The North-Carolina standard., 1838-02-21

Whig party, is the following account of the pro-
ceediDgs of the Abolition Society in the State of
n, Y, e the course pursued towards them by the
Wing party there, il furnishes clear illustration OF
the views, demonstration of the facts, set forth in
the remarks to which the attention of the whole
Democracy, and particularly that composed ct the
people of the South, is most respectfully invited,
as taken from the Emancpator, one of the Partlcu-
lar organs of the Abolition Society. The proceed
ing took place little before the New York elec-
tons last fall, and are as follows:
ROME, October 16, 1887.
"DEAR SIR: Having learned that your political
f,iends have done you the honor to place your name
before the electors Of the county OF Oneida, as a
candidate for the Office of -, and there being,
as is believed, near two thousand electors in this
county who have espOused the great and eternal
principles Of the Declaration of our independence,
by which it is asserted that all men are created free
and equal with certain inalienable rights, amongst
which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap
piness and believing that these rights are vioat-
ed in the Of the American slave, and that the
free colored people of this State do not possess
those rights to which they entitled, upon every
principle of eternal and equal justice The object,
therefore, of this communication, is to learn from
you whether you can answer, and how, the follow
ing questions, which are to be put to the various
candidates who are nominated for an election to
that Office. Upon the answers which you may re-
turn to the seven questions herewith propounded,
or your refusal to answer the same, will depend
whether you receive the votes of the gentlemen
called Abolitionists or not, as is believed.
''rHE QUESTIONS
l. "DO you believe that petitions to the Con-
gress slavery and the slave trade ought to be re-
ceived read, and respectfully considered by the
Representatives of the people?
2. "Are you opposed to the annexation of Texas
to the United States?
3. "Are you in favor of the immediate abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia =?
A. "Are you in favor of Congress exercising all
fhp nSfif TO hOli
internal slave trade between the States, and the
Territories where slavery exists
5. care you in favor of extending jury trial to
all persons in this State before they shall be depriv
ed of liberty, whether those persons be fugitive
slaves or others
g. "Are you in favor of extending the elective
franchise to the colored man the same to the
white
T. care you in favor of the repeal of all laws in
the State which make distinction among its in
habitants on account Of color 4?
The answers Of candidates, their refusal to
answer, will be distributed in printed handbils
throughout the county, previous to the election.
AS the time to the election is now so short,
you will not take it unkind in saying an answer is
most respectfully requested to be returned to the
subscriber at Rome; within three days from the
time of the delivery of this communication to you,
or it will be considered as refusal to answer.
The request of this letter proceeds upon this great
principle, that the freemen of this country
titled to know what the opinions of gentlemen are
clothed with that important trust.
With sentiments ofrespect
am yours, &c
A. BLAIR,
President Oneida county, Anti-Slavery Society.
N. Is. The above communication is made in pur-
suance of general principle adopted by the New
York State Anti-Slavery Society.
Here the remarks are adopted of another COM
mentator, illustrative of the views and objects
of the parties {:
Here there was an Offer ''by authority" of the
votes of $4,000 electors" to such candidates as
would answer the questions, or who, in other
words, would declare themselves to be Abolition
lists.
1t should here be remarked that the officers to
be closen In the county were sheriff, clerk, and
four members of Assembly and that there were
three distinct and full nominations made of candi-
dates for these offices, viz: one Van Buren, one
Conservative, and called Wing. OF til" Van
BuEen candidates, but one made any answer to
the questions; of the Conservative none, of Ih
Wing all and the following were their answers
as published by order of the Executive Committee
of the Oneida county Anti-slavery Society.
l. LYMAN CURTIss, esq candidate for Sheriff.
would have had no objection to give explicit af
firmatiVe answer to several Of the questions but
from the impression that an appeal had been made
to his hopes and fears. He did not wish to be
subjected to the imputation of interested motives
Several of the questions were comparatively new,
and he had not yet formed definite opinion upon
them. He could not, however, with truth, give
negative to either of them. He regarded slavery
as enormous evil, foul stigma upon US as a |
nation and would sincerely rejoice at the success
Of any constitutional measures 10 free ourselves
from it, and elevate the colored man to his natural
station and rights among his fellow men. He con-
sders that 'he right Of free discussion and peti-
tion should never be inringed, but be preserved in
violate"
2. Hon. JAMES DEAN, candidate for county Clerk
says: II have not the least difficulty in answering
each and all the questions afirmativey, ercept the
third That, too, as it stands, as general max
ed proposition, not connected with any reference
or alusiOn to the mode of emancipation, answer
in the same manner" Mr.. Dean states, that his
information in respect to the power of Congress
in this respect is unsatisfactory to himself that
he is not prepared to decide" in respect to that
mode of emancipation; but he does desire "that
Congress may exercise all the constitutional power
it possesses and that too at the earliest suitable
opportunity, to put end to slavery in the District
Of Columbia"
3. JAMES S. STRANAHAN, esq. candidate for as
sembly, says "To the first five questions on your
list, my answers are, Yes-to the last two, No."
4. HENRY HERsEY, Esq. candidate for Assem-
bly,, responds to the first, second, and fifth ques-
lions in the affirmative. On the third, he believes
Congress possesses power to abolish slavery in the
Federal District but doubts the expediency of its
exercise at the present time. On the fourth he
h.,1lye