A K
S C H E N E C T A D Y , T H U R S D A Y , S E P T E M B E R 7, 1848.
[V O L . I.]
will, therefore, be agreeable to y o u r personal feel­
3d. A spirit o fconsiderate forbearance towards
ings, and to your sense o f public duty, to yield to the institution, in localities w here it was placed
the wishes of the Conventio,n.
under the control j o f Congress.
B y ft wise observance o f this policy, we have,
W ith yo u rself and your associate as their stan.dacdbeareia* tfie-F f e e D em ocracy o f the. N orth until reccntly^'heB'tv enabled to neu tralize the in-,
&ad to the honor and lame of the country. I am thus coiu and of the South, of the E a st and o f the W est, jurious tendencies ot an elem ent o f discord, more
soled for what would otherwise appear a capricious change strong in the justice of their cause, and unterrifi­ difficult to deal with than any to which our free
i in public opiuion, relying, as I have always done, on the ed by opposing influences, will rush forward in institutions a re exposed. B ut unhappily for the
superintending care o f the Alm ighty in all that concerns the path of duty, assured th at their candidates present harm ony, and possibly for the future wel­
t our beloved country. W ith my kind regards to your lady
will receive such a support from the wise and fare o f our beloved country, a pretension has been
and children, believe me your friend* A n d r e w J a c k s o n . ’
the good, from the patriots and philanthrophists of recently set up by our brethern o f the slavehold­
a
our country, as forever to protect the free soil of ing states, in regard to the first branch o f this
LETTER OF
the Republic from the calam ity and the curse o f policy, so inadm issable upon principle, and so
hum an bondage. *
revolting to our feelings, as to produce a rush of
A sking a reply at your earliest convenience, public sentim ent towards the point o f resistance,
TO T H E
we are, with high respect and esteem,
which, with a population so considerate and so
Committee of the Buffalo Convention.
Y our obedient servants,
staid as ours, is never seen, except when a con­
viction exists that the honor and safety of the
B. F . B U T L E R ,
CORRESPONDENCE.
country are at stake, and then alw ays. A train
J. L . W H IT E ,
N e w -Y okk , August lGth 1848.
of occurrences, all tending to the sam e general
S. P . C H A S E .
Hon. M ARTIN Y A N BUREN, jLindenwnld, N.Y.
L i n d e n w a l d , A ugust 2 2 , 1848.
end, which have, for a few y ears past, followed
S i r :— A s a com m ittee o f th e N ational F re e
G e n t l e m e n — I have had the honor to receive each other in rapid succession, has raised this
Soil Convention, late ly held a t Buffalo, for the your letter giving me official inform ation o f the feeling to an elevation hitherto unknown, and
purpose o f nom inating can d id ates for the offices proceedings of the Buffalo Convention. T h e com­ produced resolves which it is not in the power o f
o f P resid en t and V ice P resid en t of the U nited position, character and proceedings of th at body, individuals to induce the'people to recede from.
States, we have the honor to apprise you of your as described by you, and the concessions of feel­ T he constitutionality, the justice, the hum anity,
nomination, b y .th e Convention, for the first of ing, and, to some extent, of opinions also, on the and the expediency of the ground they have ta ­
these offices, and to solicit your acceptance there­ part of its members, which enabled them to unite ken, are all so clear as to preclude the possibility
of.
their exertions upon a common, and to the coun­ of a continued diversity o f opinion or action in the
T h e cau ses w hich led to the assem bling o f this try a vitally im portant question, show it to have non-slaveholding states.
C onvention a re know n to you as m atters o f p u b ­ been governed by a pure and lofty patriotism, and
T he consequences that m ay result from this
lic history, b u t no one not personally present,can demands from me a grateful acknowledgment, for conflict of opinion, between u s'an d those who are,
form an adequate conception of its character, still the expression of confidence you have com m uni­ unhappily,- our opponents— if their pretensions
less of the unanim ity and enthusiasm which dis­ cated.
are persisted in— are known only to that omnis­
tinguished its proceedings.
My position, in regard to the Presidential elec­ cent and kind Providence which has hitherto pro­
A ll the F ree States, three of the Slaveholding tion, is a peculiar one ; and it is due to me, that tected our country .and its institutions from the
States, and the District of Columbia, were repre­ the knowledge of it should be co-extensive with dangers which have threatened them.
sented. In some cases tho delegates from a sin­ that, of every m aterial step I take in the canvass.
T h e claim set up by ou r southern b reth ern , is
gle §>tate amounted to several th o u san d s; the In 1844, I announced m y determ ination, to con­ a departure from the platform raised by our com­
whole num ber in attendance w as variously esti­ tinue in retirem ent for the rest o f m y life ; and mon ancestors, at a period when the chain of our
mated, at from tw enty to forty thousand or even m y earnest desire to do so has been undiminished Union was the brightest, and the fraternal feeling
more.
and invariable, from that moment to the present. between the states that composed it, the strongest.
Individually the members represented different, I declined, respectfully but explicitly, num erous It comes upon the back o f a series of events well
and in m any cases, antagonistic interests and offers from my friends in other States, to promote calculated to aw aken, at the north, that deep, and
opinions. M any had for years belonged to the my nomination at the late Baltimore Convention; as it respects ourselves, overwhelm ing sensation
D em ocratic or W hig p a rtie s; a large portion was and in the same spirit, refused permission to the in the public mind, to which I have referred. A
identified with a third party, having already can­ New York delegation, to present my nam e to that b rief review of them, at a moment so critical, can­
didates for President and Vice President in nom dody, under any circum stances whatsoever.
not fail to he useful.
ination, while sm aller bodies were the exponents
T h e refusal would have been equally decisive,
T h e future condition o f the respective states,
o f principles m aintained by other organizations. if it had been certain, that they would have had in regard to the probable continuance or abolition
In a word, the diversified and conflicting opinions it in their power, to c a rry their friendly wishes of slavery w ere correctly foreseen at the forma­
on political subjects, held by such of our people into effect. T h e N ew Y ork delegation to the tion of the governm ent. Those o f the old thirteen
1
a s have rejected the nominations of the late Balti­ U tica Convention requested m y opinions, in re­ which are now exempt from it, acted under a con­
more and Philadelphia Conventions, were, more gard to the obligations imposed upon them, by the fident anticipation that they would soon become
o r less num erously, represented in this vast a s­ Baltimore nominations, and the constitutionality so ; whilst those p f the num ber where slavery still
sem blage, by persons living, in m any cases, thou and expediency of a prohibition, by Congress, of exists, would not look forward to an equally fa­
sands of miles apart, but now brought together the introduction of slavery into territories now vorable result in regard to themselves. It was,
by sym pathy in one sentiment, and by union in free from it. T h ey also asked m y consent to the ther.efore^yq]]j.'.nderstood at thejidoption of the
one resolve— opposition to the further extension use of my nam e, by the Convention, as its candi­ Constitution, th at although a large and highly re­
o f H um an Slavery, and the determination to pre­ date for the Presidency. I cheerfully gave them spectable portion of the members of the confeder­
serve for the freemen of this and other lands the the opinions they desired, but declined the last acy would probably for a long, certainly for an
free territories of the United States.
request absolutely. T h at they sincerely desired indefinite period, rem ain slaveholding states, a
N otwithstanding the tendency to disorder, in to respect my wishes in this regard, I have never m ajority of the states, would be non-slaveholding;
herent in a body so multitudinous and peculiar, doubted. B ut the Convention w ere of opinion, and that a constitutional preponderance in the fed­
its proceedings were marked by the utmost order, that the use of my nam e was necessary, as well eral governm ent would be thus secured to the
decorum , and solemnity. Its unanim ity in the to enable the dem ocracy of N ew York to c arry latter.
selection of candidates was equally rem arkable. f o r w a r d , with a r e a s o n a b l e p r o s p e c t of u l t i m a t e
T o m ake a s s u r a n c e of this r e s u l t d o u b l y s u r e ,
Upon an informal vote in the nominating commit success, the g reat principle for which they con­ the slaveholding states them selves were promi­
tee, you received a m ajority o f all tho votes, tended, as to sustain themselves in the extraordi­ nently active in a m easure— the ordinance ol 1787
whereupon you were nominated unanim ously and nary position to which they had been driven, by — by which six new states were first designed to
by acclam ation. T he candidate for Vice Presi the injustice of others; and th at t h e , relations be, and five actually w ere, arrayed on the same
dent was selected in like m anner, without the which had so long existed between us, gave them side. .These added to the seven in which slavery
form ality of a previous vote. Both nominations a right so to use it, not only without m y consent, had been, or was expected to be abolished, would
w ere confirmed by the Mass Convention unani­ but against m y known wishes. E ntertaining these m ake the division in this regard, twelve to six.
m ously and with the greatest enthusiasm .
views, they decided to nominate me, and omitted T h e evidence we possess of the circum stances
T he Convention also effected, what, but for its to give me the usual notice o f their proceedings. and dispositions of the times, w arrants us in as­
accomplishment, might ju stly have been deemed
T h e reasons w hy I did not feel m yself at lib­ sum ing th at no one, at that day, anticipated that
still more im practicable— the settlem ent of a plat­ erty to interpose any further obstacles to their this difference in the respective conditions of the
form o f principles, including, besides the great wishes, have been given to the public, and need states, in regard to slavery, would ever be over­
question on which its m embers were agreed, kin­ not be repeated.
come or neutralized, by the accessions to the con­
dred questions of m uch im portance and difficulty
It is in this form that my name, as a candidate federacy o f new slaveholding states. Yet, in the
on which there existed serious diversity of senti­ for the Presidency, has been brought before the b rief period which has elapsed— we m ay well say
ment, and em bracing also every other subject of people. O ccupying this position, I shall feel m y­ brief, when viewed in connection with such great
national interest, likely to come before the coun­ self honored by the support o f an assem blage so results— we have witnessed the addition o f nine
try , during the next four years.
enlightened and patriotic, and so devoted to the slaveholding, and only three non-slaveholding
T he duty of entering upon such a work, was m aintenance of the great principle we contend states to the confederacy, beyond those which
forced on us bv the obvious reflection, that in ad- for, as that in whose behalf you have addressed were provided for before the adoption of the Con­
m inistering the Federal Government, these vari­ m e.
stitution, m aking them to stand fifteen to fifteen.
ous questions m ust necessarily he m e t: and it
I have examined and considered the platform T he preponderance originally secured to the nonseemed due to our fellow citizens as well as ne­ adopted by the Buffalo Convention, as defining slaveholding states, and with the knowledge of
cessary to our own action, that the sense of the the political creed of the “ F ree D em ocracy,5’ with which they assisted in investing the institution of
( Convention should, if possible, he collected and the attention clue to the grave subjects under slavery in the states, with the privileges and g u a­
expressed thereon.
which it is presented. It breaths the right spirit rantees o f the Constitution has thus been annihi­
(
C ontrary, almost as m uch to our hopes as to our and presents a political chart, which, with the lated. T hese facts cannot be controverted or
fears, a platform, of which a copy is herewith explanations I am about to make, I can, in good concealed, and when once fully understood and
, comm unicated, was proposed and reported, w ith­ faith adopt and sustain.
appreciated by the people of the non-slaveholding
out a dissenting voice, by a committee fairly repIn regard to the chief topics of the resolutions, states, they m ust have a controlling influence
, resenting the whole body, and was afterw ards, it is not to be doubted, that the present unprece­ over their future course. T he emotions they have
with like unanim ity, and with the strongest to- dented movement of the public mind in the non- already excited, ought not to surprise intelligent
, kens of approbation, ratified by the Mass Con­ slaveholding states, upon the subject of slavery,is and ingenious minds in any quarter.
vention.
caused m ainly by an earnest desire to uphold and
But this is not the only, nor even the most re ­
i
From the nature of some of tho topics em brac­ enforce the policy in regard to it, established by pulsive v i e w which w e are compelled to take of
ed in this paper, as well as from the composition the founders of the Republic. T h a t policy, in the present pretensions of out* brethren o f the
1 of the Convention, it will readily occur to you, addition to the prospective prohibition of the for­ slaveholding States. Slavery is now presented in
th at the unanim ity with which it was adopted, eign slave trade, w as—
a livery w ’ ieh it never wore before. On every
was duo to the spirit, of* union and harmony which
1st. A d e q u a t e , efficient, a n d c e r t a i n s e c u r i t y previous occasion when them has been a conflict
pervaded every bosom, and which induced all a g a i n s t th e ex t e n s i o n o f s l a v e r y into t e rr i to r ie s of opinion in regard to it, the question has only
’ classes to avoid the assertion of extrem e opinions, w h e r e it did not p r a c t i c a l l y exist.
been, how far tho policy of 1787 should bo c a r­
and to m ake each other every allowable oonecs2d. T hat, in the language of your own con d en s­ ried out by prohibiting or restricting the exten­
sion, necessary to a vigorous co-operation in the ed and excellent resolution, “ Slavery, in the sev­ sion of slavery in territory which was, at the time
great purpose for which we had assembled. Per- eral states of the Union which recognize its exis­ subject to its introduction. Most of the territory
’ suaded that the document will be considered by tence, should depend upon state laws, which can­ of the United States which was thus situated,
you, in the same spirit, we trust that, in like m an­ not be repealed or rnudified by the Federal Gov­ save die state of Iowa, which was excepted by
ner, it will secure your approval ; and that it ernm ent ; and—
the Missouri Compromise, it has been converted
G e n . J ackso n
to
M
r
. Bu
tler
.
'
“ I cannot hope to be alive and witness the acclamation
with which-the People ot" the United States will call Mr.
•’ Van Buren to the Presidency, at the expiration of Mr.
Polk’s term; hut you w ill, and I know you will rejoice at it,
.j, jfue the consummation ojf an acjjaf jpstice<.4uealilte to .him
MARTIN VAN BUREN,
O
)
m
[N U M B E R 9.]
into Slave States, and admitted into the Union as
such. Now, for the first time, the attem pt is
made, to perm it the introduction of slavery into
territories which are now free from it— territories
from-which it w as .excelled, w ithin the last fif­
teen or tw enty years, by the express and solemn
act o f their form er government or people—-a go­
vernm ent and people with whom in respect to the i
attributes of freedom, ours could not brook a
comparison.
N or is this its only or its worst feature. In an ­
nexing to our Union T exas, an extensive Slave
State, covering an area capable o f being form­
ed into m any more such states, we became in­
volved in a w ar with Mexico, which claimed con­
tinued dominion over that state. T he territories
in regard to which the question is now made, are
among the conquests of this w ar. ft is, there­
fore, in effect, whatever m ay have been the ori­
ginal object o f the w ar, an appeal to the inhabi­
tants of the non-slaveholding states, to sanction
the extension, through our instrum entality, of
slavery into territories, which the United States
have, in fact, acquired by the sword; ffiut w hich
others had relieved from that great evil. S u ch
proposition need only to be stated, to ensure its
rejection by the non-slaveholding states.
Upon w hat grounds is it attempted to sustain a
principle, so repugnant to our feelings, so de­
structive in our view, to ou-r national ch aracter,
and so well calculated, if successful, to cloud the
glory of this great R epublic ? T h a t there should
be diversities o f opinion and feeling u-pon the sub­
ject of slavery between us and our southern
brethren, is certainly natural.
T he strength of n o rth ern . aversion to the insti­
tution, has been recently very tru ly stated on the
floor of the Senate, by a very distinguished south­
ern statesm an. T he people of the north could
not overcome this aversion, if they would ; and
they cannot desire to do so, because they reli­
giously believe that the highest earthly interest
of man are based on its perm anency and u lti­
m ate universality. At the south, the feeling is
very different, because the culture of their minds
and dispositions and the force o f habit have ha'd
an opposite tendency. T his known, and for a
season, at least, incurable diversity of opinion
and feeling should beget a spirit of conciliation,
and inculcate m utual forbearance in speech -and
action. T his duty has doubtless been occasion­
ally lost sight of, on both sid e s; but it cannot be
denied that the departure from it has been g reat­
est on the part of our southern brethren.
N o one will venture to insist th at it is, at this
day, either expedient or right to originate slavery
in territories that are free from it, if it can be
properly prevented. B ut it is insisted jthat this
cannot be done in, the case under consideration,
and in the form proposed. F irst, because the
constitution does not give Congress the power to
prohibit slavery in the territories.; and that, con­
sequently, the great num ber of acts for that p u r­
pose which have been passed for the last sixty
years, with general assent, were but so m any in­
fractions of the constitution.
A ll w ill r e m e m b e r th e
so le m n ity a n d ra p id ity
with which State after State, at the south, in suc­
cession, announced this doctrine, and the acrim o­
nious vehemence with which their conventions
denounced political proscription, in the form of
exclusion from the offices of President and Vice
President, of all who refused to adopt it. B ut it
is already apparent that differences of opinion
upon this im portant subject cannot be settled by
vehem ent assumptions, nor conciliation in regard
to it, promoted by denunciation. In our country
such difficulties m ust be solved by appeals to the
tests provided by the constitution. Foy the re c ­
titude of our motives, and the correctness o f our
conduct, we are responsible, on earth, to the opin­
ion of the civilized world, and hereafter to a
Power that is greater and wiser than all.
T he question o f the constitutionality, the g ra ­
vest of all objections that can be m ade against a
public m easure, has ju st passed through the or­
deal of public discussion, and the doctrine in
question has been so thorougly rejected and con­
demned by the voice of the nation that it is no
longer necessary to spend words in refuting it.
Tw o circum stances have, however, occurred,
which though not necessary to its overthrow,
give to that overthrow a sanction that entitles
them to notice. It now appears, that twentyeight years since, at the tim e o f the Missouri
compromise, M r. Monroe, then President, a slave
holder, and elected from a slaveholding state,
submitted this very question, save only that it
was then applied to slave territory, to a cabinet
composed, among other gre^t men, of such giant
intellects from the slaveholding states, as C raw —
ford, Calhoun and W irt, the latter the law officer
of the governm ent; that they were unanim ously
of opinion that Congress did possess the power in
question ; and that the then President, a m an who
was on the scene of action when the constitution
was formed, concurring in that opinion, approved
the bill. The documents which attest these in­
teresting circum stances are before the country,
and every one will judge for him self o f their
claim s to credence, considered in connection with
what has been said upon the subject by the sur­
vivor of the cabinet referred to.
To bring the m atter n earer to our own times,