The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-15

hour OF triumph We passed the next period
Of capital Importance In the political history
Of the State Of New York, the yeaYs from
1914 to is+s, inclusive, which witnessed
Van Buren's failure to obtain q third nomi-
nation for the Presidency, and the, srule or
ruin policy subsequently pursued by his
followers and sanctioned by him through.
his acceptance of the Parnburner nomina-
ton for that Office and the consequent de-
feat OF Lewis Cass, the Democratic nomi-
nee. As Mr.. Alexander points out in Q chap.
tor devoted to the subject, never were the
tated or moro irregular than in the cam
paign Of 1914. For three years public senti-
mont had designated Henry Clay and Mar
tin Var Buren, as the candidates OF their
respective parties for the post Of Federal
Chief Magistrate, and until the spfing OF
the year named the confidence of the
friends OF the Kentucky statesman did not
exceed the assurance Of the followers OF
ex-President. Indeed, the Democratic party
had come to be known throughout the
country as the ivan Buren, partyi and
although James Buchanan, John C. Calhoun
and Lewis Cass had each been named by
Democrats as a suitable person for Chief
Executive tho so-called Sage OF Linden
wald' was their party's recognized leader
and prospective nominee. In national at
fairs, moreover, the Democratic party In
New York wa o unit. The Legislature OF
ls4s had elected one Of Van Buren's stanoh-
est and most respected sdherents, Silas
Wright, to the United States Senate with
out o dissenting Democratic vote, and q
State convention, held at Syracuse In Sep
tember Of the same year. had instructed Its
delegation to the next national Democratic
convention to support New York's favorite
ION.
A troublesome problem, however, sud-
Tyler had negotiated secretly Q treaty OF
anna ration with Texas, but for three months
the friends Of the treaty in the United States
Senate had e~ndeavored vainly to find a
majority in favor Of its ratifca-
ton. Naturally, the champions OF slavery
desired to nominate q successor to Tyler
who would favor the treaty. Now. Van
Buren, a. a United States Senator had
never failed the South. As Mr.. Alex
ander recalls, she had voted against
abolition literature through the
into States that prohibited Its circula-
ton; he had approved the rules of the Senate
for tabing abolition petitions without read
ing them: he had publicly deprecated the
work Of abolition leaders, and by his silence
had approved the mob spirit when his
friends were breaking up abolition meet
In thoee days. however, American
had been simply seeking to uphold
Ite constitutions! right to exist unmolested
where It was. The annexation Of Texas.
the other hand, was an aggressive meas
ure, the hrst Of the great movements for
the extension OF slavery since the Missouri
1t was obviously important
10 the South to know In advance where
the ex-President stood, especially as his
Administration had been adverse to an
.nexation, and rumor credited him with
.nsbated hostility. To force him into the
open william H. Hammit, q member Of
Congress from Mississippi, addressed to
him a letter Of inquiry on March 81, 1874.
Van Buren, delayed answering this letter
until April 20, thirty-seven days before the
OF the Democratic national oon-
.vention. When he did reply he recalled the
fact that in 1897, after an exhaustive oon-
sideration Of the question, his Administra-
ton had decided against annexation, and
that nothing had since occurred to change
the situation. He went on to cay, never
that II after the subject had been
fully discussed . Congress chosen with
reference to the question showed that the
popular will favored It he would yield.
There is no doubt that Van Buren, deeply
desired a third nomination, and II the South
supported him he was practically certain
Of it. In view Of the necessity Of such
Van Buren's letter has been pro-
nounced by a recent biographer, Mr.. Ed
M. Shepard, sone Of h finest and
pieces Of political courage. and
deserves from Americans a long admiral
It IL here conceded that such eulogy
would be deserved II Van Buren, at the time
the Hammit letter fully appreciated the
gravity Of the situation. Mr., Alexander,
however, can and no evidence that Van
Buren, understood the secret and hostile
purpose which led up to the Hammit inquiry,
and he looks upon the answer as Itself evi-
dence that Van Buren, sought to coAcili-
ate the Southern wing Of his party. sVan
Buren, and his trusted advisers could not
ha ye known Of the secret plotting Of Buohan-
an and Ca ss's followers or OF the deception
shrewdly practised by Cave johnson OF
Tennessee, ostensibly a confidential friend,
but really a leader in the plot to defeat
Van Buren, So far, moreover. as the senti-
ment of the country could be gagged 1t
recognized unmista kably that weighty as
Inducements for annexation appeared
they were light when opposed In the scale
Of reason and justice to the treaty Of amity
and with Modco, which must
be sorupulously observed 90 long as that
country performed It's duties and respected
treaty rights. Thus Van Buren, must have
felt that he had behind him the ~preponder-
anoe Of argument. a large majority Of the
sena te, including silas Wri ght, his worthiest
friend, and q party sentiment that had
not yet yielded to the crack Of the Southern
whip. Besides. as has been said, he was
ignorant Of the plan, already secretly
matured, to defeat him with the help Of
the followers of Buchanan and Cass, by
insisting upon the two-thirds rule In the
convention. Our author holds
that under these circumstances 1t did not
require grea. oowage for Van Buren, to
reafirm his previous views. At the same
ii m 9, being oosnizant Of the gro wing eesire
in the South for annexation, he took good
care to remove the impression that he wal
infexible by promising to yield his opinion
to the judgment Of a new Congress, Mr..