Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-08-07
Death of Ex-President Van Buren,.

Tho announcement of tho illness of Mar
tin Van Buren, with chronic catarrh has
been very speedily followed by his
death, which occurred at Kinderhook on
the morning of the 9th inst. Mr.. Van
Buren, was born in the town in which he
died on the 9Th of December, 1882. He
was the Oldest of the four children OF
Abraham Van Buren,. o respectable but
stolid Dutch farmer. the husband of a
shrewd and brilliant wife. whose qualities
her first born inherited in no slight degree
Young Van Buren, FINISHED his education
at the academy in his native town at the
age Of fourteen. and Immediately entered
the office of Francis Sylvester, lawyer
of the place, where he remained for six OF
the seven years then required of law stu
dents not graduates Of colleges. The year
prior to his admission to the bar was
passed in the office of w. p. Van Ness, a
prominent counselor Of New York city,
and notorious as the second of Aaron Burr
in his duel with Hamilton. Burr made q
pretege Of Van Buren. who was a good
looking youth, and gifted with uncommon
talent as an extemporaneous speaker. 1t
is evident from tho future Presidents sub
sequent career that he made use of some OF
the maxims Of the great conspirator.
though. unlike him, he was exemplary in
his private relations. On entering the
practice of his profession. Mr.. Van Buren,
opened an office in Kinderhook. and. while
industriously attending to his legal bust
ness. kept a keen eye on politics. The
Democratic party was then small minor
ity in his district, but was gradually in
creasing in power. and to it Mr.. Van Buren,
zealously attached himself. In 1903 he
received his first office, that of Surrogate
Of Columbia. his native county. In 1912
be was elected to the State Senate, and in
1915 Attorney General. In 1921 he was
chosen member of the u. S. Senate
and re elected in 1927. In 1873. on the
sudden death Of Governor De Witt Clin-
ton. he was selected to fill his place. and
was inaugurated on the 1st of January,
1929. He held this position but shor.
time, being appointed Secretary of State
By President jackson, on the 18th OF March
Of the same year. In 1881 the quarrel be-
tween General jackson and John c.. Cal
houn eliminated. Mr.. Van Buren, has
been generally supposed to have precipita-
ted this outrage for purposes OF his own.
but the confessions Of Major Lewis, the
innocent cause of the explosion. prove his
guiltlessncss. Into these almost forgotten
matters. however, we do not propose to
enter. In April, 1881. Mr.. Van Buren, re-
signed his Secrctaryship. movement
which was prcarranged. and was appointed
Minister to England. His instructions to
Mr. McLane. who had occupied that posi-
tion before him. relative TO the trade Of
American vessels with the West Indies,
caused. or was the chief cause of bis rejec-
tion by the Senate. This severe blow Sc
cured his political fortunes. for it no doubt
led to his nomination as Vice President by
the Democratic Convention, held at Balti
more, in May, 1885. by 260 votes against
&c for all other candidates. In 1886, he
was elected President. and in 1910 defeat
ed on a denomination to the same office.
receiving only 60 votes to the 234 cast for
his competitor. Gen. Harrison.
We make no other criticism on the cor
ruption and deserved unpopularity of MIR.
Van Buren's Administration than the a.
bove figures show. None is needed. The
student of history will find that there was
then sowed an abundance OF those poison
Gus seeds of which we are now reaping the
fearful harvest.
In 1874 he was again candidate for re-
nomination. but through the influence of
Gen. Cass his claims were set aside and
James *. Polk received the ballots of his
party.
While ostensibly acquiescing in the
choice of the Convention and supporting
the policy of Folks Administration. the
willy politician was in secret maddened at
his rebuff. and nursed his spite against the
cause of the reverse. In 1913 the oppor-
tunity for revenge presented itself. Gen.
eral Cass was nominated as Democratic
candidate for the Presidency. All at once.
in strange inconsistency with his long po-
litical career of toadyism to the South.
Mr.. Van Buren, professed great horror of
Slavery. and actually procured the indors
ment of the Free Soil Convention at Buffa-
10. and the anti Slavery vote OF the United
States. He succeeded in defeating Gen.
Cass. and thus paid book grudge with
interest. No ore heard of Mr. Van Bu-
ren's Abolitionism after the election of No.
vember, 1848. Since that period his life
has presented but little of interest; his
connection with the political world had
ceased, and when few days ago it was
stated that his days were drawing to o
close. not a few persons were reminded
that man whose existance they had for
gotten was yet alive. With him has dis
appeared one of the last prominent repre-
sentatives Of system ofpolitical atheism.
which has cursed and corrupted the nation
until baptism of blood can alone wash
away the pollution.