Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-31
WHAT JOHN VAN BUREN, THINKS
HOrati0 Seymour a Did FOOI-Has-
kin n 0Sfageman.o

IVY AAAONE ~ I'LL
kin n "Stageman."
Poor John Van Bureni His whole
campaign seems to BIS, on his part, a series
of blunders and misfortunes. We have
noted several of them, but the greatest of
all was when he retailed a private CONVEX
satiOn with Secretary DePew to a delight
ed Democratic audience at Albany. He
woke up decidedly the wrong passenger.
Depew has published a letter in response,
detailing the remainder of the converse
ton, which Prince Johns well known
modesty probably prevented him from
giving:
ALBANY, Saturday, Oct. 81, 1865.
To the Editor Of the albany Evening Jour
nal:
SIR: Ny attention has been called to an
article in the Journal asking from me the
rest of the conversation held between John
Van Buren, and myself, of which he re-
peated a part in his Albany speech. As
Mr. Van Buren, gave the public such a
free rendering of what l said, and has de-
layed so long without narrating what he
| said. l can account for his reticence only
en- the ground of his well known modesty,
and must believe that he told part of the
conversation in order to render the publ
cation of the remainder unnecessary.
Mr.. Van Buren, seemed dnsiouS about
the probable action of the Union State
Convention, and asked me "if toe icouLd
nominate Slocum and the other gentlemen
ON the UAion ticket who had heretofore
acted with tho Union Ticket. l told him
mo; but that we would make a clean
ticket, and have a square, stand-up fight"
He spoke of General Barlow, aud said
of him that for extraordinary personal
courage and brilliant individual achieve
ment his record was very remarkable"
John said "GovernOr Seymour had a
letter from Judge DEMO to read to the
Tweddle Hall Convention, but circum-
stances rendered it necessary for the Gov
ernor to leave at such an early hour that
the Judges effort had been lost to the
world"
Said Mr.. Van Buren,: Seymour is a
id fool. He spoiled everything at Chica-
go, and has been the cause of most of the
disasters of the Democratic party" l sug-
gested that the Governor had more strength
with the rank and file of hat party than
any others of its members, and was its
representative man. John said "that was
all nonsense that "the Governor was
continually declaring hat his friends did
not like this, and his friends objected to
that. In the good old days of the Demo-
cratic party" said he, "when anybody
spoke of his friends as not pleased
with any course projected or determined, he
meant my father or Silas Wright; when
anybody speaks of his friends in the Dem
ocatic party now, he means Nj. Richmond.
Mr.. Cagger, or some man who controls,
but who Seymour refers to when he speaks
ofhis friends, nobody knows. If thew exist
at all, they do not appear among its repre-
sentative men," / felt hurt that John did
not mention Mr.. Marble of the Neio York
World in his list of Democratic leaders, for
Marble is a friend of mine, and his paper
has spoken of me in the fairest and kind
est way nearly every day for some months
past. Van Buren, declared that: hMr.
Seymour was the most extraordinary poll
itical accident that had ever appeared in
American political life. A quiet accident
said he, "whO says nothing and falls into
prominent position, and by keeping still
while in office, manages to conceal his I'M
fitness, and then tumbles into another good
place, is comprehensive but how a man
who talks perpetually, both in Office and
out of office, and as perpetually exhibits
his weakness often, and being found out,
eve eomesu up again, is beyond understand
ing. Seymour" he continued, has no
strength in the Democratic party. Your
people make him all that he is, by abusing
him, which renders it necessary for our
people defend him, because he belongs to
us. He would have gone out of sight long
ago, but every time he is about going I'M
der, Bennett pitched into him IN the Herald,
and so catches him by the hair of his head
and hauls him to the surface.
Governor Seymour is now traversing
the State to elect John, and Seymour's
friends are shouting themselves hoarse to
their appreciation of Johns eio-
1t is a magnificent tribute to the
Democracy, and a more
eminent exemplification of Christian
meekness and forbearance than even the
Convention.
Mr.. Van Buren, said abe did not
why he was nominated for Attorney !
General" Unlike the claim the Governor
he had never found it difficult to
escape nominations. Besides, he was an
Attorney General twenty years ago, and
it was no particular hnAo~- for n man, |
pfror 1aps6 Of twenty years, to 60 into
same hole he came out of twenty years
Mr.. Van Buren, urged in his speech, as
one of the reasons for his repeating our
conversation, that no relations existed be-
tween him and myself which implied any
in regard to any communica-
ton l might make to him. The relation
must be reciprocal, SO he gave me the
secret history of the nomination for At
5orney General. He said "the matter was
left with the New York delegation, and
selected Haskin (Barnard's referee y
but the country delegations would not
stand that, and Haskin himself DISPLAYED
eminent good sense in not pressing his
as he was aware of his lack of the
qualifications requisite to discharge credit
the duties of the office; he having
been" said Mr.. Van Buren,, "a stage man,
believe" As Mr.. Haskin claims to have
the Democratic platform and con-
rolled the Convention, l thought this did
not exhibit becoming gratitude toward the
nan who, if that claim is just, must have
1een Mr.. Van Buren's political parent. ]
Mr.. Van Buren, will pardon me for
deferred so long, after his invita-
ion, to disclose them, presenting his views
regard to Governor Seymour, the I'M
Questioned leader of his party, and my
Haskin, whose persistent courage
forced a patriotic expression from an un-
Convention. Yours, &c,
CHAUNOEY NJ. DEPEw.