Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-11-04
Middlebury, Oct. IL, 1912.

NlIlIih VI CLADE.
MiddIebury, Oct H. 1912.
From The .Ntw Hduen Comm Palladium, March
81, 1912,
MR.. SHADES LETTER.
Just as our regular edition OF to-days rnper
was worked of, the following letter from the Hon
WIN. Slade, member OF Congress from Vermont,
was put into our HANDS by Amos Iowushend,
Esq, who is well known as one of the most in
Huential boIllOnsts in his country, and who is
in no sense political partisan. We publish his
communication and the letter Of Mr.. Shade, with
out comment, for the bentf Of those to whom
they may afford The most interest.
NEw HAVEN, March &c. 1912
Messrs. Ednors-ln common with many of my
Anli-Slnvery friends, | have been somewhat nj a
loss as TO the course which, as u iretmen ought
to pursue at the approaching election.
- have always been Averse TO making The ahoi-
tlon OF slavery II pulrical question, although it
must III great measure lie connected with The
political condition al 0Ur ~. Yet us it has
been urged With great renurir, u, many whom
highly esteem Or HER consistent opiulns ON The
subject OF slrvery, eIt dr>ltnus OF lie opIuiun
Of II man who has always been 80 irur ana con-
sstent an AbolIiunisl William Slude. Member
oi Congress from Vermont
HIS reply 10 my inIerrogntoy communicate for
pubIicallOn II YOU feel d.pu,td To publish it-lur
The benefit Of others sitnae, like IN, self
Very respectfully YOURS
AMOS TOW N-END. ia.
b'ashiagion, .Nmch "a. le42.
AMOS TowNsHEND, JR EsQ Dear Sir-l our
letter ol The l7rII INST, has teen received. 1T
health has pre-, enlcd Seasnnahle rrply: aud |
am now able to an -wer but b!h fly aud imperfect.
iy The question which you have prupuuudcd TO
mt.
M ask whether in my opinion, "lhe b, 81
interest OF nui whole country, including lie NJ
ierrss OF the cnsInved IahoIrr M the South -
well rs that Of the Tree Iainrrr at the M IT,, VIII
he promoted, AT The present Juucture OF oar nu.
onal affairs, by running ihiid party ticket NJ tic
eltctious INV taking place.
II ! ielt III liberty 10 decline an answer to this
question: should cerlaniy do it at the present
inoment; bat entertain too much respect fur You,
anu TO" decided an aversion 10 II cUurtiment uf
my views upon any subject, 10 permit it.
have heretofore expressed, and sill entertain
Tue opinion, thai t''e cai>e at emancipation w.ud
lie better promoted 10y throwing the weight nf ah-
ohlnn Influence rs far possible INTO Il ihc
parties that divide The country. rather Than 10 at
tempt, 10y an organization entirely lndc pendent,
/" gather party based exclusively upon The
ground of tie abolition OF slavery. have long
been placed IN n condition which has led me 10
ieel deeply tie importance OF other interests than
| those immediately connected with The question of
slavery. | canno, overlook these interests, deep
! ly ns ahhor and detest slavery, and firmly as [
a:n II solved To oppose it, aud 10 labor TO The end
! VI NY HlS lOI IT'S utSlruClUn. an independent
hbonon party will almost OF necessity, overlook
them, except as they are in involved in the ques-
! non OF slavery. They are interests of present,
/ pressing importance. Action upon them cannon
he postponed. Though the abolition of slavery
would undoubtedly remove one of the great aud
| Leading causes of the financial evils which now
press upon the country, yet it is evident that leg
lslaton must reach and remedy these evils long
before slavery eau he abolished, or there will he
destruction OF confidence, arrangement OF cur
rency, and Il pr0siration OF industry, which must
involve The North and South, the East aud the
Nest-aboliIionlsts, slaNeholderJ and uli, in one
common ruin.
For one cannot act either as n representative of
the people, Or freeman the ballot box, with
out an immediate respect To these great questions.
| | must endeayUr, IN some way, While / am lauur-
ing 10 advance the cause Of abolition, 10 act at the
same tlnc with view to their speedy and just
settlement How shall do this will often bc
matter OF considerable difficulty to Determines
But that difficulty does hot absoIye me from the
obligation, us a representative of the people, and
MS one OF the people, 10 endeayor to perform lie
complex duty.
Especially do feel restrained from disregard.
ing this duly, in reference TO tho great pending
question oia Protective Tariff iuusmUch us thar
question involves 50 directly tne question between
| The labor OF ireemen and llie labor OF slaves
Slavery looks with jealousy nt the prosperity
which the universal und unlning Industry u tie
North gives II over The unpruductVeness of Save
labor, AMI The .dleness, dissipation aud eAtra,a-
gauce which nre iuseparnbie from stale al sa-
very. IL seeks TO conceal lIe lIlIe ra'se al Sul-
ern poverty 10y maintaining that The duties pad
under tariff iuf protection nte mhIuly orhwu. dit
rectly or indirectly, from tne South il calls pro-
IecIIOn TO Tree labor "oppreSStn" aud on Ills
ground has uuIlhrd the laws oi tne Unne,i States,
aud forced " compromise WHICH, unIes arrest.
ed m lis progress, viii prusraIe lie ndnsry of
nd H., n "A "A
any thing can drag down lIie industry and etler-
prise ui ireeineu To u level "ih useli. it, hu.Ii-
ny tree labor Is as deep AMI relentless n lis hrS-
tIi.iy 10 ireeiiOn Surely Huuulni,IS are Tie in>t
who ought To disregard such question IL that Il
prnlecIiou u free labor; AMI yet II seems To u,r
they WI practically dSr, gard II they h,sl-i, TN
der all CIRCUMSTANCES uhd on all occasions, upon
unnnIg ihId puity uckels wilhuat respect 40 II.
| attach moro Importance Ia th.s view al the
subject, from HE fact thu, generally, 81 lar my
knOw ledge extends, those wln hre Iiuceu 10 sup
port third party tickets ME those vino have heei,
aud still are, III prlncile, favorable 10 the interest
81 projections, and 10 The other interests al the
Country which ARE sought Ia bH secured ANA main
.alned by ihose vino are deuoniualed Wings. The
effect therefore, OF ihnd rarIy oIganizil,n, is to
give un Immediate advantage To the opponents Ut
these Interests, which It's members generally
would, hut for their independent organization, AID
u promote. IL seems IL mo mach better, IL lls
present Stale OF things, that they select from he
sx'sung parties men who arc IN the main, sound
IN their views on the subject ol slavery, and say
10 those rarlles, We will support these ulen aud
we subn' ii To you TO say whether, I" cure our
support, You viii present Ihem ~ cnn'liiaIrs aTd
nus enable us 10 advance the cause wiurh we
hold especially dear, While III lie sa,ue ilune We
sustain thuse other Interests whirh you,a parties,
are endeavorng 10 promote. May not abuliIion-
lists te'ter subsefVe tse Gauss OF abolition by thus