Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-10-06

There is no point in the life Of Martin Van
Bure on which his friends ring many chang
cs OF praise and adulation as that which relates
to his aedged opposition to the Annexation Of
Texas, in 1874. Van Buren, papers, Van Blu.
rem Conventions, and Van Buren, Resolutions
parade this fact before the people as though il
were triumphant and conclusive, and precudcd
the necessity Of cnquring any further as to the
principles and measures, on which and for the
success of which, Van Buren, would conduct the
Administration Of the Government, if he should
be elected. Independently of his vaunted OPP
position TO tie Annexation Of Texas in 1914
and his present alledged hostility to the further
extension of Slavery, 10 Wing, or Liberty
man, could be found so mad as to dream, Of aid
ing in the election of Martin Van Rurcn!
Now let Us lock at it Il moment. Nobody will
deny that il Texas had not been annexed, there
would now be no territory about which to raise
this "veXed question of the extension Of Slave
ry. The question was at rest as respected &c
iIing Territory--for no one supposes that the
South had any real desire to extend Slavery in
TO Oregon. American Slave labor would be as
much out of place, and useless, in Oregon, as it
would be in kamschatka
The scheme of Texas Annexation, it canno,
be denied, was scheme of certain ultra Slave
ry propagandsts Of the South, who, like Mr.
CALHOUN, look upon the preservation, perpetual
ton and extension Of Slavery as indispensable
TO the maintenance of the strength, power and
influence of tie South in the Union.
No fact is more indiar"'"lly matter III MS
tory than this. Texas was annexed FOR THE
PURPOSE Of extending and strengthening the
institution of Slavery 1t was almoSt er-
elasticity Southern DEMOCRATIC" project
We presume this will not be denied.
The most prominent candidates for nomina-
ton by the two great parties in 1874, were HIS
RY CLAY and MARTIN Van BuREY. Both de.
clared themselves opposed to the Annexation Of
Texas previously to the meeting of the respect
veNltonal Conventions Both, therefore, stood
upon the same ground before the people (for Mr.
Claws Alabama Letter" which was so fIlsell
represented as taking ground in favor of An
ncXation, was written after his nomination y
Mr.. CAY was unanimously nominated by til,
Wing Convention, every Congressional Di,tric
in the Cucn being represented, and every dele
gate voting for him, Southern and Northern.
The Dcmocra'ic Convention met in May,
few days after. And now we ask our reader
to notice what follows. A DECIDED MAJOR
lrN Of that Convention was in favor of tn,
nomination Of Martin Van Buren,. If, there
fore, this dcmocratic' O Convention, who's
leaders are 50 constantly pratng about the xvi!
of the MAJORITY - who would have ovcrturne
the Constitutional Government of Rhode Islam
in obedience to the will of the MAJORITY )" an
who are ever loud-mouhed in Difference to the
"myorUy of the people'-it this democratic
Convention, we say, had bowed to the twill G
the majority" Martin Van Buren, would hav
been nominated on the first ballot for on the fir,
ballot he received majority OF the votes! Loo
at ii There were 266 votes cast 1874 ueces
sary for choice and Van Buren, received on
HUNDRED AND FORTY.sIX, on the first ballot, I
81 for Cass, ~ for johnson and Q scattering
or THIRTY MAJORITY OVER ALL! Nov
let those vino so loudly claim that Van Burc
" sacrificed he Presidency" to his opposition t
the Annexation of Texas think Of it little
lie did no Slci thing His anti-Texas Lettt
was written TO SECURE his nomination, and az
cording to all usage and proprie,y Except anon
modern democrocy'0 he WAS nominated on Ii
first ballot. lie sacrificed notiing-he ney,
made personal sacrifice in his life 1t is Il
idlest, emp'iest, and .alsest humbug ever a
tempted TO be practised upon the people of tn
country, TO say that Van Buren, lost the nomn
ton for the Presidency on account of his " iide
ty TO principle!!" lie lost it by the neachery
the friends Of LeCiS CISS in the Convention
by the tIeachery, or seryity, or both, of Nor
ern LocotocoS, many Of whom are nO,c foremo
in the present Free Soil movement lie 10
it because the entire South and slXrY-oNE Mort
ern doughaces," in the Convention voted I
> he rHie requiring Two-THTRDs Of the votes
make the nomination. This is the simp
tdct!
But let us look little farther into the pr
ceedings Of this democrats" Convention. whe
Van Buren, "Sacrifced HIMSELF" We COZ
from contemporary account before us -
After the 9Th Ballot Mr. Miller from Ohio, ros
" greatly excited and said he was the youngest m,
on that iioor-iliat he represented 10000 democrat
that he had a resolution IN his hand OF oyerpowc
my importance cries OF hand 1t TO the chair !")