The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-10-24

tors Of this State the ticket nominated at Al
bany, on the ground that its election will tend
to check extravaganza and corruption IN pub
lie officers, give new vigor to the prosecution,
of the war, and assure the people that the
Union and the Constitution for which our
fathers made sacrifices still live in all their
original vigor
Governor Seymour, the candidate for 60
vernon, made aspeeeh talying with the re-
solutions, IN which he announced that, if the
Supreme Court approved Lincoln's proclama-
tons, the people would submit to them; II 1t
did not, they would not submit.
John Van Buren, (the Prince) addressed the
meeting, and read the following letter, adj
dressed to Governor Morgan, Of New York,
as defining his position:
CALDWELL, LAKE George Sept, l, 1862.
Hon. E. d. Morgan:
DEAR SIR: The advices of yesterday and
to-day from our forces in Virginia give in my
Judgment, new aspect to the campaign. For
the present we areNon the defensive, and our
capital seems almost as likely to be taken as
that of the enemy. Under such circumstan-
ces, think no loyal man in the Union, who
has not imperative obligations in another
direction, and whose health will permit,
should omit to tender his services to the coun-
try. Permit me through you, sir, to do SO,
and to inquire whether there is any position
in which | might hope to Be of the least use.
/ shall decline all compensation, except to be
remunerated for any increased expenditure
to which the Government may put me. /
should thus decline for three reasons
l. Because am almostentirely unacquaint-
ed with military matters, and can, therefore,
now earn no reward.
2. My health has been such that my ply
sicians think that, unusual excitement may
again PROSTATE me; and
8. Because if certain influences, not now,
trust, predominant, should hereafter unbap-
PLY prevail in the administration of our Go
vernment, the war will be prosecuted for OBJ
jects which are Unconstitutional, and by
means which / look upon as unchristian and
infamous
For the last two reasons I wish; so far as
the rules Of the service will permit, to reserve
o right to retire whenever I choose. Al
though by existing laws am exempt from
compulsory service in defence of the Govern
ment, those laws may be changed. should the
policy of the Government become what
have limited at in the reason last above men,
toned, and may thus be dragged into the
field, even then to be shot by the enemy while
fighting, or byour own troops if Iretire with
out orders; but no power can ever induce me
to serve voluntarily IN such contingency.
With great regard and respect, yours truly,
,lt.r s. sys j. VAN buren,. !
On the Sd Of March President Lincoln, a.
bout to be sworn into Office, found himself in
the city Of Washington, having reached it in
disguise, laughter covered with a Scotch
cap renewed laughter, and wrapped with a
blue cloth cloak For the first time in the
history Of this country, the President found
himself at the seat of Government. And it
was through the active exertions and great
discretion Of Gen. Scott and Gen. Wool that
he was even enabled to take the oath. And on
the Sd day of March, as he was about entering
upon these duties, before he took the oath, q
letter was addressed to him, and which I now
propose toread to you, and l ask you to notice
(becaase have not time to retuxn to it, the
wonderful spirit Of prophecy aud extraordinary
judgment as well as unquestionable patriot
ism that animates every woodland every line
of this letter. / would say, however, that
was not authorized by Gen. Scott to make this
letter public. The letter was inform submit
ted to Secretary Seward, but was laid Before
the President, and reached him thus in pro
per official mode:
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1861.
DEAR Sin: Hoping that in a day or two the
new President will have happily passed
through all personal dangers, and find himself
installed an honored successor of the great
Washington, with you as chief of his Cabinet.
+ beg leave to report in writing what have
before said to you orally, this supplement to
my printed s'views" (dated in October LAST
on the highly disordered condition Of our ESQ
late) happy and glorious Union.
To meet the extraordinary exigeneies Of the
times, it seems to me that am guilty of no
arrogance in limiting the President field of
selection to one of the four plans Of procedure
subjoined:
l. Throw off the old and assume new de-
signation-the Union party. Adopt the con-
ciiiatory measures proposed by Mr.. Critten-
den or the Peace Convention (abplause}-
and, my life upon it, we shall have no pew
case of secession; but, on the contrary, an
early return Of many, if not ALL of the States
which have already broken off from the u
MON. Without some equally benign mea-
sure the remaining slaveholding States will
probably Join the Montgomery Confederacy.
in less than sixty days, when this city being
included in a foreign country, would require
a permanent garrison Of at least 81, 600 troops
to protect the Government within it.
i stop here to call your attention to the fact
that Maryland did not join the Montgomery
Confederacy. and yet with Maryland on our
side tonight, it requires garrison Of &c.,