Phelps, Thaddeus. Queer six bank and free trade, proves of Duane's refusal 119; against sub-treasury and letter by 174; Livingston on 178; Hoyt's surety 194; 238 261. Phillips, Joshna. Leaves Custom Ho. 133; how he and Aaron N. got into it 216. Prendergast, Jedish. duct toward him 52. Pickens, Frances W. timore 293. Van Buren and Young's con 69. Pise, Dr. Constantine. Blair's picture by 144; at Bal On Church and State Unions Pitcher, General Nath'l. Davis on V. B's usage of 80, 81; on banks 86; reason for V. B's mistrust of 154; ib. 207; in opposition 234. Planters' B'k of Mississippi. Deposites in 124. on Poindexter, George. Votes ag't Stevenson 98; Woodbury and Hoyt 149; Webb for fighting 232. Poinsett, J. R. opposes the Crawford Caucus 55: 200.000 militia plan by 145; notice of 203; in Mexico 279. Polish exiles. Vote on aiding 131. for pets 141; on militia plan 145; east room and 201, 211; Rives, William C. bank ISI. Robinson, Peter. Put down for honest voting 94; 205. Rochester, William B. receives equivocal support for gov'r 82; suspicious conduct of V. B. to 201. Rogers, Halsey. For 6 million bank 27; 130. 27; impeaches Judge Van Ness 28; votes ag't V. Buren ROOT, ERASTUS. Votes on six million b'k and bonus the people 57; on a land jobbing bank 114; 183; for Pitfor bank enquiry 35; 87; 48; for presidential electors by cher 205; Webb for 221; Cambreleng dislikes 234; 254; on blacks 274; anti-slavery 278; Spencer to 305. Rowan, Judge John, Ky. 200. POLK, JAMES KNOX. On private papers 10; duly appreciates the Hoyt correspondence-selects Morris as P. M. 11; rejects Coddington 12; keeps Record Clerks Rudd, Theron. Defalcation of 134. 13; keeps Butler in office, tho' dishonest: why 36; Ruggles, Benj. of Ohio. Rejects V. B. 112. 41; 47; his inaugural on Texas and Slavery 59; nativRuggles, Philo. A friend of peace 210. ism elected 70; Wetmore and 90; 97; at h'd of ways Rush, Richard. For Cass as president 104. and means 98; t's Buchanan from Congress 98; 105; J. Buchanan, W. Wilkins, C. C. Cambreleng, G. M. Russian Embassy $18,000 first year) John Randolph, 116; notice of 123; 124; V. Buren's pet bank cham- Dallas accept 100; W. J. Duane and S. D. Ingham refuse pion 130 to 134; on Oregon 131; pays Hoffman all arib. and 110; Adams's motion on 101; Duane and Jackrears 131-2: refuses aid to exiles 131; opposes subtreasury 134; 141; is its leading advocate !!!; checks bank enquiry 135; condemns land speculation, but suggests no remedy 150; his N. Y. Dist. Attorney and the Patroon 158-9 [and see Butler]; Butler, Hoyt's sureties and 194; 271; lat. 49° and 272; 's nativeism 272; O'Connell to 273; on colonial system 279; changed 280; Noah's dislike to, ib.; dislikes V. Buren 291; his pledges and nomination at Baltimore 292 to 298; and Blair 300; chooses Ritchie 301; on postage 301; Beach, Texas and 306. Post-office. Porter, Governor David. Weed, the bank and 298. Poter, Peter B. Vote on F. and M. bank 86. 'POSTAGE. 4; Tyler secures cheap 11i; advantages of 301. Espionage system in 11; Van Buren makes political machinery of it 30. Powers, James. Votes against city b'k, Buffalo 90. Prall, Ichabod. Swartwout on appraisers 223. Price, Wm. M. 112; 220: Hoyt shuns him 250; 257. PRINTING. See Croswell-Leake-Cantine-BlairRitchie-Southwick - Hill - Evening Post - Newspa pers. Private Banking. Flagg on 176; Tracy for 179. Franklin and 304. Proscription, Political. V. B. for 112. PUBLIC LANDS. How to stop monopoly, and lay out new states 150; Jackson desired to stop monopoly in 263; Dallas on 298; American Co. 308. Purdy, Elijah F. 131; 220. Quackenboss, Mangle M. (surety for Swartwout] 219. Randolph, John. Envoy to Russia 100; on U. S. Bank 129; on Canada 283. Randolph, Thos. Jefferson. 240 on slavery 276. Redfield, Heman J. Votes to expel Clinton from canal board 53; and agst the people, as one of the immortal 17-57; votes for party banks 87; Glinton w'd not noninate 203. Reese, Major. A very honest bank commissioner is 94. Reform. Its gigantic strides over Britain and Ireland 46, 47; ib. 272. Rejon, Manuel C. On U. S. Mexican policy 65. Religious Freedom. Increase of, in United Kingdom 47. Representative System. 2. Repudiation of Debts. Foreign creditors on 267. Revolution of 1776. Walpole an admirer of 48. Riggs, Isaac. Votes agst. Clinton's removal from the canal board 52; and to give the people the choice of Electors 57. RITCHIE, THOMAS. 12; for Crawford and the U. S. bank 78; prophecies truly 83; on hribing M. C's with office 97 to 100; Stevenson's case 98; Cass and 103; ap son 122; Dallas and 298. Safety Fund. See State of N. Y. Safety Fund. St. Lawrence, Navigation of the 111, 112; carrying trade ria, ib. Sandford, C. W. Asks Throop to appoint Wetmore Q. M. G. 226. to Sandy Hill. Beauty, banking, law and Butler, at 151 Savage, Chief Justice. On Sol. Van Rensselaer 82. 15. Secret Correspondence. 10 to 12. Search Warrant 11. Sedgwick. Theodore. On Texas 63. Selden, Dudley. Votes aid to exiles 131; and agst Polk's pet banks 134; Flagg agst. 173; letter on V. B., Calhoun, &c. 226; Stilwell on 227; 231. Seymour, Horatio, Vt. Votes to reject V. B. 112. ters 65. Slade, William. Votes agst. Polk's treasury pets 134. Slamin, Levi D. Note on reform by 15; Customs, advertising to 147. SLAVERY OF COLOR-NEGRO BONDAGE. Blotted bank borrowing 90, 91. Smith, T. L. Objects to V. B.'s Safety Fund 92; Coddington on 208; wont be P. M. 242. 57; sufferings by the Union 61; votes for V. Buren as South Carolina. Choice of Electors not by the People Prest. 112. scribes V. Buren 26; tried for bribery 27; set up for goSouthwick, Solomon. Van Buren's friend 22; he devernor by a trick 81; his removal from post office 81 to 83; V. B. on his vote 205; on Canada 284. Speight, Jesse. On Eaton and Jackson 110. by 99; for economy 190; on com. law 305. Starr, Chandler. Safety Fund report on, by 89. Stebbins, Charles. Notice of 93, 94, ULS. INDEX. VAN. xi Stevenson, Andrew. In Crawford minority caucus 55; | Ulshoeffer, Michael. For bank inquiry 35; cunning tacked in Senate 171. Stilwell, Silas M. 197; wants a place-notice of 213; wants more places 220; on S. Cambreleng 226; on Selden 227 for U. S. Bank 241. Stockholders of Banks. For liability of 85; on do. 86; notions about in Georgia 229. Stockjobbing. 85 to 87; Cambreleng 102, 142; 125-6; Young 128; 137, 138; $80,000 cleared 142; Nevins explains it 189; J. Van Buren on 251; 254-5. Stranahan, Col. Farrand. Votes to expel Clinton from Canal Board 53; and as one of the immortal 17, 57; bank votes 87. Strong, George D. 248. Strong, J. H. Saved from ruin in state library 170. Strong, T. R. A bank non-receiver 91. SUB-TREASURY. Polk and Blair denounce it 131, 140, 112; they admire and support it!!!, Hoyt and Allen putting it in force tby way of mockery) 139; Calhoun on 140; Jackson against it 141; for it!!!; Ritchie is afraid of it 142; Walker trying it 142; Hoyt's 179; notice of 182; Marcy, &c. on 207; in war 293. Sudam, John. Votes, 1824, to remove Clinton from Canals 53; and as one of the immortal 17, 57; letter and notice of 199. Sumner, Charles. On negro equality 274. Sutherland, Dr. Joel B. 93; votes on pet banks 134; principal follows interest with (a letter) 182; notice of, ib.; Cambreleng on 233, 234. Sutherland, Judge Jacob. 170, 171. Swartwout, Robert. On the Chemical Bank 33. SWARTWOUT, SAMUEL. 44; agent for Burr 62: for Jackson 63, 64; embezzles revenue wholesale 133; in scramble for plunder 209: puffs Burrows 222; his effort for fair appraisements 223: to Woodbury for nephew 228; part of his default started Blair 233; letters on Texas, to Gen. Houston, Col. Thorne, Breedlove, 259 to 261; his brother's toast 284. Talcott, Gen. S. A. Butler on 170. Elected Lieut. Governor Tallmadge, Nathaniel P. Votes for Stevenson 98; 111 on Marcy and Sub-Treasury 207; to Hoyt 257. Tammany $500,000 Bank. By Stephen Allen, to help chartered democrats 241. Taney, Roger B. How to get to be chief justice 76, 122; 123; 126; Adams's amusing vote of thanks to 135; opinion on U. S. Bank to Butler 171. Targee, John. Hamilton's $200 and 205; 211. Temple, Robert E. (Adjutant General), brother-in-law of S. T. Van Buren. 20. Tennessee. Union Bank of, deposits in 124. TEXAS. Polk upon 59; 61; Channing to Clay on 63; Van Buren's policy to 64; 281; Calhoun's course as to 64 to 66: 143; Swartwout and 259 to 261; slavery in 272; Clay on 273; Baltimore resolve 294; Young on 296; Ritchie for 301; Beach on and off 306-7. Thurston L. M. Jesse's clerk, his brother-in-law, and mock surety for $200,000-194. Thomas, David. Tried for bribery 27. Thompson, Jonathan. Removed from Custom House by Jackson 44: at request of politicians 211; 216; appointed Wasson 220. Throop, Enos T. On banks 89 132; notice of 207-8; 211 voted for United States Bank charter 248. Throop, George B. Bank votes, 1829-93. Tibbitts, Elisha. Webb on 102; 112; Bennett on 222; his bank plan 232, 233. Tompkins, Daniel D. Opposes bank charters 26, 27. Tonawanda, Bank of. 91. Townsend Robert. Croswell on 147. Tradesmen's Bank, N. Y. Vote on 86; a treasury pet 124; Barker for 192. Treasury Notes. Issued by Van Buren 137. Truth Teller newspaper. 238. Tyler, Robert. Note to Mackenzie 9. Tyler, John. 98; national bank veto by 111; votes for Van Buren as envoy to England 112; on interfering with the press 215. Ulehoeffer, Henry. Custom House espionage, Boggs too democratic, scandal retailed, Shourt the cartman, table talk, Westervelt, bad Whigs 264 265. UNITED STATES BANK. Van Buren party, friends and enemies of 74 to 78; Monroe, Madison, and Marshall on 75, 76; Van Buren against 105; its claim to the deposits 114, 115; Harrison's death stopped a third 121; treasury deposits and 131 to 134; shares unduly affected 142; Butler against the PRESENT one 171; Hoyt's stock in 185; Nevins the broker against 189; Cambreleng's war against 230-wanted Tibbitts's plan 232-a national bank 233; Webb and Noah's loan from 235; A. Ward on 239; S. Allen and C. Livingston for it 241; Wright, Lawrence, Hoyt, &c. on 247-8-9; the Dallases on 297; Weed on 298. United States Constitution. Its imperfections 55, 56. U. S. Navy. 7; enormous sinecure captaincies, &c. 149; Swartwout, note, 228. Declare U. S. Bank legal 76; U. S. Supreme Court. too costly for the people 303. Upshur, A. P. On Texas as a slave mart 65. Usury Laws, Young against, 130; Burke on, 149; Flagg and Livingston on, 176; Cutting on, 177. Van Alen, James I. Van Buren's half-brother, sent to Congress, &c., 21, 22; 190. Van Buren, Abraham and Mary. tin, 18 to 20. Parentage of Mar. Van Buren, Abraham jr., marries, 20. Van Buren, Abraham (brother of president) 190. VAN BUREN, JOHN marries, 20; attorney to a bank, 85; might make bad banks better! 94; Marcy's mort. gage and message, 125-6; 142; notice of, 147-8; identifies Webb, is screened by W. T. McCoun, is partner with J. McKown, gets $1250 for assisting at Boughton's trials! 48; is attorney-general by caucus, ib.; letters, 202, 205; borrows of Hoyt, 244; swears and spells, 216; secret hints to-buying stocks-cursing-borrowing-Whipple, 250; stockjobbing, 252-3; betting, 255; more gambling, 256; more yet, 257; borrows and speculates, 261; begs Jesse's aid, 262. VAN BUREN, MARTIN, 7; 17; his birth, parentage, connexions, habits, marriage, sons, 19, 20; licensed as a lawyer-takes office-political moves, 21, 22; intrigues for banks, and becomes director of Hudson bank, 23, 24; sets up as a hard money man, 25; as a soft, 32; Southwick on, 26 and 263; on 6 mill b'k, 27 ; appointed Attorney-General, 28; chosen senator for Columbia Co., ib.; votes for Clinton to be President, 29; interferes with the Post-Office, 30; swerves from truth as to his Bank votes, 31; charters the old Buffalo bank, 32; against a specie clause, ib.; his and Cantine's bank intrigues, 34, 35; he puts down Bank inquiry, 35; saves the Washington and Warren bank charter, votes against taxing Bank stock, and for two bank charters, 37, 38; his manœuvres, ib.; for Auburn Bank, ib.; abhors bank knavery, 42; the right hand man to Clinton, 1812, 44; for and against a caucus, ib.; gives Bleecker office, ib: explanations of his war conduct, 45, 46; urges on Clinton, then deserts himAmbrose Spencer on, 48, 49; Clinton expelled from the Canal Board, 50 to 53; traduces Clinton when alive, lauds him when dead, 54; his sense of justice, or the Prendergast vote, 52; on district elections, 56; his Crawford caucus 55 to 58; ditto 195; Catholics and 70; in U. S. Senate, 72; on imprisonment 72; on internal improvement, ib.; character of. 73; for a U. S Bank and not for it. 75 to 78; petitions Biddle for U. S. branch bank, 79; Davis on, 80, 81; regulating the Post-Office, 81 to 83; for Clay and Adams, 83; his safety fund, 84 to 95 governor, 88; against banks, 89; Stevenson for. 98; selects offices from Congress, 101; the freedom, 101; claims on France and, 105; Jackson's cabinet quarrel and 106, to 111; Crawford intrigue and, 108; Branch and Webb on, 109, 110; goes envoy to London, 111; rejected by U. S. senate, 112; proscription by, ib.; elected V. P., 113; on pet banks, 114 to 126; to McLane on do., 120; electioneers, 124; dodges votes, 129; on bank debts, ib.; Young for, 130; for and not for b'k restriction, 138; for money well mixed, 139; sub-treasury and, 142; endorses Blair, 143; examples in style, 144; profligate expenditure of, 144 to 149: standing army of 200,000, 145; meanness in money, 149 and !!!; Butler and, 153, 154, 160 to 165; toasted as an Erskine, 166; letters of, 183, 184; his terror about $15, 185; letters, 186-7-8, 190; on Albany Argus, 190; xii WEB. INDEX. YUL. Webber, Robert. 9, 12, 223. Europeans 71, on currency 78, on U. S bank 92, vote offices in family, ib.; Barker on, 192; on party, 196; V. B. 231, would fight Poindexter 232, his card, ib., on letters on Noah, Clay and Adams-is sure of Craw- Marcy's nomination 235, on private letters 236, Ritchie's 4 ford's success-Noah on V. B., 197, 198; Telegraph, complaint against 240, describes C. W. Lawrence 247, endorsing, visiting Crawford, 200: suspicious course bets $1500-255. tow'ds Rochester, 201; Wright's letter on the spoils to, 203; letters on election of '28, Noah, bets, &c., 204-5; on Providence, Butler, Westervelt, 206; Marcy saved, Westervelt saves, 207; Bryan Farrell, Hoyt and, 211; Noah on, 214; on Hoyt's bad inanners, 216; educated Hoyt, ib.; on Mackenzie, 222; to Hoyt from London, 229; Webb would fight for, 231, 232; Bennett and Europeans, 236; electioneering, 237; Bennett on-on Bennett, 245; on Swartwout, 250; Godwin on, 251; on Whigs, &c., 257; notes, 258; takes Plaindealer, 262; help for God's sake, ib.; on Amistead negroes, 274; Leggett on slavery, outrage and, 277; slavery in Missouri and, 278; coasting trade in slaves and, 279; Čuba and, ib.; agt. colonial settlements, ib.; Canada proclamation by, 280, 289; on annexation, 281; Iowa and, 282; failure, 1840, 282; author's imprisonment and, 290 for Polk, Dallas and, of course, Texas, 295; electioneering, 302; agt. cheap law, 304-5; agt. a convention, 305; Bank of Hudson and, 307. Van Buren, Martin, letters by, 30, 70, 72, 79. Van Buren, Smith Thompson, marries, 20. Vanderpoel, Judge Aaron, votes for Polk's pet banks, 134; notice of-to Hoyt, 262-3. Vanderpoel, James (Vice Chancellor), 20; deals in stocks, 252. Van Dieman's Land Prisoners. 287. Van Ness, Cornelius P. 9, 10, 12 to 14, V. B. to against slavery 279. Van Ness, William P. 19, on Society-U. S. Judge, New York 23, his clerk embezzles $118,000, on foreigners 70, in Hudson bank 23 and 307. Van Ness, Judge W. W. Tried for bribery 27, 28, Butler's opinion of 164, Van Rensselaer, Solomon. Van Buren tries to prevent his appointment as P. M. 82, 83, E. Livingston on 186. Van Rensselaer Stephen (the Young Patroon). Butler's wine debauch with 40, ditto 158. Van Schaick, Myndert Van. Voted for city bank, Buffalo 90, for national bank 241. Verplanck, Gulian C. On bank deposits 131, 185, notices of 202, 205, note 206, what pledge? 242, candidate for mayor 247, on equity law 303. Veto on Laws. Should it not be in the people? 2, bad use of this power by Van Buren 146 to 149. Virginia. Valuing Texas as a slave mart 65, Randolph, &c. on slavery in 276, 279, Ritchie and 298 to 301. Votes, Voting. Young on 127. Walker, Robert J. On Hoyt letters 12, retains Coryell and Goldson 13, notice of 98, on banks-appointments by 99, naval office under 132, Butler and, at Baltimore 294 Walsh, Michael. A legal contrast 302. Walworth, Reuben H. Applies for a Plattsburgh bank charter 34, action on weak safety fund banks 90, his broken bank receivers 94, his bushel basket 170. Wesley, John. A missionary in Ga. 296. Westchester Politics. A word on 238, Marcy on 237 Westervelt, Dr. V. B. praises 206, Pitcher upset 207. Webb's objection to 224 to 226, Sandford for 226. to Wetmore, Prosper M. 22, for city bank, Buffalo 90, Swartwout about Spicer, Ogsbury, &c. 243-4, on organizing board of brokers 261. canal board 52, for popular elections 57, 169, 189, notice Wheaton, Henry. Votes to expel Clinton from the of 195, 196, on Canada 284. White, Campbell P. Votes the deposits to the pets Whitney, Stephen. Against U. S. bank. Why? 171. banks 134. Wickliffe, Robert, of Ky. Wilde, Richard H. of Ga. 134. immortal 17-57. On executive corruption by Report of, agst Polk's pets Wilkin, Samuel J. Votes in assembly against the Williams, Sherrod. V. Buren to, 30, 77, 88, 114. Windt, John, and Evans Geo. Their simple plan to protect land settlers and stop monopoly 150. Wise, Henry A. Admirable exposé of Woodbury's bank suspensions 124; shameful neglect of important Woodworth, John. Tompkins's casting vote agst. 28; Worth, Gorham A. 85; Butler on 165; 192. WRIGHT, SILAS. Anti-Renters and 14; he endorses Butler 41; voted in senate to drive Clinton from the canal board 53; and with the immortal 17, 57; to keep power far from the People 57; bank votes by 87; praises safety fund 93; vote for Stevenson [principle involved] 98; on the pet' banks 120; on U. S. B'k. 121; for and $2100 to J. Van Buren for assisting at four trials 248; agt. sub-treasury and pets 139, 140; divides the spoils' Ca-old land co. 1835, 149; to speak strongly for Butler, in abt. 197; political letters by 201 to 204; against betting senate 171; Cutting on electing 182; pledge 189; note 205; 208; 213; Bennett and 221; instructs Hoyt and his Texas face 281; on slavery 301; 2 terms and 302; 216; Godwin on 251; Potter and 254; Hoyt and 259; on law 303; on convention 305. WAR. Conventions prevent 3, opinions on 4, 136. WAR of 1812. Duane on 4, Van Buren and Clinton's conduct in 44 to 48, closing scenes in 268 to 270, in nada 283 to 285. WAR WITH ENGLAND. Brownson on 144, would stop reform there 266, signs of 267, the school of experience 258 to 270, penalties of 270, Moore on 289. Ward, General Aaron. Votes aid to Polish exiles 131, Wasson, Geo. A. Wants to keep in Custom Ho. 220. 48; on the canals 53; his opinions, ib.; on district elec- WEBE, J. W. On U. S. Justice 6, on Hoyt and But-lars 173; plan of banking by 176; on usury 177; 178; ler 18, on Cambreleng 101, 102, on the Eaton troubles 110, 142, J. V. B. swears to 148, Bennett on 221-2, Mackenzie and 222, office-hunting with Noah 224-5, to Hoyt 230, for V. B. and Jackson--would fight for V. B-he paints! Wright on 203; notice of 234; Godwin on 251; on black troops 274; against slavery in Mo. 278; on slavery 281; on Polk and Dallas 296. Yulee (or Levy) David. To annex Cuba 106. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTIN VAN BUREN. Dedication. CHAPTER I. The State Convention at Albany. Checks on Legislation. Con ventions prevent wars. Republics should be pacific. Cheap Postage an important Educational measure. The adder's stone. Administration of Justice in the U. S. THIS volume, like its predecessor, the Lives of Butler and Hoyt, is respectfully inscribed to the Electors of the Convention, which is to assemble in June next, for the revision of the Constitution of the State of New York. The unanimity with which that great measure has been supported at the polls, affords ground for good hope that the delegates about to be elected will be united and zealous in their endeavours for perfecting those cherished Institutions, formed upon popular integrity and intelligence, which the array of facts in these pages, under the title of the Life and Times of Martin Van Buren, too clearly proves to have failed, in many respects,* to secure to the people the practical advantages of those equal civil and religious rights, which they nominally confer, under any administration. The Constitution of 1821, was, in some respects, . like those which failed in France, the work of factions; some of the leaders in each, striving so to remodel the instrument as would best conduce to the great object in view, the attainment of power and its many advantages by themselves and their followers; but I trust that it is yet reserved to the new world to convince the old, that men can continue peaceably and happily to subsist under the regime of rational liberty and legal equality, with equal and exalted justice *The correspondence of Edmund Burke, lately published, shows what he thought of popular movements, how they must be directed, and what would be the fate of the people of England, Ireland and Scotland, if no men could be found both able and willing to bear the heat and burden of the day. The history of Mr. Van Buren and his unworthy confederates will show, what sordid selfishness and an ambition without patriotism and love of virtue, can achieve, when united with plausible manners, great perseverance, skill in the management of parties, and the tact to amuse them with false issues. Mr. Burke wishes to counteract this activity of a few for evil by showing what may be done by the union of great minds for the advancement of the general good. He says:-"To bring the people to a feeling, to such a feeling, I mean, as tends to amendment or alteration of system, there must be plan and management. All direction of public humor and opinion must originate in a few. Perhaps a good deal of that humor and opinion must be owing to such direction. Events supply materials; times furnish dispositions; but conduct alone can bring them to bear to any useful purpose. I never yet knew an instance of any genera! temper in the nation that might not have been traced to some particular persons. If things are left to themselves, it is my clear opinion that a nation may slide down fair and softly from the highest point of grandeur and prosperity to the lowest state of imbecility and meanness, without any one's marking a particular period in this declension, without asking a question about it, or in the least speculating on any of the innumerable acts which have stolen in this silent and insensible revolution. Every event so prepares the subsequent, that when it arrives it produces no surprise, nor any extraordinary alarm. I am certain that if pains, great and immediate pains, are not taken to prevent it, such must be the fate of this country." IT NOT EASIER TO CHOOSE GOOD MEASURES THAN GOOD MEN? dispensed to all. "The rational foundation of all government-the origin of a right to govern and a correlative duty to obey-is neither original contract, proprietary right, nor prescription-it is expediency-the general benefit of the community." I hear the people of the United States spoken of, by judges, legislators, executives, and authors, by those in, and those in expectation of office, as being wise, enlightened, and capable of acting for their own interests; and as they are empowered to choose presidents, governors, congressmen, senators, sheriffs, &c., their ability to discriminate, to refuse the evil and choose the good, is conaded. If, then, brother electors, you are capable of choosing the best men, how much more so the best measures! Would it not be well worth the enquiry, whether laws of a general character, and affecting every body, ought not to be subjected to the votes of the constituencies before they take effect? Would not that be a more republican check on such wholesale wickedness as the life of Van Buren discloses in legislative halls? The veto of a Jackson, a Tyler, or a Van Buren, may be right-so may that of a Bouck, a Marcy, a Porter, a Throop, or a Wright-but is it not anti-republican ? The governor of this state, and the president of the United States have monarchical power-they can resist-veto-and often do resist the will of the community as expressed by a majority. In the oligarchy of Venice, the doge was only a member of a council-he could not oppose the will of the majority; but under the monarchical part of our system, the governor or president, surrounded by power, patronage and place, in aid of influencing a re-election or choice of succession, can oppose a measure which the people may require-this opposition cannot be got rid of by the vote of a majority of their representatives-it can only be overcome by a vote of two to one, while the immense patronage of the courts of Washington or Albany, and often of both of them united for one object, is available to prevent that vote. I have been a close observer of the workings of legislative bodies-was long an active member-and have ever been a warm admirer of the representative system. To instruct the delegate, where the law is passed without the veto power of those bound to obey it, is perhaps essential, but the check is imperfect. and inefficient. To send a representative to hear and argue and reason and then make up his mind, and while doing this to instruct him to vote and argue in this way, or that; to oblige him to reason and vote, it may be against the dictates of his judgment and conscience; to place the determination ahead of the discussion; to have one set of men who do not hear the arguments, decide, tho' hundreds of miles distant, that which another set of men have been specially appointed to enquire into and conclude upon, after full investigation, is perhaps not the best way to arrive at the truth. If you can select a governor, brother electors, are you not also capable of judging of the fitness of a bill agreed upon by your representatives, whether it is for the public interest that it should become a law? A few men may be, and as these pages will show, often have been corrupted, and have deeply wounded your feelings and trampled on your rights. The great body of the people are manly, pure, honest, sincere, and have but one interest-the public welfare. Consider, then, my friends, whether the veto power in iegislation would not be safer in your hands than in those of any president or governor whom the efforts of party leaders, in times of excitement, may elevate to power. I do not say it would be, but surely this is the time for giving to the question a careful consideration. Such a change would effectually check hasty and improvident legislation-there would be no need to tie the citizens of each county down to the choice of representatives residing in the same county as themselves -that question might be safely left to their own discretion. Neither need thes |