Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-09-24
all S0rts Of C5uo0 8ta0iuq.

Martin Van Buren---Interesting Reminiscen-
ces---Mr Van Buren, Unpublished Memoirs.
Mr. WILLIAM ALLEN Butler. of New York,
contributes to the Independent some interest
ing "reminiscences of Martin Van Buren. We
copy a few passages:
! @ =-- JACKSON AND VAN buren,.
Just here, General Jacksons first impress
sions of Mr.. Van Buren are in place. They
meet in, 1928, at Washington as Senators Of
the United States The Tennessee Senator
soon formed his opinion about the New York
Senator. will give his own narrative as !
listened to it under the porch of the Hermit
age in 1914 al had heard a great deal about
Mr.. Van Buren," said the General especial
/ ly about his non-cOmmittalism I made up
my mind that would take an early opportu-
nifty to hear him and Judge for myself One
day an important subject was under debate in
the Senate. noticed that Mr. Van Buren,
was taking notes while one of the Senators
was speaking. judged from this that he in
tended to reply, and determined to be in my
seat when he spoke. His turn came, and he
rose and made a clear, straightforward argu-
ment, which to my mind, disposed of the
whole subject I turned to my colleague,
Major Eaton, who sat next me: Major,
said I, is there any thing non-committal
about that? No. sir said he. This decis-
ion Of Jackson's head was never reversed by
his heart" a2
Mr.. VAN BUREN's PERSONAL TRAITS.
After all, it is not the lawyer nor the states
man, but the man, of whom we must take the
Gnaf account. Mr.. Van Buren, in his person
al traits, was marked by rare individuality.
HI. was a gentleman, and he cultivated the
society of gentlemen. He never had any as
sociates who were vulgar or vicious. He az
fccted the companionship Of men OF letters,
theagh I think his conclusion was that they
are apt to make poor politicians and not the
best of friends. Where he acquired that pc
cuEar neatness and polish Of manners which
he wore so lightly, and which served every
turn oI domestic, social and public intercourse,
I do not know. As far as my early recollec-
tons. go it was not indigenous in the social
circles Of Kinderkook do not thing it was
essentially Dutch. 1t could hardly be called
natural although It seemed so natural iE him.
It was not put on, for it never was put of.
As you saw him once you saw HIM always
always punctilious, always polite, always
cheerful, always self-possessed. It seemed to
any one who studied this phase ofhis eharac-
ter as il, ir some early moment of destiny,
his whole nature had been bathed in a cool,
clear and unrufled depth from which it drew
this lifelong serenity and self-control. Itwas
another of the charges against him that he was
no democrat He dressed too well, he lived
too well, the company he kept was too good,
his tastes were too refined, his tone was too
elegant. So far as democracy is supposed to
have an elective affinity for dirt, this was all
true, he was no democrat, in taste or feeling,
and he never pretended to be. The only
President who ever betrayed the American
people is the only one of whom remember
to have seen it chronicled in the newspapers,
as proof Of his democracy, that he made a
parade of getting out Of a stage-coach in the
course of a hotjourney and washing his face
in tin basin and drying it on tavern towel
The people thought no better of him for that
bit of deception, which deceived nobody.
Mr.. Van Buren, never played such tricks as
these. As to the elements of the widest pop
ularity, they were not in him. He never in
spired enthusiasm, as Jackson did, or Henry
Clay. The masses accepted him as leader,
but they never worshipped him as hero.
He is not cannonized in their affections. The
day of his birth will not be commemorated in
distant cities or in remote periods Of time.
His name will never be a watchword. Yet
he had many devoted friends, among men who
never wanted Office, and who drew closer to
him in his retirement than when he was in
power, This much I can testify, that on the
part of one. man, than whom no 'purer' or no
bier ever lived, he was the object of an afcc-
ton so true and steadfast, so faithful through
good report and evil report, so loyal toits own
high sense of duty, so tender and so generous,
that it could never cease to command my ad-
miration, if It had not long ago claimed my
fIiaI reverence. Seen through medium SO
pure and tranquil, the traits of the character I
have attempted to draw are all tinged with
its mellow light and glow with its genial
warmth, and the faults or failings, which
another and perhaps juster scrutiny might
disclose, fade out Of sight. . US --
sR VAN BUREN's MEMOIRS.
Mr. Van Buren, has left memoirs, partly
finished. If his "reminiscences can be given to
the world as, he was in the habit of giving
them to his friends, in all the freshness of IA
mfliar intercourse, they will be most attractive.
There was charm about his conversation
when it turned on theinciIents Of his person
al experience which could hardly be trans
ferred to the printed page, SO much Of its IN
terest depended on manner and expression
Mr.. Van Buren, had no wiz, but he had hu-
NOR, and a keen sense for the humorous, and
he could reproduce, with rare fidelity, what,
ever IL the actions or the character Of mer