The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-08-12
LETTER FHom MIR. VAN BUREN,,
Acceptance Of the Udca Noalnation Cor the Pres
.rr lstffr-e srs tdencY. Sea Isls 81

ch AMMAN OF the industrial III utive Committee
q lae lndasir,a Congress; recently hell at Phila-
. pledge which lam askedt, subscribe, rs enc Of
i the cand dates for the Presidency, that will
lhenoeiorlh use all my influence, whether in or
out of office, 10 prevent all further traffic in the
Ipublc lands OF the Unitet States, and 10 cause
The same 10 be laid out into farms and lots, of linn
lied quantities, Tor the free and exclusive use of
SEXUAL Settlers not possessed Of 9th er lands; and
you also request my views on the sub eel in gen.
i eral. .H
4 The nature fthe reply which design to make
TO the communication with which YOU have hon
/ oIed me, renders appropriate reference TO cir
| cumstances not Immediately connected with the
subject OF your enquiry. In the wears 1882, 1886
and lS44. my name was placed belofe the country,
with my consent, a candidate for Offices in
| the federal goyemment-on the three occasions
6Est referred 90 f,r the election, and the last
| for anomination by National Convention. On
each occasion the right of the elector 20 inferno
gate a candidate who asks his suffrage for public
irus was exercised chiefly by political opponents,
Though occasionally BY friends, TO an extent moi
surpassed in this OF apy OTHER cJtntry AsIneefe
lriend TO this night m its most enlarged sense, and
TO liberal exsreise of III / prescribe no other
condition TO compliance with the numerous re-
t9uess Of my nteuogators, than that the inquiries
should be made in good faith, and even that l
overlooked In great Number OF cases.
These questions and replies embraced nearly,
IL not quite, every important point which had then
arisen, or which, in the opinion OF the interrpga-
tors might arise in the administration Of the iede
4 raj government, were extensively published, aud
are Of course sill before the country. Brought
together they would make a volume respectable
for IFS size, and the proof Il wcnd Afford oil my re-
spect for the Wishes of the people in this regard
| have, in addition, occupied the office Of Pfesi-
dent for four years of great political excitement,
during which period executive responsibility was
voluntarily assumed IN regard 10 the most mPor-
talIl of these questions, whenever the public in
/ raaulFpd and unffRuupntlV lmngiS-
ed in regard 10 Others by political adversarias OF
CREST tact and ability, preparatory TO The Ptesidsn-
tal campaign of lSiO, when the Importance of tae
information 10 the public service was not 50 appa-
| rent
/ Had my name been presented 10 The couniry
under circumstances similar 10 those which &C
OOmpanied its presentation on either oil the Octa-
Sims alluded 90, should pursue the same course
now, which then felt il my duty 10 a6Opt.
But the circumstances OF my present pos aion
are widely different, and are entitled, thinlt, 10
| exercise q controlling influence my obliga-
lions, and the rights in this regard, as well As of
| the Indus tIial Congress as OF he numerous midi
yiduals who have already made similar aPplica-
| III could have been weak enough, In the first
instance, 10 believe that IL would be ia my power
TO render services TO the country which could not
be well or better performed by Others, ! should
not have felt myself al liberty 10 Consult onlt my
personal wishes and interests in deciding upon the
| applications OF my friends in regard to making me
again candidate for the Presidency; or If conld
have supposed that snch a use offny name by the
Utica Convention was necessary, either 10 cradle
the Democracy of this State 20 sustain themselves
against The great injustice which had been done 10
them a. Baltimore, or 10 the ultimate success of
the great ifnOi the only, apparent issue heiOTe the
public and upon The maintenance OF which ! be
lieve tie honor and future welfare of the whole
country depend, l should not for similar reasons,
have declined 10 comply with the application
made 10 me By the New York delegation. Not
being able 10 concur in either assumption, did all
Il in my power, unnecessarily as II may have been
in regard TO the Baltimore Convention, TO prevent
the use of my name, either there or at the Utica
as candidate for place. which, though the moss
honorable in the world, did not, in the absence OF
the motives 10 which have adverted, possess for
me single attraction, and which ii was my eafnest
i desire 10 avoid. III.
4 The Utica Convention, chiefly composed ofmen
and the descendants OF men who have been my
political associates and fast friends from the com
mencement to the termination ofmy political ca
Teer, believing thatthe nse CT my name as can
proper support of their principles, and the mainte-
nance ofthat independent position TO which they
have been driven, by the iTlustce Of others, 10
assume, asserted and exercised the night ofso EN-
ploying H. That they could, under existing cir
/ cumsiances, do this without exposing this fidelity
10 their old associates IN politics 10 just impeach.
ment, no candid mind, well informed upon the
Il subject, will deny, and understood them too well
TO question the faith oftheir proceeding. know
very well that they would have respected my
known wishes in the matter, If they supposed that
they could do so with justice 20 themselves and 10
their cause. Placed as their fellow citiaen in the
same situation, and bound 70 them by the strong
, est gratitude and respect, ard holding The same
opinions, for entertaining which they had been viz.
tnally expelled from all communion with Their old
associates in the political field, could not hest
tate in authorizing the declaration that should
not feel myself al liberty to intepose any further
obstacle TO their proceedings. u
| could not but anticipate that this decision
might dssatsfy many sincere friends in all parts Of
the Union, who had entitled themselves 10 my re-
| spect and warmest gratitude, and who were natur
ally more intent upon triumphing over their adveT
sary than upon attending TO the doings at Bait
more. To The fullest exercise OF their opinion II
the matter, had neither the night nor the DISPOSE
. ton 10 object. | have therefore received the re
: monstrances, however able, which were made
with that respect for the right of opinion in othen
which honest hearts and pure minds seldom fai
> 10 exercise with no other feeling than those o
profound respect, that circumstances beyond m,
control had put il ont OF my power 70 CONFORM Z
the conflicting wishes OF friends for whom fel
. eQnal respect and regard. f.. ...t
Obliged 10 conform my action in this partjcula
matter TO The wishes OF one or the ether class 0
friends, whose differences among themselves wa
neconcieable, il affords me satisfac tionto reec
| that inclined 10 that portion of them who SCENE
| TO have the least at their disposal, and who wer
at the moment struggling for their political exist
ence against injustice and attempted degradation
Of the course p,Isuedby those who manifest the
. displeasure by resort to personal abuse, but Ii
tie need be said That delusion is only 10 be pec
- | which allows IFS victim 10 Imagine that ma
who, for more than forty yeifs, whilst he possei
SEES O strong personal interest IN the result OF pt
,s, Ia. s,sS,;g aa rs thrqI,fb a9oS
OF calufnny what ne oohevea 70 De me PAIN OF az
e ty can now when his political aspirations are Ia
" satisfied, and when the public taste in such ma
tiers has been so greatly improved, be deferred
| personal invective from puriuing the same cours
Nv name having been brought before the poop
~ | in the manner and under the circumstances ha,
II described land have made the description II
g more full, as hope 10 have this communicate
"a regarded ss reply also TO many similar apple
tions) cannot, think, deceive myself IN oeiie
le ing that stand justified in declining, rs iespec
Nj fully do, all farther explanations Of my polite
I'd views and opinions. An exposure TO the mput
C ton OF having changed my wishes in regard 10
storation 10 office, by thus seeming TO make tenn
u for political support, would OF itself be great
IT. lection to answering inquiries as 10 the manner
Il which should, il elected, discharge the duties
= President Of the United States. But the unprec
dented extent 10 which ] have on former occasion
nd replied 10 such ntenogatories, and the indication
he of my official couse in the very Office in questio
Iu will, / am very sure, be regarded BY candid a.
liberal mirds as justfying my decision. So co,
IS prehensye have they been, that il would fe1ui
ey not little skill to shape any interTogatory IN
he any political question, touching which my dispo
= tons and opinions may not, with reasonable c.
u" tainiy, be derived from them. The subject up
m, which you have addressed me will serve 10 illr
oh trate the Truth of this relnalk. atat
ir- In August, 1895, when first candidate fer I
IN Presidency, said in reply TO the interrogation
of my political opponents, that regarded = !
en- ,uhlic tins flnd bplonging To ALL II