The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-25

MARTIN v AN BUREN,,
Accepting the Free Soil Nomination.
LrNnENMALp. August %

t,rnrLENFS-I have had the honor to receive your
letter giving ofcisi information of the proceed
inss Of the Buffalo Convention. The combosition
character and proceedings Of that body described
by you, and the concessions of feeling and to
extent OF opinions also, the part of its members,
which enabled them to unite their exertions upon a
common, and, 10 the country, a vitality important
question, show 1t to have been governed by a pure
and lofty patriotism. aud demand from q grateful
acknowledgment for the expression Of confidence you
have commu icated
bly, position in regard to the Preside initial ee con
is peculiar one; and it is due to that the know.
ledge Of it, should be co-exensvc with that of every
material step take in the canvass. In 1874 an
nounced my determination to continue in retirement
for the rett Of life and desire to do so
has been undmin shed a nd in variable from tina. mo-
ment TO the present declined respectfully but ex
dicly, numerous offers from friends ia other States
to promote my nomination at the late Baltimore Con
vention snd IN the same spirit, refused permission
to the New York delegates present nv name to that
body under any circumstances whatsoever
This refusal would have been uually decisive ~ II
had been certain that they would have it in their
power TO carry their friendly wishes into effect The
quested my opinions, in regard to the obligations i'm
posed upon them. by the Baltimore nominations and
Sne no % and espedency Of prohibition,
tories now free from it, They also asked nv to
the use OF my name by the convention as its ca ndi.
date Tor The Presidency. ! cbeerfuly gave them the
opinions they desired. but declined the last alb
solutey That they sincerely desired to respect ay
wishes in this regard, have never doubted But the
convention we're Of opinion. that the use of my
name was necessary a well to enable the democracy
OF New York to carry forward with bic nros
pect of ultimate success the great principle for which
they coptended TO sustain themselves in the extra
ordinary pos ton TO which thew had bsen dr;vsn b
the injustice of Others aud that the relations which
had so long existed between US gave them right 50
TO use it, not only without my consent but against
my known wishes Entertaining these views thew de.
cided to nominate me, and omitted to give me the
usual notice Of their proceedings.
The why not feel at liberty to internosa
any further obstacles to their wishes been given
to the public. aud need not be repeated
II Is in this form that my name as a candidate for
the Presidency has been ought before the people
Occupying this position shall feel myself IGNORED by
the support OF an assemblage enlightened and ma
triotic and so devoted TO the of the
Pnncip,e we contend for as that in whose behalf you
have examined and considered the platform adont
ed by the Buffalo Conven ton, defining the political
creed the Free Democracy" with the attention due
10 the grave subjects which ii embraces and the in
terestipg circumstances under which it is
oIeahes the right spirit and presents political
chart which with the explanations am about TO maxi
can in good faith, adopt and sustain
IN regard to the chief topic of the resolutions it is
not 10 De doubted that the present unprecedented
movement of the public mind in the vehoding
states upon the subject Of slavery caused mainly bS
an earnest desire to uphold and enforce the pocy in
regard to it, established by the uders of he Renub
he That policy: in addition to the prospective prohi.
bition Of the foreign slave. trade was
LIST. Adequate, efficient and certain security AGAINST
the extension Of slavery into territories where it did
not practically exist
ID. That, in the language of vour owr co,aanso,
and excellent resolution, "Slavery, in the several
States Of this Union which recognize its existence
shoold depend upon State laws. which cannot Inc
repealed or modified by the federal governme and
sd spirit OF confederate forbearance towards the
control of Congress ~ WIZ
BY awise observance of this policy, we have, until
recently, been enabled to psutraze the injurious ton
oehces OF an element OF dcord more difficult to deal
with than any 10 which our free institutions are ex
Poseu. but, unnappiy Tor the present harmony, aud
possibly Tor the future welfare Of beloved
apprehension has been recently up by our brethren
OF Save holdpgiStates in regard to the first
OF ms policy so inadmssibe upon principle and so
revolving to our feelings produce rush of nub
hc sentiment towards the point of resistance which
with population considerable an so staid as onrs
xis ts hiatt m
honor and safety Of he country at stake and then
always. train Of occurrences all ding to tn san
general end which have for few Years mast followad
each Other in rapid succession has raised this feelino
,a s.s .; hitherto unknown and produced
solves winch II is not in the power OF individuals to in
duce the people to recede from The constutionaI;tv
the justice the humanity and the expediency of the
ground they have taken, all clear to
the possibility Of continued diversity of opinion or
action in the non-slaye-holding states
Inc consequences that may result from this conflict
q opinion between us and those W no are unhapply
our oppenents-f their preteDsions are persisted
are Known only to that omnscie MT a nd kind Proyi
deDce which has hitherto protected our nd
ts nsntutions from the dangers which have threaten
The claim set up by our southern brethren IL a do
parture nom the platform raised by our common an
cesUrs: al period when the chain of Union wa
TIE brightest and the fraterpal feeling between tn.
States that composed it, the strongest It comes nm
on me back Of series of events well calculated to
awaken at the north, that deep, and it respects
ourselves overwhelming sensation in the public mind
to which have referred A brief review of them at
n me me ut so critical canuot fail TO be useful
he future condition of the respective States in re-
gard to the probable continuance or abolition of ala
very were correctly foreseen at the formation Of the
government. Those of the old thirteen which arc
now exempt from it acted under a confident autici-
of the number where slavery still exists couM not
iook forward 10 an equally favorable result in regard
to themselves It was, therefore. well understood at
tne adoption OF the Constitution, that although large
and highly respectable portion Of the members of the
eoniedeiacy would probably for a long. certainly
for an indefinite period, remain saveholding States
majority Of the States would be nor. sa veboding,
az that constitutional ice in the fede
ra government would be thus secured to the latter
40 make assurance Of this result douby sure the
sa emo ding States them were prominentlv ac
I'VE N meosure-the ordinance of 17s7-by which
~ ie" States were first designed 10 be and five actu
a. were, errsyed ON the side These ad Jed tn
tt seven in which slavery had been, or was expected
&c ue aoohshed would make the division in this ra.
ea:e Twelve to Fix The evidence we possess NJ Tho
Circumstances and dispositions of the times warrants
u ID assuming that no one at that day auticipated
that this difference in the respective Conditions Of tho
States in regard to slavery would be overcome or
nectraHZed. by the accession to the confederacv NJ
new slaveholding States. Yet. in the brief period
when has .lapsed-we may well say brief when viewed
in connection with such great results-we have viii
nessed the addition Of nine slaveholdipp and onIv
three nonslaveholdpg, States to the confederncv be
yond those which wers provided for before the adop.
uon OF The constitution. making them to stand fifteen
TO Fifteen. The preponderance originally secured IN
ne pon-saveboding States, and with the Knowledge
o. when ey assisted in investing the institution of
slavery in the States with the privileges and ouoran
tees Of the constitution has thus been annbilated
when ono. fully understood and Appreciated nv The
people Of the non-savehodipg States they must have
over their future Tho
em Il ps they have already excited ought not 10 ,r
pris' intelligent and ingenious minds in anyouarter
Lut This is not the only the most repulsiye
view which compelled to take of the present nre
tensions OF our brethren of the ssveholding states
Slavery is now presented in livery which il never
wore before. On every previous occasion when there
has been conflict Of opinion in regard to It. the oues
on mas only BEEN bow far the policy of 17s7 should
DC carried OUT by prohibiting or restricting the
sion Of slavery in territory which was at the time
ssgect TO its Introduction. Most of the territory o.
sne nted States, which was thus situated save the
ed nv fbaM
omise has been converted into slave States and
s ~ INTO the Mon such. Now, for the first
ehe attempt is made, 10 permit the introd uc.ion
ss'eiy ibIo territories which are now FIR from tt
tIrtories rom which 1t was expelled within the last