Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-08-03
For the Free Press.

District.
The candidates of two political parties
are now before you for your sufffages.-
Before giving our votes for either, it be.
comes us to make some inquiries as to the
character, and qualifications of the candi.
dates, and the principles which they may
be expected to support. We avow our
decided preference for Mr.. ALLEN over
Mr.. SMITH, and we shall endeavor to give
some satisfactory reasons why we enter.
tain it.
On the score of political integrity, we
believe Mr.. Allen much the safest man.
1t is we'll known to you that he has been
long in public life, and, under the present
organization of parties. he has ever been,
in principle and practice, firm, and con.
sislent Republican Whig. The time is
not long since passed when Mr.. Smith stood
side by side with Mr.. Allen in the mainten.
ance Of Wing principles. Mr.. Allen is
where he was years ago; Mr.. Smith has
been an Anti Mason, has been a Wing, and
is no,o professedly Van Buren, man. We
say professedly, because. having seen him
so often change his course, and trim his
sails TO catch the popular truse, we dare
not trust him; and we put it to the honest
supporters of the administration who know
him-Have you faith in the political integ
rity of JonN SMITH? Do you believe that
if his personal interest were to be advanced
by il, say six or twelve months hence, he
will not desert you and come over to US, as
he has deserted US and gone over to you'
We put these quslions because we know
there are some honest men in the admins
ttation ranks who will sooner give their
votes for an open and consistent adversary,
than for supple time server. who veers
with every wind, and floats on every tide,
for popular favor, although he may, just
no,c, profess to be one oftheir party.
Compare the abilities of the two candi.
dates. Mr.. Allen is known and acknowl.
edged to be one of the ablest, and most
men in the state. He has
become acquainted with the different mem.
bers of congress, has acquired experience
in Legislation, and understands we'll the
principles of government, and the interest
of the people, all of which Mr.. Smith if he
were elected, would yet have to learn. 1t
is conceded on all hands that, in point of
ability, Mr.. Allen is much the superior, and
it was repeatedly said last Fall, at Mont
peler, that Mr.. Smith was decidedly infe.
rior to several of his own party, in the
Vermont Legislature.
Well, then, as 10 the principles of the
men. When our party was the Acorn,
and the Administration was the Oak, Mr..
Allen was honestly cul;ivalng and encour.
aging the growth of that little seed, and
Mr. Smith, incensed by its tardy progress,
suddenly dropped his implements, abandon.
ed it TO its fate, and snugly perched himself
upon the boughs Of the sturdy tree by its
side. In that now withered and decayed
tree, fallen by its own corruptons, let him
remain; and to Mr.. Allen, who SO perse-
verngIy watched over the developments
Of that little Acorn, until it expanded into
the mighty Oak whose branches are now
spread, and spreading over all the states of
this Union, let that tree yield some portion
of its fruits.
Why not' Why, in these times, should
any wing refuse to vote for the candidate
of his party? Will rational man put
shackels upon his own lmbs' Poison in
his own cup' A weapon in the hand of
his Adversary Or if his children ask OF
him bread, will he give them a stone No.
Yet will not you be doing all this by giving
your votes for any man who supports the
present administration, or by Withholding
your votes from his opponents Have not
the people in fifteen out of nineteen states
Of this Union already declared, in the most
solemn manner by their votes at the polls,
the resolutions of their assemblies, and
their primary meetings, their firm belief,
that ifthe policy of this administration pre-
walls, we shall be made nation of slaves,
without business and without bread Are
not the shouts of victory first raised by the
patriotic Wings of Maine, still echoed and
re.echoed all along our borders from Maine
to Louisiana And shall not
"-Your answer from her misty cloud,
Back TO the Joyous Alps again and cry aloud?''