The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-08-12
Letter

Z -,.. Letter ,... '5,' 3....,.
OF FANDREW MILLER, ESQ, in, ANSW Err
10 AN INVITATION 70 ADDRESS A
PHILADELPHIA July ~, l848.
iGENrLEmEN: Your letter, dated New
York, July 7, l848, inviting me "to be
present at the Park, in the city Of New
York, on Tuesday, the 18th instant, at
s O'clock in the afterooon, for the pur-
pose Of ratifying the nomination Of
Martin Van Buren, for the Presidency,
and Of contributing TO the extension Of
free soil and perpetuation of free labor"
was received yesterday by due course
Of mail; and as l have no time to be
present at your meeting, and no dispo-
sition to address it in aid Of the objects
| you appear 10 have In view, have con-
cluded TO address you in a few words
of advice and counsel'in regard to your
political notions, and the course you
havo adopted to carry them into effect.
l had previously learned from the
newspapers thar Mr.. Van Buren had
been nominated Tor the Presidency,
| BY a convention held in Utica, in your
State-a prominent actor in the getting
UP Of which was his eldest son, John;
but ! have not seen any account Of his
acceptance of that nomination; and did
not, unit the receipt'of your letter, be-
lieye that he was really candidate for
that honorable and important Office.
q But your letter sets all doubts at rest,
and develops the fact that Martin Van
Buren is again before the people OF the
United States candidate for the Pres
idency; and is, through his friends,
seeking their suffrages under the pre-
text that he is in favor Of free soil and
free labor. isaqmqa rs a. m3e.l
An elderly gentleman efmy acquain.
tance often makes the remark, that
"!here are so many swaps and changes
in politics, than one can hardly keep
the run Of them;" and the late extraor.
dinafy political somerset Of Martin Van
Buren strongly verifies the truth Of this
saying. l ~ oasa 9lrt.1ual 4
81 In 1886, Mr.. Van Buren, then Vice
President Of the United States, and q
candidate for the Presidency-gave, as
Presiden, of the Senate, a casting vote
in favor Of law that required postmas-
ters in the southern States to examine
papers and pamphlets passing through
their Offices, and directing them not to
deliver any that contained anything on
the subject Of slavery. sisat9
During the same session Of Congress,
his friends, at his earnest suggestion,
voted to admit the State Of Arkansas
into the Union, although its consti,u-
ton pro vided for the existence and con-
tinuance of negro slavery. y.
In his inaugural address, delivered
March 4, 1887, he said that he went in.
TO the presidential chair the uncom-
plomising opponent Of every attempt
on the part Of Congress 10 abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia, and
no bill for that purpose, could receive
his approval; and that he would equal.
" resist any attempt to abolish it IN the |
States where it existed. "'''' ,'e "
This was an extraordinary proceed.
ing on his part-the subject never hav-
ing been referred 10 in an inaugural ad-
dress by any President before or since.
And in 1899, when a party Of ne.
yroes were taken in the Spanish schoon-
sr Amistad, and were in the custody Of
The u. 5. marshall Tor the district Of
Connecticut, awaiting the issue ofa case
before the United States district court
or .ha. district, involving the question
If their liberty, Mr.. Van Buren issued
IN order to the marshall directing him
% take them out Of the custody Of the
court, and place them on board of U.
). vessel Of, war. ~ 's' stl'I =.
|, is difficult'to imagine an act more
It variance with every principle ofjus-
ice than this last one, and a disposi-
ion to play the sycophant to the pro-
iavery men ofthe south, is universal [
Y set down as the motive for IL al +
With these several public acts Of Mr.
Van Buren standing in bold relief on
he pages Of our country's history, he
,uts sorry figure in now appearing
,efore the people Of the United States
he foremost champion OF free soil and
roe labor. = aa 3isi 'li z, 'li@ s
And why, permit me to ask, lis all I
his clamor about the ab clifton Of negro J
lassry :Afor, alshough you sail UNDER .
.SN1aeNiss (