Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-07-12
MR.vA BCREN's GREAT LETT d u
BarnhurAer ComyempiOn.

On the ed inst, Mr. Fuller. read the
following letter 10 the Barnburner Convsn-
from Ex-President Mr.. Van Buron. As
every body desires 10 know its contents
we give il entire:
LINnENwiLD. June 20, l613.
GkNrLEAEN.-l have received your
kind letter with feelings OF no ordinar.
character. IT comes from the representa-
lives OF body of men, who possess,un-
surpassed claims upon my respect and
gratitude. My reception by the lion-
hearted democracy of our great city. al,
ter my defeat in 1910. WAS marked BY cir
.cumstances. and displayed a dcplh OF
friendship. which can never forget. 1t
made Impressions upon my heart whicl,
are as vivid now as they were then, and
which will never lose their hold upon M,
affections until that heart ceases to beat,
1t is not in my nature to decline q com
pliance with any request which such a
body are capable of making. except for
reasons of the strongest character. and
which they themselves, will on further
consideration approve, The determine.
ton announced in l8li, in NV letter Ia
the New York Committee, advising my
friends To unite in the supper, of Mr.. Polk.
70 regard my public lie as forever closed,
was made upon the most mature retec-
ton. aud with an iutiexible determination
to adhere to il 10. the end. beg of YOU
to Go me the justice to believe that it was
in no degree influenced by that spirit O.
resentment which political disappoini-
ments are SO apt to engender in the best
regulated minds. Having been defeated
Il, hio1,lx oxn;taI IL.
has shown, an unsound state Of the public
mind. for adhering to n financial policy
which believe 10 be right, the democrat
came evident that the country had rocoy
cred from the decisions of the day. re.
solved, with extraordinary unanimitv. tina,
the policy which had been SO successfully
decried, should be vindicatcd, and H.,
justice OF the people illustrated by my re-
election. This decision OF the masses
was reversed by their representatives in
the convention. More than compensated
for any modification which my diycomf
ture in 1910 had occasioned, by these cx-
pressions Of confidence and regard, pro.
cecding directly from the people them.
solves, and anxious above all things for
the success ofthe measures for which had
been SO unsparingly arraigned. I foreboro
to scan either the motive by which my op-
ponents in the convention of "a were nc
tuated. or the means they resorted 10 for
accomplishment of their object, and uni
ted with zeal and alacrity in support OF
the democratic candidate .
But whilst thus in good faith discharo.
ing what regarded to be my duty, it did
not fail TO occur to me that the circum.
stances by which was surrounded. nrc.
scented the occasion had long desired
when could retire from public life. con-
sistentfy with what was due 10 the coup.
try. to my friends and 10 my own se!frcs.
pect. embraced it with my whole heart
From that day TO the present. my mind
has not for moment wavered in regard
to the determination then announced
At an early period in the present canvass.
and before the democratic mind could h..
regarded as having taken anything like a
distinct direction i'm reference to lis cop.
didate. re-affirmed my resolution in this
regard IN letter to worthy citizen OF
Pennsylvania which has been extensively
published, and in many others with which
II was not deemed necessary to trouble the
public. A friendly application from our
delegates to the last National Convention.
for authority TO use my name as a candi-
date if they could do SO under proper cir
cumstances made it as you appe ar 70 be
informed. my unpleasant duty to refuse
my consent to their doing SO under any
whatever. Havinp thus
assumed and SO long occupied this pos;.
ton. trust to your friendship and mas, IN.
diligence TO be excused for repeafipv NV
interchangeable determination never ac,;n
to be candidate for public Office
The fact Of my having long since ret;red
from public life, with the tacit approl,a.
ton Of my friends gives me a right TO do
So IL whilst in the political field, willing
to receive honor and advancement at the
hands of my political friends, ! did NOT
show myself at all times ready to obey,
without regard to personal consequences.
their calls to posts Of difficulty. 1 failed TO
make myself understood by those whom
was most anxious TO serve
The considerations to which | have adj.
verted. are not entitled to the same con.
trolling influence in regard to the remain
ing subject Of your letter Whatever
would be my preference in such matters
on ordinary occasions. feel that could
not. under existing circumstances, refuse
10 comply WIN your request. without do.
ing injustice to my democratic friends in
this State. | shall therefore give you my
opinions upon the questions
to which you have called my attention.
and in SO doing | shall endeavor to OBJ
serve that respect and courtesy towards
the conflicting views Of others, which j.
has always been my desire to practice.
and which is now more than ever appropti-
ate to my position.
To give the doings ola Democratic Ma
tional Convention . claim upon the sup
port OF the democracy Of any State, il Is
indispensably necessary that the democ-
racy of that State should be fairly repre-
scented in such Convention. and allowed
equal rights and privileges with iiseir polit-
ical brethren from other States inpreguIa-
ting its proceedings. Neither Of shooe,
~l~t 81 u