Standard of union. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 183?-18??, June 07, 1836, Image 1

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EDITED RY TIIOVIAM HAVNEN. EMt. VOL. 111. IW. 21. of :g. robcn sto, Publisher (lit/ Authority.) of the J.airs of the. I nifed Slates: Oliice ou Greene Street, nearly oppo site the .TJarket. Issued cveiy Tuesday morning,at $3 per annum. No subscription taken for less than a year, and no paper discontinued, bat at the option ol the publisher, until all arrearages aru paid. Advertisemests conspicuously inserted at the usual rates —those not limited when handed in, will be inserted ’till forbid, and charged uccord ngly. Danarratic liiioii, Jitpitblietns Ticket. FOR PRESIDENT, MARTIN VAN BUREN. FOR VICE-PRESIDENT, RICHARD M. JOHNSON. ELECTOR IL TICKET. THOMAS F. HENDERSON, of FraaUn. WM. B. BULLOCH, of Chatham. SAMUEL GROVES, ofMadison. THOM IS HAYNES, of Baldwin. REUBEN JORD \N. of Jones. WILSON LUMY KIN, of Walton. WILLI AM I’ENTICOST, of Jackson. THOM IS SPALDING, of Mclntosh. JAMES C. WATSON, of Muscogee. YY M B. YY Ob FORD, ot Habersham. THOMAS WOOTEN, of Wilkes. LIFE OF M YR TIN VAX BIREN, Dr WILLIAM M. HOLLAND. CHAPTER VII. Mr. V an HvreKsdefence of the Classif ratio' bill. Is appointed Attonu u (gen eral of Xew York.—Gives an efficient support to the project for the Erie and Champlain Canals. After the passage of the-classification bill by the Legislature, it met with great opposition from Chancellor Kent in the Council ofrevision. On die 21st of Octo ber lie delivered an opinion, embracing five objections to the bill, which were for tified by his usual ingenuity and learning. The opinion of the Chancellor was over ruled by theother members of ths councilbut his objections found their way into the pub lic prints and coming from so respectable source, were sceized upon by political parti zans, as a means ofimparing public confi dence in the validity of the laws and in the discretion of those who enacted them. Col. Samuel Young, who was at that time sperker of the house of Representatives in the New York Legislature, and had been the most prominent supporter of this measttrs in that body, addressed a series of letters to the Chancellor in the public prints in winch he defended the measures of the democratic party, and the classification bill in particular, with signal eloquence and ability. The letters were signed Juris Consult ns. They were replied to by the Chancellor himself, under the signature of Amicus Curiae. At this point Air. Y'an Buren entered into the controversy, and replied to the strictures of the Chancellor under the signature of Amicus Juris Con suliiut. He first took a general view of several topics connected w ith the controver sy, and, in conclusion, minutely reviewed the several objections raised by the Chan cellor in the Council of revision, as Amicus Curiae. The controversy, involving ques tions of ccnstitutional law of the greatest magnitude, as well as the most exciting po litical questions, attracted great attention and drew forth the fullest display of learning and ability ou both sides. By some of Mr. Van Buren’s friends, it was deemed rashness on his part, to enter the lists against such a veteran in politics and one so profoundly learned in constitutional law as Chancellor Kent. The result, however, showed that they had not sufficiently appre ciated his powers. His papers exhibited greal ability and research, and be so clear ly demonstrated both the policy and consti tutionality of the act, and so completly an nihilated the arguments ofhis advisary, that the latter withdrew from the contest by the publication of a “ card." The learning and talent displayed in this controversy, contributed greatly to his ele vation to the office of Attorney General of the State, which appointment lie received in February 1815. He was at that time thirty-two years of age. During the same sessiion, he was also appointed by the Le -si«lature, a regent of die University of N. ork. In the spring of 181 G, he was re-elected to the Senate of the state for the further pe /iod of four years. 'J'l/.u project of uniting the waters of the jHudson with Lake Erie and with lake />hamplaig, was a leading subject of con sideration in the Legislatu.e of New York, durin the winter of J 816 For six years previous, there bad been a board ofcorni*- sioners to make examinations and surveys with a view to this magnificent, enterprise. During the w ar, it had been impossilik lor them to prosecute the objects of tin ir ap pointment; but on the Bth of March 1816, they laid their surveys and estimates before tlje lyegi.jatgre, accompanied by a report, which recommended the adoption of “such preliminary measures as migl t be necessa ry for the acco.iiplislnr.eiit of this important object.” On the 21stof March, Mr, Jacob R. Van Rens elaer, l oin a joint commit tee, made a report to the house of Repre- MOtativcs, in favor of the immediate com (ijencement of both canals, and introduced I bill for shat purpose, On the 10th of April, Mr. Duer proposed a substitute, merely authorizing surveys and esiiriiatcs ; Vut the bill, as finally adopted in the lions - °tt the 13th of April, authorized the imine fhate yojqrrjencenient of a portioq of the The Standard of Union. I On the 16th of April, this bill was taken up in the Semite. But two days of the session remained. On motion of Air. Yan Buren, that portion which authorized the ; immediate commencement ol’ the work was sricken on', and the bill was confined to i the procurement of more accurate surveys [ ami estimates. In support ot' his motion, ’ Air .Van Buren said it was evident to his mind, that the Legislature did not possess I sufficient information to justify the immedi ate commencement of the work; and tear ing inconsiderate legislation might preju- | dice the measure, as a sincere friend to its i success, he believed a temporary postpone- ' ment to be the safest course. The amend- I ment passed the Senate by a vote of twen- ; ty to nine and was finally adopted by the I i house. • | On the 11th day of April, of the next! I subsequent year, a bill for the commence ment of this great work finally passed the house of Representatives. It was strongly ■ opposed by some gentlemen of great abili ties, whose constituents would probably’ be effected in their local interests, and was sustained by Mr. Tibbets and Mr. Van Buren. The speech of the latter is thus in troduced by the gentleman from whose re port it is here extracted.* “This w as Air. Van Buren’s great speech of the session, and it was indeed a master ly effort. I took notes of the whole debate at the time, but being then young in the business ot’ reporting, and this being the first time 1 had ever attempted to follow I Mr. Van Buren, whose utterance is 100 ra pid for an unpractised pen, and whose man- ■ ner was, on that occasion, too interesting to allow a reporter to keep his eyes upon | bis paper, my effort was little more than a ; failure.” “Air. Van Buren said he must trespass I upon the committee, while he stated the I general consideration which induced him to give his vole for the bill. It was a sub ject which had been so fully discussed, and 1 upon which so much had been said, that I he should deem it arrogance to enlarge, j The calculations which had been made with respect to the probable expense of the ca ‘ nal, and the ways and means for raising i funds, were fit subjects for consideration. . But to do this he deemed himself incompe tent. He must place great confidence up lon the reports ot' the commissioners upon these points. Air. V. B. here took a brief review of the measures adopted at the last ! session of the Legislature in relation to the canal, when a bill similar to the one now before -the Senate, was under consideration, and stated tiie reasons why he voted against the bill at that time. VVe then had no calculations made by the com missioner, so minute as at present. Under these considerations, he conceived it his ! duty at the last session, to move the rejec tion of the whole bill relating to the coin- ■me net ment of the canal. It was done, and, he had the satisfaction to find that most gen tlemen have since united with him in his J opinion. Now the scene is entirely chang ed. YVe at that time passed a law appoint -1 ing new commissions, and apply lug 20,000 1 dollars to enable them to obtain all the in formation possible. We now have the in formation, and we have arrived at the point, when, if this bill do not pass, the project i must for many years be abandoned. His ' convictions were, that it is for the honor and ! interest of the stale to commence the work at once ; we are pledged by former metis tires to do it. Air. Van Buren here re j viewed the proceedings of former legisla- I tures upon the subject, during the year 1810, 11, 12, and 14, when, in consequence of the war, the law appropriating five millions for the canal, was repealed. He proceed ed:—Since that period, new commissioners have been appointed, and new authority given, to examine the route for the canal, and report at the present session of the Le gislature. A law authorising the com mencement of the work has passed the pop ular branch of the Legislature, and unless ; we have the clearest convictions that the I project is impracticable, or the resources of ! our state insufficient, you must not recede from the measures already taken. Are we satisfied upon these two points.'' VY'e have had able, competent commissioners to re port, and they have laid a full statement be fore us; we are bound to receive these re ports as correct evidence upon this subject. In no part of the business have we looked | to individual states, or to the United States i for assistance, other than accidental or aux diary. Air. Van Buren here made some 1 calculations relative to the funds. Lay out of view, said he, all the accidental resour- j i ces, and the revenue from the canal, and in completing the work you will only enta i upon the state a debt, the interest of which 1 will amount to about 300,000 dollars. He then stated tiie amount of real estate within j the state now, and what it probably would ! be, if the canal were completed. The tax would not amount to more than one mill on the dollar, unless the report of commission ers is a ti-sne ol fraud or misrepresentation, this tax "ill be sufficient, ami more than suf ] ficient, to complete the canal. We are now to say that all our former proceedings have been insincere, or we must go on with the work. The people in the districts where Wg ore first to make the canal, are willing and -able to be subjected to the expense of those sections. Mr. Van Buren contended that the duties oyon salt, ami the auction duties, were a certain source of revenue, and that these two sources of revenue would I be abundant, and more than abundant, for- I ever to discharge the interest of the debt jto be created. Ought we, under such cir i cumstanccs, to reject this bill? No, sir; for ■ one I am willing to go to tin.- lenght con templatcd by the bill. The canal is to pro mote the interest and character of the state home, Mr. King repaired to his post in the Senate of the United States, and in that ho- * VY iii. L. Stone, Esq. Editor of the Com mercial Advertiser in New York, in the Appen dix to Hosack’s bl of Clinton, 151., LOIMkIA, IS3&. in a thousand ways. But we are told that the people cannot bear the burden. Sir, I assume it as a fact, that the people have al ready consented to it. Fur six years we have been engaged upon this business. During this time our tables have groaned w ith the petitions of the people from every section ot our country in favor of it. And not a solitary voice has been raised against it. Air. \ an. Buren said he had seen w ith regret the divisions that have heretofore existed upon this subject, apparently arising from hostility to the commissioners. Last year the same bill, in effect, passed the As sembly, the immediate representatives of the people ; and this y ear it has passed again. This was conclusive evidence that the people have assented to it. Little can be done by th.- commissioners, other than to make a loan, before another session. The money cannot be lost—there can be no loss at six per cent. We have now all the in formation we can wish—we must make up our minds either to be expending large sums in legislation year after year, or we must go on with the project. After so much has been done and said tipoti the subject, it would be discredilble to the state to abandon it. “ He considered it the most important vote he ever gave in his life—but the pro ject, il executed, would raise the state to the highest possible pilch of fame and gran deur. He repeated that we were bound to consider that the people have given their assent. Twelve thousand men of wealth and respectability in the city ®f'New York, last year petitioned for the canal; and at all events, before the operation would be commenced, the people, if opposed to the measure, would have ample time to express their will upon the subject.” The reporter adds: “When Air. Van Buren resumed his seat, Air. Clinton who had been an attentive listener in the Senate chamber, breaking through that reserve which political collisions bad created, ap proached him and expressed his thanks for his exertions in the most flattering terms.” It will be proper, here, to insert a brief description of Air. Van Buren’s manner as a speaker, at that period, sketched by the same able writer who furnished the above report ; the author of it will, at least, be free front the charge of personal or political par tiality. “ Mr. Van Buren is a very eloquent speaker; but the character of his eloquence is sui generis. YY’e know of none of the mighty masters of the persuasive art, w hom he has adopted for his model ; and yet his manner is graceful, and animated when oc casion requires, or impassioned when enga- [ ged upon an inspiring theme. He has a happy command of language, but his utter ance is toa rapid. His figure is small, and there is nothing peculiar in his person, ex cepting the fine formation of his head, which would afford an admirable subject for a craniologist. YV’ith manners affable and insinuating, he inspires his friends with the i strongest attachment known to political ties ; and though self-educated, his professional | knowledge is such as to have placed him in the front rank at the bar, which his successful career in politics bears ample testimony to talents of an elevated order, and attaet in the management of men, and in the control of parties, without a living parallel.” As the great scheme of internal improve ments in New York, was thus indebted, in part, for its first adoption, to his exertions, so, at every subsequent period, it received his efficient support. To enumerate the va rious occasions upon which this support was exhibited would swell this portion of the present narrative to an undue extent. It will suffice to subjoin the following general statements from the pen of the learned and amiable biographer of the illustrious Clin ton. “ To the Hon. Cadwallader D. Colden, Martin Van Buren, Jacob Rutsen, Van Rensselaer, James Lynch, Peter A. Jay, YVilliam Ross, and William A. Duer, the state owes a debt of gratitude for their pa triotic exertions in behalf of the canal.” * * * “ The Hon. Martin Van Buren and theother gentlemen just mentioned, were distinguished by their support of the legis lative measures then adopted. Those gen tlemen, then members of the Legislature, independently of their able, and in most in stances, their uniform support of the canal policy, signalized themselves by very im portant services in rescuing the bill from a state of jeopardy, even when it had been, to a certain degree, abandoned by its friends. By their personal and almost miraculous ex ertions, it was resuscitated and again resto red to the approbation of the two houses of the Legislature.”* CH APTER VIII. Alt:. V A v Bit: r. n acquiesces in the first elec.- lion oj De IVilt Clinton, as Clovernor. Opposes his re-election. Is removed, f rom the office of Attorney General. Separa tes from Mr. Clinton and his political friends. His encomium upon. Mr. Clin ton's character at a meeting of the t'icrn York ( ongrcssional delegation in Wash ing ton. In March 1817, De YY’itt Clinton was nominaied to the office of Governor of the state ol New York, by a republican conven tion, in the place of Dawiel D. Tompkins, w ho had been elected Vice President of the j United States. Mr. Van Buren acquiesced in this nomination, thought it was contrary :lo his individual wishes and opinions. The distinguished talents of Mr. Clinton and his ' recent zealous efforts in promoting the . greal interests of the state, had so far won I die respect and confidence of all parties, * that there was comparatively little opposi tion to his election. During the first year j of Air. Clinton's administration, but little I ■ - -- * Hosack’s Memoir of De YY in Clinton, on i 105-7, 1 Oia 1 C'»nscic>itc——Ottr Cmtntnj—Char Parly. ! occurred to disturb this singular coalition of opposite political parties. But in the . difficult task of making his app ( >im lliel |t Si Governor Clinton gave great olience to the I republicans who hadyielded him theirsup- I port. This difficulty widened into anopen rtlpture ; and a large majority of the le- I publican party, Mr. Van Buren among ' their number, withdrew their support from : Air. Clinton’s public measures and made preparation to oppose his re-election. The participation of Air. Van Buren in this op position, brought upon him the piditical vengeance of llie council of appointment, who were devoted to the wishes of Air. Clinton. Accordingly, in July 1819, he was removed from the office of Attorney General ; the duties ol w hich he had dis charged, with ability, for more than five years. No other reason was assigned for this measure than the opposition of Air. Van Buren to the Governor. This violent act united the great mass of the republican parly in opposition to Gov ernor Clinton and bound them more strong ly than ever to Air. Y r au Buren. His long course of public service were remembered, especially his zealous support of the de mocratic cause during the gloomy period, of the war, and his honorable co-operation ,at a more recent period, with Air. Clinton himself’, in the great work of internal navi j gation. Accordingly, when the period of i Air. Clinton’s public service drew' towards !a dose, thej most strenuous exertions were i made by the republicans throughout the state, to prevent ids re-election. Air. Van Buren naturally took the lead in their es . forts ; and Daniel D. Tompkins, em; hati ' tally the man of the people, was prevailed I upon to become the opposing candidate. I Although Air. Clinton’s policy had already ’ assumed the strongest anti-democratic char | acter. yet the splendor ofhis abilities, his I former public services, and his great per ! sonal weight of character drew temporarily to his support, no inconsiderable port’on of I the former democratic pa: ty. The contest i was close and animated, and the result, for | several days, was extremely doubtful. Air. \ Clinton finally succeeded by a majority of 1 1457, out of 93,437 votes, This result ( sufficiently indicated the great change in j public opinion, produced by the unexpec ted turn which he gave to his admiiii.'tratioii. The w hole number of votes against him, on 1 his former election, was but twenty-two more than his present majority. Both houses of' the Legislature and the Council of appointments, however, were decidedly democratic ; aud it was hence ap parent that the rule had passed out of feder al hands. A restoration to the office of Attorney General was now tendered to Air. Van Bu ren but was declined by him. The writer is persuaded .hat he shall but speak the sentiments of Air Y’an Buren and, all his political frineds, in beating testimo ny, in this place, to the learning, splendid talent and great public service of De \\ itt [ Clinton. On many public occasions, he i gave expression to political sentiments which indicated, in the words ofhis biographer, “a living faith in man’s capacity for seif j government and an unconquerable hostili ty to arpitrary and illegal power, in w hat ever shape it mighl appear.” The promul gation of these sentiments brought upon him the hostility of the federalists, and won for him the high respect of the democratic party, who were disposed to transfer to him, | the reverence, confidence and affection they had always entertained for his illustrious , uncle, George Clinton. But “these po . litical principles” as the biographer, be | fore quoted, aptly remarks, “ though re ' cognized by the great bodv of our fellow ’ citizens, are apt to be forgotten by our pttb ! lie men when elevated to office.” Air. Clinton’s public course does not seem to have been so steadily regulated by thwin, as to have retained the confidence, the de mocracy were disposed to place in him.* By the current of events w hich we have thus briefly related, Air. Y an Buren and I Air. Clinton were arrayed against each : other as the distinguished and able leaders 'of opposite political parties. A most vi jolent political contest ensued, and was sus i lained for years with unabated energy on ' both sides. To enter minutely into the history of these conflicts would be an un grateful task, and would extend this portion of the present history beyond its proper bounds. Besides, as the writer was then a resident of the state of New York, and not altogether a calm observer of the excitement of the day, be is not sure that he should be able to hold the pen of an impartial histo ; rian. It will suffice to say, that during j these conflicts, Governor Clinton was twice ! driven into retirement and two ofhis dis ; tinguisbed supporters, Chief Justice Spen- I cer ami Judge Van Ness, both compelled to retire from the bent h of the Supreme I Court; and on the other hand, Mr. Van j Buren was twice removed from office, and was pursued for many years, with the most j unrelenting party violence. It is a point i of bright relief in this dark picture, that amid all the collisions of party violence, the two great antagonists retained their con fidence in the personal integrity of each ■ other, and each expressed his respect for ] the private uprightness and honesty of his I rival. Such, at least, are said, on the best I anthoeitiy, to have been the sentiments of Governor Clinton, almost in the last mo ments of hisjlif’e; and the folow ing affecting and eloquent testimony of Air. Van Buren to the public, services and private worth of : his illustrious competitor, is publicly on re cord. At a meeting of the Senators tinrl i Representatives in Congress, from the state of New York, held at YY'asbington, on the I9lhof Febuary 1828, to express their I’eel- * The Roman historian’s remark, will) re spect to tin; Emperor tfallta, maybe applied to All . Clinton major private visas dam pri vate fuil et omniuni consensu capax Imperii, i nisi rmpcrasset-’’ Tacit, I'istjib. J, cap. 49, ings on the sudden demise of Governor Clinton, Air. Van Buren, then a member of the Senate, introduced some appropriate resolutions with the follow ing remarks. “ Alr. Chairman—Y¥e have met to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of our late Governor and distinguished fellow-cit zen, De Witt Clinton. Some of our breth ren have been so kind as to ask me to pre pare a suitable expression of our feelings; a id I have, in pur nance of their wishes, drawn up w hat lias occurred to me as prop er to be said on the occasion. Before I submit it to the consideration of the meeting, 1 beg to be indulged in a few brief remarks. I can say nothing of the deceased, that is not familiar to you all. To all, lie was personally know n, and lo many of us, in timately and familiarly, from our earliest infancy. The high order of his talents, the untiring zeal and great success with which those talents have, through a series of years been devoted to the prosecution of plans of great public utility, arc also known to you all, and by all, lam satisfied, duly appret ’ tted. The subject can derive no additional interest or importance from any eulogy ol mine. v\ll other consider ations out of view, the single fact that the greatest public improvement of the age in which we live, was commenced under the guidance ol his councils, and splendidly accomplished under his immediate auspices, is ol itself sufficient lo fill the ambition of any man, and to give glory to any name. But, as has been justly said, his life, and character, aud conduct, have become the ' property of the historian ; and there is no reason to doubt that history will do him , justice. The triumph of iiis taiants and patriotism, cannot fail to become monu ments ol high and enduring fame. We cannot, indeed, but remember, that in our public career, collisions of opinion and action, at once extensive, earnest, and en during, have arisen between the deceased and many ol us. For myself, sir, it gives me a deep-felt, though melancholy satisfac tion, to know, and more so, to be conscious, that the deceased also felt and acknowl edged, that our political differences have been w holly free from that most venomous and corroding ot all poisons, personal ha tred. “ But in other respects it is now immate rial what was the character of those collis ions.—They have been turned to nothing, and less than nothing, by the event we de plore, and 1 doubt not that w e will, with one voice and one heart, yield to his memory the well deserved tribute of our respect for his name, and our warmest gratitude for his great and signa! services. For myself, sir, so strong, so sincere, and so engrossing is that feeling, that I, who whilst living, ne ver, no never, envied him any thing, now that he has fallen, am greatly tempted to en vy him his grave with its honors. “Olthis, the most afllicting of all be reavements, that has fallen on his wretched and desponding family, w hat shall I say?— Nothing. I heir grief is too sacred fbrde , scription ; justice can alone be done to it by those deep and silent, but agonizing feelings, which ou their account pervade every bos om.” The resolutions, thus introduced, ex pressed, on behalf of the meeting, “their deep and sincere sorrow for a dispensation of 1 roytdence which had, in the midst of his nsefinness, cut off from the service ot that stale w hose proudest ornament he was, <t great t:i;'ii,who had won and richly de served tiie reputation of a distinguished benefactor.” I lie noble generosity of these sentiments, considering the source from whence tlrcy proceeded, w ill be appreciated by the rea der. CHAPTER IX. Alr. Van Bvrv.s's support of Rufus King for Senator of the U. S. Ills connnection irith the proceedings in Albany, and in the Legislature of New York, in regard to the Missouri question. It may be proper food vert, in this place, to two or three particulars in the public life of Mr. Van Buren, which have been the subject of considerably remark. The first of these is bis support of Rufus King for the office of Senator of the United Slates. In the winter of 1819, the legislature of New Ycrk was divided into three distinct parties. As has already been remarked, a large portion of the democratic party had become dissatisfied with the public measures of De YV.tt Clinton, then Governor, and had seceded from the support of his adminis tration. These seceders, with Air. Van Buren at their head, formed one party in the Legislaturs. A respectable portion of the old federalists bad also seperated from the friends ol Mr. Clinton and constituted a, second faction in the Legislature. 1 he iiieudsol Clinton, embracing both re publicans and ledeialists, constituted the third division. On the 2d of’Febtiary 1819, the strength of these respective parties was developed in balloting for a Senator of the United Stars. John C. Spencer, a near relative of Air. CiiiHou ami supported by bis interest, had si.rty-one votes. Samuel Young, the can didate of the republican party friendly to the national administration, received /?////- si.e. voters; aud R tl f„ s King the federal candidate, who was at that time the actual incumbent of the office, received thirtij-eighf votes. At several successive ballotings, each party adhered to its own candidate, and as neitecr had a majority of the w hole votes, no election was' made during that session. Ihe great personal worth of Air. King, his patriotic .services as a member of the Convention w hich Irained the Federal Con stitution, and subsequently as Minister of Lngland from the last year of General YYasliiuyttni’s administration t,o the third year of Mr. Jellerson’s, and finally his zealous and honorable support of Governor Tompkins and of the national adniinistra tion, during the most gloomy period of the war, had won for him the high respect and confidence of the democratic party. — After the unsuccessfull attempt to elect a Senator in 1819, Col. Young declined be ing any longer a candidata. The attention ofhis political friends was then directed to Air. King, whom they were strongly dispo sed to support, provided it could be done without suspicion of an improper coalition with his federal friends, and w ithout hazard ing the prospect of a democratic ascenden cy in the legislature. 1 In December 1819, a pamphlet entitled ‘ ‘ Considerationsin favor of the appointment of Rufus King, to the Senate of the United States,” was addressed to the republican members of the Legislature of New-York by “one of their colleagues.” It was understood to be from the pen of Mr. Van Buren : and as it contains, not merely an exposition of the reasons for bis support of Air. King but also discriminating views of the federal party, aud a distinct expression of the great rule of action w his;h has guided his political life, to wit a scrupulous obser servance of the will of bis constituents, — die following passages are extracted from it. “ To the Republican members of the Legis lature of the State of New York. “ A fellow member, who knows, and is personally known to most of you, who ! has from his infancy, taken a deep n erest in the honor and prosperity of the party to which yon belong, and who, if’ he has ever erred in his labors to promote its best inter est, has erred from defect ofjudgement and not from a want of devotion to the cause, i ventures lo addres vou on the subject of the choice of Senator to represent this state ■ in the Legislature of the Union. “ The state of parties, the character and standing of the most prominent candidate for your favor, the general aspect of politi cal affairs, and a variety of concurring cir cumstances, render the subject one ofcon ceded delicacy, and not entirely free from difficulty. It is, notwithstanding, one on which will be our duty soon to act ; and all experience demonstrates, that nothing i» so well calcu lated to a judicious exercise of’power, as a free, frank, and unrestrained discussion of the subjects of it; and nothing, certainly, better comports with the character, or is more congenial to the feelings of freeman, than that those discussions should be atten ded with all possible publicity. It is with those convictions and upon the impuls of such feelings, that this examination is utider dertaken. “ YY'hen this question was presented to the Legislature at their last session; the names of several of our friends, who are rich in the esteem and congdence of repub licans, were spoken of, and one was actually voted for to fill the existing vacancy. It ! is satisfactory ascertained that all those ! gentlemen, for reasons which it is unnsces- I sary lisre to slate, but which are of a nature , reflecting upon them the highest honor, which evince an entire devotion to our cause, and entitle them to a continuance of our best opinion, are unwilling to bo re garded as candidates for the station, and are desirous that our attention shotiid be directed to another quarter. “In consequence of the general under standing, w hich has obtained, as to the views of the gentlemen of whom I have spo ken, and from other causes, the only name which has, for some lime past, been held up to public view, and occupied the public mind, as connected with the subject, is that of RUFUS KING, —in whose favor their has been, apparently, a spontaneous, and, ceratinly, a very extensive expression of public sentiment. “Having learned from experience, to place almost implicit confidence in the gen eral justice and ultimate wisdom of die pre dominant sentiments of the republican party, 1 have felt it my duty scrupulously to ob serve the indication of these sentiments on this interesting subject ; and I am entirely satisfied that I am not mistaken when I say, that the republicans of this state think &. feel that the support of Air. King, at this time, would bean.net honorable to themselves, advantageous to the country, and just to him ; and that the only reluctance which they have to a public avowal of their sen timents in his favored, arises from the com mendable apjirebensions that their deter mination to support him, under existing circumstance, might subject them to the suspicious of having become a party to a political bargain, to one of those sinister communication ol principle for power w hich they think common with their adversaries, and against which they have remonstrated with becoming spirit. “ I have no hesitation in declaring my sentiments tube in unison with those which j believe generally to prevail among the republicans of the state ; and 1 cannot but avow my conviction that this apprehension, which evinc.s an honorable solicitude to avoid even the imputation of the errors ol their opponents, is without adequate cause, and can be fully obviated. “Although the rule may, possibly, in some instances be carried too far, it is cer tainly tine, that the conduct of public men, who were in active life, or in a situation to he so, during the last war, has been, and will, unavoidably, long continue to be the test of their claims to public confidence and support. “The federalists of that day may justly and, by the historian of the lime, will prob ably be divided into three classes; the hirst, consisting oftliose w ho, influenced by strong prediliction for the enemy, and instigated by the most envenomed malignity against the administration of their own govern ment, adopting “rule or ruin,” for their motto, exercised an industry and perse verance worthy of a belter wse, to para- puwiiAMfifcsj aev i,. rcYmitc n. wssoli: iw. lyze the arms of their own government and encot.yage the hopes of the (be. Ihe second class w , composed of a v< ry numerous and respectable portioi , "ho, inured to opposition, and heated by collision, were poorly qualified to judge dispassionately ot the measures of goverir ment; wh<>, deemed the declaration of war impolitic in the linn state of the country, aud were not as well satisfied, as subse quent reflection has rendered them, of its justice and indispensable necessity; who were deceived, too, by sippearances, and by the bold and confident denunciations of their leaders of the first class, into a be lief that their on n government was partial to I' rance averse to peace with Britain, and who froui tliecausesl have enumerated, aided by that strong desire to supplant their political opponents, w hich is common tosdl parties, were induced to make al) the oppo sition to government which they lawfully could, within the pale of the constitution. “ In the third class, are included all those who, entertaining a correct sense of their country’s rights, a lively sensibility for her wrongs, and a suitable spirit to defend the former, and redress the latter, rose superior to the prejudices and passions of those with w hom they once acted, and throwing down the weapons of party warfare, enrolled themselves under the banners of their coun try. “Those whom I have first designated, display ed their principles, and gave earnest of their designs, by assisting at, or abet ting, the ever memorable convention at Hartford, and those preceding efforts of factious opposition, which were connected with it. The rising indignation of the American people, however, retarded the ex ecution ol their designs until peace put an end to their prosecution. Their labors led to the same results w ith those of their pro totypes of the revolution ; and as their mo tives were less pure, and their conduct less excusable, they have reaped a u ore abun dant harvest of public obloquy and disgrace. “Many of those inclndedin the second class, whatever may have been the extent of their delusion at the moment, and how ever strong the infatuation by which they were Lliiided, would, at all times, have shrunk from the abandonment of the ac knowledged interests of their country, and have, subsequently, embraced eveiv op portunity .to testify their devotion to the’ public interest. There is, moreover, good reason to believe, that they will all, in due seasoij, be found to have embarked in the same cause with the republicans of the stall', and of the union. Nor Lave we failed, and, I hope, we never shall fail, in becoming liberality of sentiment, towards that portion of our fellow citizens, oi in ex ercising that respectful deference for the freedom of opinion, which should ever characterize the conduct of men, who, ac tuated by [lure motives themselves, are sen sible of “thesafety with which error of <>- pinion may be tolerated when reason is left free to combat it.” “As to the merits of that description of federalists, who are embraced in the third class, there has hot been, nor can there ever be a diversity of opinion among us. If we look back to that period which, a second time, “tried men’s souls,” as the pri udest of our lives, they also have reason to exult in the rucollection ofthe parts they respecl ively acted in ihose interesting scenes. “It is true, they have not the merit of advising to the commencement of the war, a warby w hich the fame, the honor, the true iulen sts of our common country, hate been so much advanced;- but that circum stance alone ought not to impair their claims to the respect and confidence of their (el low citizens. “ It was fully compensated by the alacri ty with which they lent their aid to an ad ministration which had so recently been the object ol their warmest opposition, the mo ment they found the question to be between their ow n country and a foreign (oe. They acted, as it had been fondly hoped the whole American people would have acted ; nor were the administratio. s ot' the Gener al and slate Government::, at the close of the war, backward in bestowing the proud est respect, on those whose conduct had been thus meritorious. “ It is true, that, in so doing, they have in some instances been deceived and disap pointed, in selecting, (or high public sta tions, men who have not that stamina us character they were supposed to possess; but who, rendered giddy iy their sudden elevation,’ and torgctlul of the sources of that power which they ascended, w ill soon fall, with their master spirit in whose legion they are enrolled, ‘ never to rise again.’ “These arb circumstances, however, which can, at most, produce a trancieni re gret, lor the folly mid*w eakness of the.,e in fatuated men. Such consequences are n*t always to be avoided ; but thev are soscep- ' tible of easy and prompt correction. Thev donot tend, in the least, to impair the high credit which isjttstly due to the republicans of the stat,e and Union, for the course tiie adopted in regard io the p< rsous hq\V question. .• iiat course had ('or its ybjjyci not the particular benefit of these indiv nli. ' alsonly; but was meant to eyewpl.ify tl.-... general justice of our policy to. them* an I te shew the rest o( our co'uijtrytner, that whilst we Icttdly and igcyarably’coinieim cd the remissness of g portion of our fellow citizens, in d’iscl W ging the gn at dni’n they owed to thyit; country, we dealt ot.i justice with an even hand, and wetg as ret.r, dy to ajqfl.aud as condemn,. “ I here has been, however, one exccj lion in this liberal polii y, and it is an e. ceptiou o( no ordinary character, It is(s person ol Itufus lying, i Lc darn cloud w hich pm-, po/itu-al horijon, in the ffill of 1814 x s.ttm | w ith dismay and terror, some of the liiW'W Ol our patriots. The disasters w hich L\ . oelallen us, the difficulties w hich beset, m he dangers which threatened our courv v troin every quarter, have made itnpies.-i