T,,o, of.be mace of ~. ne
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nf persenal interest. That OF the mass oI the peo-
ple lis, on the contrary alraost invariably dslnter
ested, and seldom. if ever, fails to come right IN
the end. As much power over appointment as is
deened really necessary, 10 enable the Executive
to perform his responsible duties, should be left to
him. Of all beyond that, and which can be as
we'll exercised by the people themselves, or other
wise. he should, by constitutional means, be dl
vested The possession of the excess is decidedly
adverse to the healthy action of the department.
No right-minded man, occupying the Presidential
chair after he has had an opportunity to judge by
experience-of its effects will desire to possess it.
From this prolific source proceeds most OF the
emptations which draw the ambitious politician
from his duty to his isconsttuents. While the veto
is generally applied to questions exclusively ol
public concern, and is exercised under personal
responsibility which will not be incurred, except
with great reluctance, and in cases inwhich there
is a strong reliance upon the public Judgment Tor
support, this power is peculiarly adapted to the
sinister purposes Of ambitious and selfish asprants
1t is therefore by diminishing this executive pow
cr and not that of the veto which is least liable to
abuse, and has been thus far uniformly exercised
for the public advantage, that cur statesmen can
render the most essential, and, / doubt not, the
most acceptable service to the cause of the people.
To accomplish this great and salutary object pres
ets proper field for the patriotic exertons of all
who think it,wise, as do, to keep jealous eye
upon Executive authority, and particularly upon
its administration ofthe public patronage. Placed
at the head ofthe committee upon appointments in
the convention for the amendment The constitu-
ton of my own State, took an active, and hope
not an Intellectual part to carry out thus principle,
as far rs, with the lights which experience had
then afforded, thought we could safely 60 AS
those lights multiplied, united in giving it still
wider range; and ! am well satisfied that peri
odical review of the subject, by the Legislature and
people, with views to its still greater extension,
would be eminently useful as well in the admins
tration of the Federal as of the State Govern
nents. -a-;s~


To your last interrogatory, i unhesitatingly an
swer, Yes. The democracy ofthe Union will not
fail, as am sure they ought not, to adopt every
proper precaution to secure, through the Instfd-
mentality of the convention they propose to hold,
an honest and full expression of the wishes and
opinions Of majority of their political associates
Bearing in mind the disreputable scenes of 1910;
conscious of the effects which those scenes neces-
sarily had in shaking the confidence of mankind
in the fitness the American people for free insi
tutions and actuated by patriotic zeal to wipe
off, now and forever, every injurious impression
which was thus made upon the character of either;
they will not, am certain, permit their noble eff
forts in so good cause to be stained by a single
act of indirection oE1unfairness. So believing,
hold it to be impossible that selection can pro-
ceed from such source which could not cheer
fully supporter a nominee be seleetedin whose
hands the interests of the country would net be
entirely SAFE -.


My name and pretensions, however subordinate
in importance, shall never beat the disposal of any
person whatever, for the purpose of creating dis
traction or division in the democratic party Ev-
cry attempt to usethem for such pu1 pose, when
ever and wherever made, shall be arrested by an
Interference on my part alike prompt and decisive.
regard the Presidency as the highest and most
honorable political disinctions-yet it is only as
the undoubted and free will offering of the demo-
cracy of the Nation that would accept it. because
it is in that aspect only that could hope render
the discharge ofits high duties either useful the
country honorable to myself =


am, gentlemen, -


With sentiments ofhigh regard,


Your obedient servant,


F., ~. M VAN BUREN.


To the Hon. ETHAN, A. BRowS, Chairman and


JNo. Law, NATHANIEL WEST, JoHN-PETTIT,


JESSE d, BRIGHT and A..C. PErPER, Es-