Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-10-20


elected by all overwhelming majority.
Mr.. Van Buren'S Southern seryi-
ltty.
If the present contest accomplish nothing else,
it will by bringing again before the public, and in
measure compelling the investigation OF the cha
racer OF Mr.. Van Buren,, place him in a true light
before his countrymen. MIR, Van Buren, went down
in ls49 in food of calumny; investigation will
dspel the false impression then created and show
him as able and as pure man in every particular,
as our nation Can boast, in her role OF statesmen.
We know many, and some who now support him,
will think this strong language but we do say IL
meaning what we say, and close investigation of
history will bear out in it. We contend that
free soil men never had more earnest defender
Of their principle, than Mr.. Van Buren, from his
earliest lie, has been. Talk about your John p.
Hale, your David Wilmot, and others, good men,
We will admit, but Mr.. Van Buren, is above them
all, in the early advocacy of this principle as well
as in the personal sacrifices he has made 10 it, The
very men who are accusing Mr.. Van Buren, of
southern servity years ago, at that time, attempt
ed to break him down with the south, by represen-
ting him as opposed to southern interest In 1885,
rhurlow Weed, SAID, " If the south were true to
herself she would refuse tn vote for Mr. Van Blu
rem" And this too, after Mr.. Van Buren,, had
ted, according 10 this same Thurow Weed for that
odous southern mail gag bill. But again, read
what southern paper said at that time of IAN
Buren,, and see what they thought of his southern
servilty. The Columbus, Georgia. Enquirer. in
the contest of 1896, spoke of Van Buren,, as fol-
lows:
Missouri knocks at the door of Congress for
admission and is met by this baadof phRanthropists
and told 10 stand back Whv! You must prohi-
bit slavery by your state constitution or you cannot
enter this halt Was it not so? And did not her
representatives stand year after year and demand
their seats and they not repulsed, until the
South and West, alarmed at the daring outrage,
in their strength and granted that justice which
the fanatics too long refused These are matters OF
history. In all this nsidlous and dangerous COLI
sion between the rights of Missouri, the interests
of the south, and the madness and MedHneSs of their
ASSISTANTS, MARTIN VAN buren, took a dc.D
and dcire part against u.s. Here is the proof Ka-
us King, then L. 5. Senator from the state of n.
York, the soul and life blood OF the conspiracy.
VAN buren,, who was then in the Senate OF that
state urged the movement and indicated the con
duct of King. Read the following extract from
letter OF Van Buren, to one OF his friends, written
in the fall of 1919 :" should regret to
feel any tagging, on the subject OF Mr. King. IFe
are committed to his support is both wise and honest
and we must have 10 fHtteriag N our course he
Missouri question concealS mo plot, and we must
give II hearty support. we have en-
tered on the work in earnest we cannot therefore
look back Let US have no haltlng. tco"id stake
my bend on the proprety OF The measure
Here is distinct avowal ol sentiments, directly
at with all the feelings and interests of every
true hearted southerner; for in this very question
the South was, and still is deeply interested. Ru-
fus King 10 go ahead and an Buren, was 20
stand firm at his back. They had entered the vile
work in earnest, determined TO have no hating and
10 cap the climax, Van Buren, offers TO stake his
head on the propriety of the measure
This does not look as if the South thought he
was peculiarly servIle at that time. And what has
he since done? His refusal TO listen TO overtures
for the annexation of Texas, when President; his
manly letter against Texas annexation, when can
ddate for the Presidency, does not look like SOU
-
would veto bill % abolish slavery in the district
of Columbia, and he signed warrant requiring
the delivery to TIN United States Marshal, OF the
Amistad Negroes Yes, he did both these things,
and he gives very good reasons for 1t. As 10 the
former as matters then existed, the pledge he gave
was dictated, not by wish particularly to concil-
ate the SOUTH but because il seemed to be demand
ell by the best good of the whole country. de did
on that occasion what his opponent would have
done had he been successful, what John Quincy
Adams approved Of and just what Harrison done at
later period The his DRY of those times 1t care
fully studied will be found TO fully justify the po-
sition which he took. The causes which then ex-
listed, debating this step on the part OF MI Van
Buren,, exist no more and he now holds 4 changed
attitude on this question.
/ With regard to the Amistad cap'ives, we say Mr.
Van Barren done no act looking TO their return TO
captivi,y He did not. for one moment, seek to IN
terfere with the action and decision OF the legal TIL
bunals of the country, which had the matter II
charge He resisted repeated impoTtunties, eyei
of members of his own cabinet, TO deliver theS'
men up, and his warrant 10 the Marshal was TO b
executed only should the decision of the court dc
mand it. And the object in conveying them Of
board an United States ship was not, as many sup
nose. TO the end that they might be more certainl
returned 10 seritude, but 10 the end and for tn
urpose ;ba; they yht have another chance for