Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1883 — A Cautious Politician. [ARTICLE]

A Cautious Politician.

During the political life of Martin Van Buren, he was assailed by such epithets as “The Little Magician,’’“The Kinderhook Fox.” These epithets derived their oftenseiveness from the fact that Mr. Van Buren was inclined to act upon Talleyrand’s maxim, “Language is given us to conceal our thoughts, ” and was very cautious about committing himself to an opinion. The following anecdote illustrates his peculiarities: When Secretary of State he once wrote a letter, but before sealing it he handed it to one of his clerks in the department to read. “I want you to read this letter and tell me what you think of it, ” said the Secretary. The clerk politely obeyed, and returned the letter, saying that it was as unintelligible to him as if it had been written in Chaldee or Greek. The Secretary smiled as he received it, saying,- “That will do, I think it will answer,” and seemed as much pleased as a man who has invented a cryptogram of which he alone had the key. His non-committalism was a standing joke among his friends. Once a knot of politicians was discussing his claims to the Presidency on board an Albany day-boat. In discussing his private character, one of the gentlemen remarked that he was one of the most non-committal men that ever lived. When the boat landed at Kinderhook, to the surprise of the party Van Buren stepped on board. In order to test the point of discussion a wager was laid between two of the politicians that Van Buren would not give a categorical answer to the simplest question that could be propounded. One of the party was deputed to go to the “Fox” and ask a question which had been agreed on. When the question was asked—“ Mr. Van Buren, in order to settle a dispute, can you tell us where the sun rises ?” the latter hemmed and hesitated, and presently said, “The terms east and west are conventional, but— ’* “Hold on, that will do,” interrupted the other; “I have lost the bet. ”