The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-11-07
Speech Of John Van Buren,.

AinoHS tHe graClIylng signs OF the times,
we chronicle the position of JOHN VAN
BUREN, in New York, on the side of the
National Democracy. The ex-President
has returned from Europe, and we look
upon the zeal Of Prince John, in behalf of
the Constitution and the Union, as indica-
tive of the feeling of his venerable father
AT a Democratic Convention in Oswego
on the 10th ult., Mr.. Van Buren, made
long and able speech, from the close of
which we make the following extracts:
Nor is it true that Southern men set all
other questions aside, and make the ques-
ofslavery predominant. Everybody knows
that the labor of foreigners completes with
that of the slaves and drives it out. ItI
is true, too, that they prefer the free States
and build them up, to the prejudice of the
slaveholding States. Their policy, then
would be in opposition to foreigners, and
in favor of Know Nothings yet,
with single exception they arrayed them
selves fearlessly and boldly in opposition
to the Know Nothing policy. Take an
other instance: Mr.. Wise, who has just
been elected Govenor of Virginia, was a
member of the last Virginia Constitutional
Convention, and arrayed himself against
| the proposed mixed basis of representa-
tion-a basis Of slave property and white
persons-anu advocated the white basis.
Nor is it true that the Southern people
desire to extend slavery to free territory.
| Sothern politicians may. There are po-
litical demagogues who must be the cham
pions Of some interest, and they cannot be
the champion of an interest," unless you
first prove that it has been assaied. They
assert that slavery is i'll danger, and upon
that cry become its champions. But the
peaceful citizehs of the South do not de-
sire the extension of slavety into free ter
ritory. They say all they want is to be
let alone in the enjoyment of their just
constitutional rights, and no more. They
do not desire to be driven into crusade
to extend slavery into territory. The
whole crusade, then, against the South,
is based upon misapprehension OF the
public sentiment as it exists in that part
of the country. has never been
two opinions as to the danger of these two
sectional parties, from the time of Wash
ington to the present
If such parties are formed this Union
is at an end. This great aud glorious
Union, to which we owe so much cannot
stand under such an issue. If we are to
be denounced as abolitionists because we
account of slavery, are to be denounced
as robbers and pirates, the consequence
will be we must sepcrate 1t would be
indecent for a family to live together un-
der such circumstances, and family of
States cannot do it. ! say, man who
goes around the country getting up Il sec
tional party, is a traitor to the peace of
his country, and should be so regarded
| (Applause.) Efforts to create a sectional
party will revolt the people of this State
more decidedly than any effort to form a
party, which has been made within the
room. Coalitions have never succeeded
in winning the popularjudgment, and they
must fail. (Applause.) And now word
in reference to the approaching election.
| We are now existing when the public
mind is unsettled, and when very many
of the public men of this country are ia
i king new positions. At such time it
becomes important to look back and see
what has been the history Of the demo-
cratic party during some of the most i'm
portant periods of the history of the
State of New York. [ say the demo-
cratic party of this State is one of the
great institutions of the country. (Great
Applause.) We love to honor it for the
good it has done, and the good it can do.
In the early history of our politics. when
the first civil revolution was achieved,
Jefferson was elected by the vote of the
State of New York. In 1912, the most
gloomy period of our States history, New
York upheld the honor of the State, and
under Tomkins, carried US through the
war. In 1917 the same party abolished
slavery in the State of New York. In
1921 the Democratic party altered the
lCOuStlCutlOu 81 uS W CAICuu Viz liS hO vi
voting to mechanics In 1924 and 1925,
and from that to 1916, one great system
of internal improvements was projected un-
under Democratic auspices, and has been
carried triumphantly through, the fnan-
} cial policy of the State being all the while
conducted with signal success, and its
credit upheld. In 1874 the Democratic
: party of the State of New York elected
Mr.. Polk President of the United States,
who achieved brilliant results during his
administration. In 1916 that party took
its position in reference to the extension
of slavery over free territory, and they
have adhered to it from that time to this.
1t has, too, one popularity, and that is ii
has the courage to protect those who
come to them from other parties There
never was, in this respect, SO liberal an as
sociation as the Democratic party. It is
curious to look back upon the men who