Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-10-23

WASHINGTON, Sept. Fl, 1910.
To-, Esq.
DEAR Sin: l hope You have been 80 kind as to eX-
cusc me for declining your invitation to attend a recent
Wing meeting in this city. ] see it is usual at meetings
OF this kind indlscriminatcly, though | think unncces-
sarily, to denounce both General Jackson and Mr. Van
Buren,, and their elections and administrations, in the
gross. Now, sir, l supported and approved the cleo
tons and considerable part of the administration Of
both. | have still among their advocates and dlstln-
guished supporters, although their number is daily de-
creasing, many valuable friends. 1t would, therefore,
be unjust, inconsistent, and u~nbecoming in me to par
ticipate in those violent and general proceedings, al
though | cordially unite in the opinion of the necessity
of present change.
As | have been known, both here and in the state of
New York before ! left ii, to take all active interest
upon political occasions similar to the present and as
i have been repeatedly applied to by my friends and
fellow citizens, both here and at a distance, for my
opinion and determination in this case, it is due to
those who have any curiosity on the subject, as well
as to myself, that, in addition to my unreservedness
for sometime past, l should explain myself more FULL
this, with your permission, | shall embrace the pres
ent occasion to do, without entering into a tedious, de-
tailed discussion, and without any VAN idea of its con-
sequence, hoping to be %pardoncd for any unavoidable
appearance of egotism or self-inportancc in what l
shall concisely say.
1t was, perhaps, a wise regulation that, in the aslta-
ton and decision of questions OF great public lmpor-
tancc, no individual citizen was permitted to remain
neutral. ], however, do not desire to rest my avowal
upon the principle Of that regulation, as / have no hes
itation on this subject, neither any wish for conceal
nent.
For my opinion ofthc necessity ola change l may,
by the Jealous partizans Of "the powers that be- if,
indeed, they bestow any notice upon it, be denounced
as an apostatc; bat such denunclatlon has no tcrrors
for me. Nv political maxim is, 'prinripa Ell h0nincS;'
yet, although men with me are frequently great, prln-
ciples are supreme. l confess that when 4 Washing
ton, a franklin, or a Jefferson, challenges my conf
dencc, | am slow to withhold it. When certain men
have been tried and found sterling, ! am not for pre-
ferrng others upon ethical emel 9cncies until the
maintenance of principles requires it. l am not afraid
of being called or considered a party man; but the
party | belong to is that which | think pursucs and
promotes the public good, Whilst, therefore, ] reject
the doctrine of a blind adhesion to party leaders, in
defiance of principle, l am still not insensiblc to the
pain of even an Indispensable political separation from
old and confidential associates. 1t was chiefly under
the influence Of such feelings and sentiments that |
hestntcd about my course in relation to the approach
ing Presidential election. Dissatisfied and disguised
as have for some lime been, | still hoped tha, some
rcdeemlng change of system or measures would dispel
the gloom that darkens our political horizon, and ava
ken my slumbering confidence in our rulers; but of
that l ~despaired when the spirit and action ofour Gov.
eminent were more fully developed during the late
session Of Congress; and | then considered a change
Of men the only alternative to arrive at a change of
measures. In addition, ! might rest my defence
against the probable charge of npostacy, or even YER
satlhty, or leylty, the anticipation Of which is justified
by the daily evidence of party %accrbty, upon the well
known fact that l supported Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, Crawford, and Jack son, and it is too late now to
plead guilty or to be found SO, because | disapprove a
otsbC'I uiii i~hoAito W AVA III bulCIt NIlLI ITO
other President from Washington down, would have
proposed or sanctioned. After this explanation, |
trust there will not, at this late day, be any exception
taken to my right to complain Of grievances, either
from the fact of former political attachment, or from
the want of a genuine, merltorions, involved interest,
according to the true spirit and construction of the
Constitution and laws, although the community OF
which ! an immediate member has no acsess to the
ballot box. A parental Government may, or it may
not, do its duty toward its children but, a, all events,
the American people will not turn a deaf ear unto us
OF the District, and we will no be silent.
The disastrous condition ofall the business concerns
of our country, arising from the arrangement and
want of a sound currency, is not speculative or imag-
inary-it is real: W. have, ms the Father of his Conn-
try says, "thc melancholy aud uncquivocal proof Of it:
every mans experience tells him II exlsts-beine a
general fall in the price of property and i, proves to
demonstration that something is ainiss in the ruin q
political po,rcr.' 1t is falsely pretended indeed, by
some, that this state of things is partial and all the
morbid and low p~rciudices Of one part OF community
are stimulated and invoked by the authors of the mis-
chief in order to protect themselves by false testimony
against the general odium and Reproduction. 1t is a
matter of painful reflection that one part of the COM
munity can so easily be practisod upon and arrnyed
against the other 10 ia vor the designs Of those who are
the covert enemies of both. From the nature of mar
and all human institutions, among every people in civ
ilized life are necessarily to be found many Professions
trades, and occupations; and in every well regulated
society all are made to harmOnize for the public good
the interest ofeach is Unidentified, or intimately as
ISOLATED, with that Of all the others thus the propri-
GtO lht lh'"ib't'' ~ lh'''' 80 'N''"fi' tIt
laborer, the dealer, the manufacturer, the man of sci.
ence and learning, all cooperate for the good Of ths
whole and every attempt TO excite the lcalously O
one class against the others, thus producing discord
to he ascribcd TO motives Of selfish ambition, which
avalling itself of the weak ness of division, accomplish
ca its unholy purposes at the expense Of the public in
tercst. tits the duty ofrulers TO cherish and promot,
this harmony, as tending to all the benefits both mora
and pccunlary y, of the social compact; and when they
are unwilling or unable to pursue those patriotic pur
poses, the governed owe il to themselves and theii
posteriy constltutonolly to remove them and 10 sub
stitute those in whose competence and virtue they car
confde,
All this is trite matter, but cannot be too often re-
peatcd and inculcaIed. / repeat, il is painful TO wit
ness the studied effort now making for the perpetuatiol
of power by appeals to passions and feelincs hostile Il
that wholesome composure of society which consli
tutes and produces the greatest blessings among a fire.,
people. We know that mankind are disposed &c
suffer whilst evils are sufferable,' as we are taught b,
snapostle of liberty hut beyond that they will no
man knows that credit is the poor mans capital tn,
hsndmaid Of enterprise and industry in mode ate cir
eumstances. And az 10 the currency, il is as vital e
,ha poIttal and soclal BODY as blood IN IN the bod,