The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-03-18
What John Van Buren, Says,

In speech delivered before the Dem
ocratic Union Association of New York
city last Tuesday, John Van Buren hung
old Abe's hide on the fence after this sort
He said:
Ifthe President of the United States
in his proclamation meant to announce
that the slaves of the States in rebellion,
not subject to the authority of the United
States, are now free, then, l object to
that as unconstitutional, and object to it
as false. They are just as much slaves as
ever they were in law. But it is not con-
stitutional in war, nor an unusual militia
ry expedient to lie Lying is recog-
nized mode of prosecuting hostilities.
(Laughter) Now what is the remedy
because the results have been disastrous !?
cannot speak to the President, because
| have called to see him and he was mot
at home - Qaughter,) and the Tribune
has already announced two or three times
| that he never reads my specches-there-
fore, have no mode to speak to him. 1t
would be wise in him, in my humble judg-
ment, to back square cut of his proclama-
ton (Applause.) And if he don't
choose to do that, it is entirely clear that
he has shown disposition to peruert the
object Of the soar, (applause,) and to de-
clare that it is prosecuted for abolition
and not for the restoration of the Union.
| l)Cheers) Now / am not one Of those
who apprehended any great result from
any declaration of the President. Laugh
ter. He cannot change the law or the
Constitution; he cannot alter the condi-
ton of any slave in the country.
+ I differ with those who apprehend a
negro insurrection from any proclamation
that may issue. There is nothing in the
past three months to show any disturbance
or excitement on the part of the South any
more than there was before. In my
Judgment his proclamation fell equally
dead upon the whites. / do not think
he is able to excite negro insurrection
and ifhe were I have the faith to believt
that every soldier from the non slave
holding States, who has one particle of Fl
deity to the Constitution of the United
States, in that case would help put dowl
the negro insurrection. (Trenendou
and long continued applause.) In ,oai
mifh the soon,en and children. (Cheers.
Nay, more, if it could be plainly seel
that the purpose of the President was t.
excite negro insurrection, and that pur
D pose was likely to be accomplished, ever,
Democratic soldier and officer in the arm,
t would lay down his arms great ap
plsuse)-and then we should nave an in
teresting war. Laughter)I would lik
t to see war between the abolitionists o
the North and the women and childre
r of the South. Laughter) I woul
: could get at the sbolitionists. AS fo
Q getting Greely and Sumner to go, that
e out of the question: Continued laugh
}, ter)-but would agree to be one to as
d sist. Such tracks as Sumner would MAX
;. up the Pennsylvania avenue would b
:; interesting to see, with one brave south
e ern woman after him. (Great merri
u ment. $3.50 a sgsg g..
n Now I think Congress ought to max
Q a declaration as to the object of this wa
= [ believe it is waste of time to bother Il
y President (Applause and laughter
e But should be in favor of Congress d.
c lcllnlnS TO vote one soollar II there lS al
% departure from the original object of Il
lie war. (Applause.) Now gentlemen, the
lis one or tow things the President mig
to do, if he felt inclined, and it is entirely +
re- him to determine. To unite the North,
S must entirely abolish he's party organisato
ir l read every day in the Republican pape
f. that it is necessary the North should
v united. But the President Of the Unit
It. States cannot tell us to put down par
ut when he is exclusively and thorough
III partizan himself The ostrich, who site
in his head in the ground. with the rest