State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-17


and request you to give it place in your
paper.
Your obedient servant,
w. SLADE.
Washington, May s, 1896.
To the Editor Of the Franklin Journal
Sir: You have done me the favor to send
me your paper of the 10th instant, in which
| observe you say in reference to the late
Antimasonc Convention at Montpelier -
"a letter was read to the Convention from
"Mr Slade, stating that MIR Webster would
abe Withdrawn and it was also stated by
1.-THE person reading the letter, that all the
"Vermont Delegation in Congress had held
IN meeting, and had concluded that it was
"best for the Convention to nominate Har-
"rison. You afterwards say 49," If our Del
legation in Congress thus attempts, openly
"and in face of the Convention, to influence
their decisions, is it unjust to suppose
"that they would bring their whole influ-
"ence to bear in some other and perhaps
"surcr way, TO the same end Z"
The impression that the above is calcula-
ted to make is, that authorized the person
who read my letter, to shy that meeting
had been holden, and the conclusion come
TO, as above stated and that | authorized
it, for the purpose Of bringing the influence
OF the "Vernont Delegation in Congress"
TO bear upon the decisions of the Couven-
ton.
have been advised in private cOmmu.
nication from Mr. Knapp, as well as through
his paper, that he said no such thing in the
Convention With his assurance | am sat
istied. But as you have made the statement
alluded to- and, though noticing MIR Knapp's
denial, have, at the same time, expressly
left the allegation to rest upon the authority
of MIR Barber, who has made no correction,
but rather confirmation of it, ! deem it
proper to say through your paper, that nei
ther in the letter 10 Mr. Knapp, to which
allusion has been made, nor in any other,
has there been the slightest allusion, what
ever, to any meeting" or any " conclusion"
of the Vermont Delegation in Congress, on
this subject, or any other.
Mr. Barber had asserted in his paper, that
Gen. Harrison was u man f"abandoned
character" DESTROYS to know the ruth,
inquired of those who were well acquainted
with him and his character, and learned
that he was a man Of regular, temperate
habits-the father of a numerous and res
pectable family, and highly esteemed in all
his domestic and social relations. While
expressing, as I freely did to Mr. Knapp,
my individual opinion with regard to the
propriety of supporting him for the Presi
dency, took occasion TO state the result of
my inquiries in regard to his private char
acter, that erroneous impressions might he
corrected. authorized Mr. Knapp to show
the letter to whom he pleased; but had 10
expectation that il would be read in the
Convention. In the exercise of his discre-
ton, however, he decided to read it, and if
it contributed in any degree, to obiterate
false impressions, and do justice to Gen.
Harrison, then shall | rejoice that it was
written and read, and feel amply compen-
stated for the odium which false represent
tation of it has brought upon me.
While upon the topic of my alleged in
reference with the proceedings of the Con-
ven,ion, take the liberty TO advert TO the
manner in which it has been treated by the
Editor of the Middlebury Free Press. In
report of the debates of the Convention,
published at Montpelier, he is represented
rs saying" With respect to MIR Slade, he
"would not undertake to say how much
"inffuence he was able to WELD, but he Sc
~verely reproved the attempt of a member
"of Congress to influence their delbera
I" tons. The opposition, he said, had al
"ways been loud in their denunciations of
this practice, the meddlng OF Office hol-
"ders in the assemblies of the people and
ain elections, and he thought this attempted
interference on the part of MIR Slade in
consistent with his professions"
In addition to this observe the follow
ing in the Free Press of the Sth instant:
"Mterterence Of office holders IN controt-
"ing The action Of The people. This is u
"great evil, 10 doubt. We have heard
"much of its improperly in this section of
=" the country, for many years past. All
"seem to admit that it is an evil in the
"abstract, but it appears to be mischievous in
"the eyes of some people only as it mani.
d" tests itself among the friends of Mr. Van
"Buren. If wing and antinIasonic mem-
"bers of Congress eectloneer from day to
day, and from one end of the year to the
"other, it is very proper and praseworthy.
But then, for the office holders belonging
"to any other party, to do the same thing,
"is quite monstrous, and not TO be endured.
"If the nomination of Gen. Harrison is
"hrought about by The interference OF office
4" holders with Conventions of the people,
/" it is worthy of all acceptaton; but for
"office holders TO have any thing TO do
" with the nomination of MIR Van Buren, is
rendering politics mere machnc--is
exceedingly corrupt"
Now Mr. Editor, | desire permission to