrepre-
senting it; scarcely any public man understood
i its principles or views; and many Of the Wisest
and best citizens of the country threw their in
fuence against it. A great excitment arose at
the South, and those who are familiar with the
history of that period, and more particularly with
the career of John c. Calhoun, and the cousre of
the United States Telegraph, edited by Duff
Green, know how assiduousIy every movement
against Slavery at the North was magified and
misrepresented in such way to alarm the
fears, arouse the pride, and envenom the passions
OF the Southern people. By Mr.. Calhoun and his
frieEds the agitation was thrust into politics, for
w hat purposes they best know, and by system
OF tactics cunningly devised and pertinaciolsly
pursued, the politicians and parties of the North
were put to the torture on the Slavery question,
Extreme opposition to the anti slavery agitation
was demanded as a condition TO office. Now
when it is recolected what erroneous ideas pre-.
vailed generally at the North respecting aboli.
tionists, how they were supposed to advocate
doctrines the most extravagant, and harbor de-
signs the most mischievous, we can easily con-
ceive how politicians the last men 10 appreciate
new moral movement, especially when intent
upon battling the wies OF insidous opponent,
should readily give TO the South whatever as
surances it might choose to demand of their hos
tility to all schemes to disturb its peace twas
during this dark period that Martin Van Buren,.
in common with nearly all public men, manifes.
ted what to US seemed, and what in tact was, no
matter under what mistaken views practised,
subservience to Slavery.
But, we repeat, this was exceptional and
when question arose on which it became neces.
sary to decide for or against assuming direct.
distinct responsibility for the increase of Slavery
and the extension OF territory, by an act threaten
ing to involve the country in war, Mr. Van Bu
rem at once resumed his old position although he
knew that in so doing he risked the loss of all
slaveholdng support. The result is known He
fell under the ban of the Slave Power; and, al
though recommended as candidate for the Pres
idency by majority OF the Democracy of the
Union, he was set aside by the legerdemain of
two-thirds rule in the Baltimore Convention, and
| representative of the Slave power chosen in his
stead.
This is matter OF history. His opposition to
the annexation of Texas was, we believe, the re-
suit of principle certainly it was in keeping
with the principles on which he had acted, until
the dark, perpexing period of 1885 and IS40.-
Rejected by the Baltimore Convention, he retir.
ed to private life, and from that time, till abso-
lutely forced from his retirement in IS4S
he studously avoided every act or word that
could serve to keep him in the remembrance of
the People
1t is well known that his particular friends in
New York, when the question OF acquiring new
territory arose, promptly planted themselves on
the ground of No Slavery Extension This was
the ground OF Sas Wright, and he was believed.
doubtless for good reasons, to be sustained by the
sympathies of Mr.. Van Buren,
How steadily, consistently, and firmly, the
New York Democrats fought the battle OF Free
Soil, we need notsay. This honor cannot be de-
MED them: and when refused admission, throuob
their delegates, into the National Democrats
Convention, except on ignominious terms the
whole country was electrified with admiration of
their manly adherence to their principIes
1t was time OF severe trial. Two hundred
thousand freemen could net submit in silence
Independent action at the ballot. box was their
clear duty and obvious policy but ON what
statesman could they bestow their suffrapes,
Where could they look for sympathy, In that
dark day, while as yet no sign OF the rising ofthe
People was visible, when the leading men of the
so-caled Democracy OF the Union were bending
every nerve to suppress disaffection, when noth
ing could be hoped from resistance, except the
salvation OF their own consistency, they appealed
to Martin Van Buren, the most iiustrious man of
his party-and their appeal was not in vain. Ad-
vanced in years, having already filled the high
est seat In the natlon escaped from the malice of
ms enemies, no longer spoken evil of, by any
highln the confidence Of powerful political or
ganization, he yet generously consented to throw
himself into the breach, to sustain his friends
who had never lorsaken him, to stand forth as the
representative OF Principle vital TO the Cause of
Freedom, and the highest interests of the coun-
try, but which had been abandoned by "the De.
nocracy'' OF which he had been the head And
this ne did-committing his peace OF mind, his
reputation, his all, to the hazards OF most viru-
lent political warfare when he could hope for
no political reward to compensate in any degree
lor the unrelentlng abuse which his course would
certainly provoke from both the old parties The
moment he took this step, we forgot every. act of
MS lie inconsistent with tive felt that such a
movement in behalf OF Freedom, in the face of
circumstances so utterly adverse. could not be
the result OF low passion or sordid calculation: