Rising Sun Times, Volume 2, Number 98, Rising Sun, Ohio County, 26 September 1835 — Page 1

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BIOGRAPHY. IAHTIN VAN UUUi:N. Martix Van Biv.ex was horn at Kinderhook, iu (he comity of (Ylum bin, and state of New Voik, on the 5th of December, lli2. He is the oldest son of Abraham Van Buren, an upright and intelligent nun, whose viituous conduct and amiable temper enabled him to pass through a long life, not only without an c-netm, hut without ever being involved in controversy. His mother, a unman of excellent sense rind pleasing manner.-:, was tw ice married, Mr. Van Buicn being her second husband. Uoth part nts were ex cluiivcly of Dultli descent; their ancestors being among the most rrspoctaHe of those emigrants from Holland, who established themselves, in the earliest period of our colonial historv, in 1 i .o anrin I settlement of K indei f oe k. They dird at advamtd ages; the f.. lher in 1814, the mother in 1818, but not until I hoy had witnessed, and, for n Beries of vents, paiticipaHd in, the prosperity of their son. The subject of this memoir di plavcd in cuily boyhood, endowments so n:perior,thnt his tarr.ily resolved to educate him for the lar. He was accordingly placed, at the age of fourteen, in the cilice ol Francis Sylve-ior. F.-q., then and a still a mu h re-pe cled resident of Kiudei kook, and at tiie time referred to, a practitioner .f the law. Prior to the conclusion of Ids term of study, he spent t 2 moMhs in the office vf William P. Van Ness, then a distinguished, lawyer anu politic ian in lhe city of New Yoik. His residence in that city afforded Mr. Van Buren opportunities of instruction and improve-! inent, superior to any that he had be-K-re et joyed; and as he was both eager in pursuing an;l apt in acquiring knowledge, lie employed these advantages with diligence and profit. lu .November, 1803, lie was licensed . an attorney cf the Supreme Court, and immediately thereafter commenced professional business in his native village, in connexion with a half brother, considerably hi- seniar. At the next term of the count v courts, lo was a I muted as attorney and counsellor, and thus enrolled hi the Columbia bar, then numbering among its member. several of the first members in the s!u;e; but the field wr.s. n ot fairly spread heforc him until his ad nissteeu as rou ice l!or ii) the Supuroe l.'c.:rt. which took p! n o in February, 1807. lie had al way s aspired to distinction at the bar; but though he h:-.d within him not only the desire, but the elements of success, he va obliged to force his wav through an opposition at once poweilul and peculiar. The political dcsscasioiis which then agitated the Union, were carried, in Columbia comity, to the greatest extremities. The title to a luge portion of the soil was vested in a lew ancient families, the founders of which hd been en lowed, during th ; colonial government, with a species of baronial pr rogative. The members of these families were generally f derahsts, and as thy carried with them most of the wealthy freeholders, and the ureal ma-s of the merchants and professional mm, thev w:'rc enabled t maintain," fr in my years, an uninterrupted ascendency in the county. Their reign was not that of toleration or liberality; on the contrary, the federalists of Columbia, partly perhaps from the spirited and indexible character cf their opponents, were among the most decided and thorough partisans in the slate. Martin Van B uren was an object, with them, of peculiar hostility. He waa plebiaa and u democrat; he was destitute of fortune and in need of patronage, and vet he would neither worship at the shrine of wealth, nor court the favor of the powerful worse than all he po scssed talents, and was not afraid to ex ert them, in the fue, and to the pr pi dice, ot his political enemies, it was therefore thought to be a matter of ii terest if not of duty, to keep him in the shade; and nothing was omitted that seemed likely to produce such a result. Undismayed by persecution, unruf fled by the petty arts of loquacity a.nd slander, and overleaping the obstacles by w hich his progress w as obstructed. Mr. an Uuren pressed forward in the race before htm. "He that geckcth to he eminent amongst able men," says Lord LWon, "hath a hard task." That task, and more that ilr. Van Ihiren undertook, for he strove not only for eminence, but mastery. There was a

KIWI A SOf, IXDIAXA, SATl'I'DAY, SEZT&HI2R iiii,

noble daring in the very attempt to cope with these formidable adversaries, which would almost have compensated for (lie want of success; but by unremitted attention to business, bv diligent preparation, and by the utmost exertion of his powers, such an issue was prevented. IJis faculties, naturally acu: w ere not only sharpened by these conflicts but invigorated and rapidlv enlarged; and was not long before li w as enabled to contend on high and equal ground, with the ablest of the croup. Thi-. ;,0vr t'ie promotion of Judco W. W Vaa N-.'ss, was Klisha William, the most celebrated jury lawyer in the stale, ami probably in the Union, then in the ptime of manhood, ?nd reailv at the zenith of his fime. In ;C00. Mr. Van lr:ren removed to the city of Huilson, which was also the residence of .ilr. Willi am-; rod from that time they divided, and for many ye irs continued to divid. , the professional bu-iress of the county. Thev steed also at the head of the political panics to which they were respectively attached. The w liter has often witnescd, in other places, displays of great forensic talent; but he has never seen causes tried with any thirg like the zor.l, the skill, or the. etl'ect, which were always exhibited at a Columbia circuit, during the period referred to. A trial heie was an intellectual combat of the oincsi order; llu: antagonists were stimulited, not only by professional duty and the love of fame, but b a rivalry political and personal, which never sell, red intermission or decline. This rivalry to yvhieh we have alluded, continued tor more than ten years; and if time and space permitted, it would be interesting, at least to the professional reader, todey elope more fully than w e can now do, the character? of the parties and the history of their contlicl.-. In the mean lim?, Mr. Van Huren had followed his distinguished rival to the higher courts, and to the tribunal of the last resort. He there encountered the first talents in the state, and with such success, that on ths republicans regaining their ascendency, he was appointed, in February, 1G15, Attorney General of the state, in the room of Abraham Van Vechtcu, then equally eminent for political sagacity and professionu! reputation, but. now reverenced a: I loved as the fither of the Now ork bar. The duties of this cilice, ana the extension vf his practice, in duced. Mr. Van Duren, in the fol lowing year, to change his residence from Hudson to Albany. From this time until bis retirement, he was de servedly ranked wiih those distinguish d civilians, to whom, in connexion with, her judiciary, the stale ow es so large a portion ot her renown. Amongt such competitors, it was impossible to acquire, still more to maintain a tn titions reputation. Mr. Van Buren's was based on mateiials the most durable. Gifted with a large share of good sense, with a quickness of appro tiensiou aimcsl inlutl've, with a nice discrimination, and yvitli great accuracy of judgment, and illustrating these qualities by powers of reasoning and oraiory rareiv surpassed, lie was pecnhai lv qualified fr the discussion of those varied and complicated questions ol law and ot tact, which are so often presented for discission in our higher tribunals. It was accordingly in the management of important cases in the upenor courts, that his most successful efforts as an advocate w ere made. His tnlent and reputation soon secured to him an extensive and lucrative business. which would doubtless have increased to the highest amount known to the mcrUan bar, if his labors in his pro Cession had not been frequently inter rupted, and at length finally suspended by his attention to political concerns. Whether before a jury, or bar, lu particulai ly excelled in the opening of hi subject. 1 he facts out ol which a rose the questions for discussion, the nature of those questions, and the mode in which he intended to treat them were always stated with great clearness and address. In the exposition of hi argument, he was usually copious and diflusive, in presenting his case m al its lights, and bringing to hear upon it every consideration which could tern to elucidate its merits or to cover its de fects. His stvlc and manner were iu diciously adapted to the character of his subject, and of his hearers; some times direct and argumentative, and at others discursive and impassioned; but

even in the management of the most abstruse b'gal lopics, he was able by the perspic uily of his statements, the aptness of his illustrations, the vivacity and force of his tone and gesture, and the felicity cf his w hole manner, to excite and retain the undivided attention of all classes of his auditors. No one was better qualified fo speak with ability and effect, upon little, or without any preparation; but no ore could be more careful or laborious in his preparatory studies. We mention this for (he purpose of reminding the junior members of the bar, that if they would emu! ite and equal the successful career we have delineated, they must rely not on genius alone, nor en genera! knowledge or a diversified experience, but on the surer aids to be derived from a perfect acquaintance with their sub-je-cr, and a careful premeditation of what they are to say. The public life and services of Mr. Van 13uren, to which w e shall no w direct the attention of our readers, demand a fuller notice than that hestow-

d on his professional career. It ovist. lowever, ncressariiv be brief: for to ning them out, in their just propor tions, would require a volume, and would lead to discussions foreign to this place. His first connexion with political alftirs was in flic gicat con test which preceded the civil revoluion of 1G01. His father, a whig in the revolution, and an anti-federalist of 17G8, was amnng the earliest support ers of Mr. Jeirerson. The son. then a aw student at Kinderhook. espoused with great w arinfh the same principles; but his course was emphatically his own. It was the result of a decided conviction, that fhe conduct and doc trines of men in poyver, were not only epugnant to the spirit of the constitu tion, but subversive to the rights of the leople, and calculated to lead to an arstocralie government. 1 he strength md integrity' of thee convictions w ere iverely tested. The gentleman in whose ofiice he was a student was a ugh toned federalist; so was a near nd much loved lelative, his eailicst prtron. A majority ol the inhabitants, including nearlv all the wealthy fimiies, and niosl, if not all his youthful as sociates, belonged to the same party. ind that party then had the assendency. not onlv in his own town, hut in the county, the stale, and the Union. Aware of Ids superior endowments, and inxious. to save him from what was deemed by many of his friends a fatal, if not a criminal heresy, great exertions were mado; (o attach him to the dominant party. Fvery motive which could operate on the mind of an ardent uid ambitious young man, .was held out to him but without success. He per-' sisled in maintaining the principles he lad espoused, and he spared no pains to inculcate them upon others, espe cially by animated addresses at the meetings of (he people. His devotion, thus curly , in the popular cause, tnough it exposed him to the implacable hostility of the federalists, secun d for him the confidence and aticcfions ol the democracy of the tow n, and soon made nm so conspicuous in his count v, that in the latter part of 1800 or beginning of 1301, when only in his eighteenth or nineteenth year, he was one of her representatives in a republican conven tion composed of delegates horn the counties cf Rensselaer and Columbia, and held for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the house ot representa tives. Cm that occasion, he assisted the veteran politicians, with whom he was associated, in preparing an address to the electors. During the residue of his minority he was in the habit ol opresenling the republicans of his town in the county conventions, and of taking as active and efficient a part in the politual contests of the day, as any ol his seniors. His first appearance as an ( lector, was in the spring of 1804, when, in common with the great mass of the parly in which he had been bred, he supported Morgan Lewis for Governor of New Vork in opposition to Aaron Burr. Here again his integrity and independence were slikingly exemplified. Mr. Van Ness, with whom he had recently been a student, was the intimate friend of Col. Burr; and Mr. Van Buren himself, whilst a resident in the city of New Vork, h id received many 'flattering attentions from that gentleman. Several of the leading republicans of Columbia county, including eomc of Mr. Van Burcn's earliest

friends-, were among the warmest sapporters of Col. Burr. Vet Mr. Van Buren took a decided stand against Col. Burr, on the ground that he was the. candidate of the party opposed to Mr. Jefferson, and to the democracy of the state. His course on this occasion subjected him to some temporary antipathies; but its wisdom and propriety were sancfioned by the judgment of the people, and at the present day, will hardlx lie called in question. In 1807 the cVmocra'ic partv was auam divided between Lewis and Tompkins, and Mr. Van Buren again acting in union with fhe majority, was among the most decided supporters of the lat'er. In 1808, he was app unfed Surrogate of the county, an office, which he held until February, 1813, when the federal party having acquired the ascendency in that branrh of the legislature which controlled the appointing power, he was promptly removed. From the moment when, in carlv youth, he espoused the democratic prin-

i wavered i: his course, nl mis list ration receive d Mr. .1 eili-rsnn' ids uniform suport; though in (in; ardor of youthful patriotism, he sometimes wished for a more decided policy towards- lhe invaders of our neutral rights. During the whole period of the British encrorichmenfs, he was amo:sg those w ho labored to awaken in our councils and people, a spirit of indignation and resistance. The embar go, and other re-tro-tive measures a-d'-pled by Congress, met hi? d. eided approbation; and were fiequeutlv vindicated by him in popular addresses, and on other occasions. In the dark days w hich followed these measures, he neither apostatised, nor flinched, nor doubted. His support of the government was not merely active, but zealous; nor was his the z:a! of ordinary men. It absorbed his whole soul; i! was exhibited on all occasions, and under ail cii eumsfanccs. Neither the contumely of inflated wealth, nor the opposition ol invidious fakua, t!ie. weekly rcvilings of a licentious Mess, nor a succession of defeats in his own county, could induce him to conceal or to modify ids political sentiments, or lo temporize in his policy or conduct. The induenee of such principles, accompanied Ivy talents like those of Mr. V an Buren, wasnot to ho circumscribed within the limits of a single cotinlv. It accordingly extend in lhe mie proportion with his profes-ional reputation; and as cat!) as 18H, we lied him taking lhe lead in a meeting held at the seat of government, and composed chiefly of the democratic, members of the legistauire. lu 1811, he took great inierest in the question of lhe renewal of the United State- Bank, lu connection with the venerabletJcorge Clinton, and other loading in Tubers of the party iu his state, he .strenuously opposed l lie re-chartering of that institution. After congress had decided this question, a powerful association was formed, f r the purpose cf procuring from the staler legislature achiiter for the Bank of America, lobe established iu lhe city of New Vork, with a capital (enormous for a local bank) of -SG,000,000. As lhe democracy of the state, wild but few oxceptwis, considered this application a soi l of substitute for the renewal of the national hank, they look strong ground against it. Mr. Van Buren was one of its. most prominent opponents. The republicans of his county were convened on the subject. He delivered to them a poweiful speech against the proposed application, which was denounced in a series of resolutions prepared by him and adopted by the meeting, as a mo-i dangerous and anti-repubhean measure. 1 lis sentiments on the main question, and his belief that improper means had noon resorted lo liv the agents of the hank, conspired (o recommend to his approbation and support, the prorogation of the legist itnre by Gov. Tompkins, i;i Apiil, 1312; and he accordingly sustained (hat energetic pleasure by the active exertion of his influence and talents. At this juncture he was, for the tirsl lime, put in nomi nation for an elective ofiice that of stale senator for the then middle district. A more violent struggle was hardly ever known in the state; Mr. Van Buren succeeded, but by a majority of less than 200 out of twenty thou sand votes. He took his seat in the senate in November, l-Gl'2, at the meeting held for the choice of presidential electors.

v'ffLClM1 B.--A'0. US.

The republican members of the legisia'eie having, jri the preceding summer, nominated De Will Clinton for president, in opposition fo Mr. Madison, then a candidate for re-elocf ion, and that nomination having been tendered to. and accepted by Mr. Clinton, Mr. Van Buren thought it-due to consistency and good faith, to support electors friendly to that gentleman. He was also prompted to this course by an im-pressj.-m, that the character and measures of" the existing administration were no: sullicicntly decisive and energetic; and by a sincere rind confident belief that Mr. Clinton, though supported by many opponents of the war, would yet if elected, prosecute that cord est with more vigor and success than his amia'de and enlightened competitor. Besides Mr. ran Buren had been bred in the po i t ical sent i merit s of George Clinton, and on the death of that illnstiou patriot, had naturally transferred, much of his respect for the name, principles and character of the uncle, fo his dndingutshed nephew, who, up to that period had been generally regarded as a pillar of the democratic party. In these view s a majority of the republicans in each branch of the legislature concurred ; and Mr. Clinton accordingly received (he vote of New Voik. Ml'. Van Buren, however, uniformly declared that he would abide hy fhe decision of (he inajoiily; and that hn would support (o tht end, every measure of the tcvernment, by whomsoever it might be administered, yvhicli was calculated to bring the war a measure which he had advocated in advance, and constantly defended to n successful result. In conformity with these piinciiles, he took a leading part in the; w inter of 131;?, in the nomination of Gov. Tompkins, whose patriotism had identified him with the historv of the country, and whose reelection seemed essential fo the prosecution of (he war, if not to the existence of the govei nmenf. C):i this occasion U" wrote the address to fhe electors of the sfate, issued by the republican members of (he legislature an elaborate anJ eloquent production, in which (he duty of sustaining the adHiriislrafion "m the prosecution of (he war, was enfoiced by every motive: that could reach the hearts, or call nut lhe er.ergies ( "the people. The extracts from li.i- address which have recently been laid before the public, wiil have enabled them lo lest the justice of this remark. It was widely circulated and produced the desiied effect. In the election of April, 1813, Mr. Clinton, and many of his friends, supported the candidate of the opposition; a.nd from this point a separation ensued between that distinguished statesman and Mr. Van Buren, which, as to all. 'ji.ica ! matters, continued ever after. The sessions of 1813 and 1-1, were, peculiarly trying. The federalists then iiad foe control in the assembly; and w ere violent and uniform in their opposition to the war and to its supporters. A majority of the senators, with Mr. Van Buren and his able coadjutors, Nathan Sanford and Fraslus Root, at their head, were equally inflexible, in their support of the government. They passed many bills of a patriotic character, which were re jected by fhe other branch. This led to several public conference--, in which fhe; points in con troversy involving not only the particular measures in dispulo, hut the justice and expediency of the w ar, and the conduct ami merits of the national administration were debated at large, in the presence of the two houses, bv committees chosen on the part of each, and wi'h all the eneugv and ardor which the splnt of the time was calculated to inspire. These conferences, from ibi' nature ef their suhj'o(, the solemnity with which they were conducted, and lhe crowded and excited auditories thai allelic led them presented opportunities for the display of popular eloquence, almost rivalling in dignity and interest, the; assemblies of ancient Greece. In all of (hem Mr. Van Buren w as a principal speaker on the part of the Senate, and bv his readiness ami dexterity iu debate, his powerful reasoning, and his patriotic defence of the government and its measures, commanded great applause. On one occasion in particular, he de livered a speech of such eloquence andpoyer, that immediately after lhe termination of the debate, a committee was appointed by the republicans of Albany who,