The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-08-16
From the Voice Of Freedom.
LETTER FROM JUDGE MAT
TOCKS.
PEAcHAM, July %, 1913.


PEAcuAM, July %, 1913.
Mr.. Holcomb, Sir Il have this day re-
ceived your paper, the Voice of Freedom,of
the 9th inst. lin which there is letter from
you, quoting remark from the N. Y. Tri-
bune. which, after giving the names ofthe
persons nominated by the Vermont Wing
State Convention, says, "All these gentle
men are un,rauering, incorporating friends
of Henry Clay" And in your letter, a
mong other things you say, but how is It,
Messrs. Mattocks, Eaton and SpauldingT"
and again, "What say you gentlemen, are
you wiling,and will you give me your views
Immediately, in writing, that they may be
published in the Voice ~
These are fair questions, and fairly put;
and the fear that my views may not be sat-
isfactory to my brethren, the Abolitionists,
is no reason why they should not be frankly
answered. for every freeman should vote
understandingly.
say, then, that as to my being an ''un-
,carering incorporating friend of Henry
Clay" it is not so. am not, and never
have been, in any manner or form. COM
mtted 10 him, nor to any other candidate
for the Presidency; but have tho't, and Of
ten said, that it was yet too early to select
a candidate, and that it ought to be put off
| to the latest practicable period, and then
decided with great consideration in view of
the then state of public opinion. But this
f, is not full answer; for understand from
your whole letter, (Which is too long for me
to quote at length,) that you in substance
also enquire, twill you in any event vote
for Henry Clay, a Shareholder, for Presi-
dent of the United States?' Answer, |
will and as you make me witness against
myself, you will allow me to give some of
the reasons why; altho' your letter does
not call for my reasons, but seems to as
sumo that my guilt or innocence depends
entirely upon my admission or denial of the
opinions charged upon me. Yet as you are
an intelligent and candid man, and moreo-
yer, as understand, good Wing, can
not but hope that, when in your editorial
chair, you come to judge my case, If you
can not acquit me, you will make some al
lowance for erroneous opinions, you think
them honestly held, and freely confessed !;
and that the sentence may be passed upon
me in mercy.
Being an Abolitionist, and also Wing,
should greatly prefer candidate for Pres
ident that is orthodox upon both these car
dinal points and if such an one can be a.
', greed upon. with any hope of success, my
life being spared, l will mos certainly vote
| for him.
But if none such can be agreed upon,
and Mr.. Clay should be nominated by a
| Wing National Convention, with fair pros
pect of this election if he has the united
support Of the Wings, and moral certainty
that some Democratic prefer calling gen.
tlelemen by the name that is most agreea-
able to them candidate would be elected
if Mr.. Clay was not then, indeed, | should
vote for Mr.. Clay, for every vote given in
that emergency for Third Party candl.
dale would lessen the chance of the Wing
candidate, and increase the chance of his
opponent and ifall the Wing Abo!ltionists
in the free States should be seen the anom-
ally of large and respectable number OF
conscientious Wings throwing away then
votes upon third candidate, knowing that
thereby they were aiding to elect Loco
President. But you may say that the Anti
Slavery cause is paramount to all other pub
lie questions, and that all minor considera-
tons should yield to that question. Gran.
ted (; then in the name of humanity, do nc
act that will tend to throw the government
of the U. States, into the hands Of the Lo'
CO party, who, You know. by their votes Civ.
en- in Congress upon the Gag Rule, and
other kindred questions, and all the leading
men, believe, who have been talked of fol
President by that paltv are against any in
reference by Congress, relative to slavery
|. in the District of Columbia, or in the Ter
ritories. | do not say it is so with the lea
ders of that party in this State, but in tn,
other free States think it is.
How then can an entire abolitionist d.
any act that will tend to elect one of tina
party President, even those who agree witt
them in their general politics? Is not thu
head ola party that all. or nearly all, 60 il
body against the abolition measures, more
dangerous to the great and good cause, thar
the head of party who is himself agains
anti slavery, but his whole party. or nearly
all, in the free States, for itl The Wing
Cuu uCdu CucCh SuicI, Dul tis
Locos will back and support theirs; there
fore without imputing any bad motives tt
the party, or their leaders, yet as their views
! of the Constitution and the public policy
are against relief to the slaves any where
ought they not to he considered the pro-sla
!, very party, and therefore ought Lot to ex
pect the support of anti-slavery men! Cal
the slaves back be safely trusted to thei
. opinions and policy
: | believe therefore in giving my vote 70
MIR. Clay, in the emergency supposed.
shall act in the spirit the freemen's oath
which says, "rhat when you give your vot,
, or suffrage, touching the State of Vermont
you will do it so as in your conscience yol
t shall judge will most conduce to the bes
: good of the same," which. suppose, means
d measures, not men, and that it is better t.
I vote for candidate for President who il
III. "A