The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-08-01
From the Hamilton Palladium.
Letter from Charles Burchard.
HAMILTON, June 20, 1874

ina! II is my duty TO cast my vote tor
HENRY CLAY at the next Presidential
election, deem it due to the friends with
whom have acted in the Liberty party,
and who have been pleased to honor me
with public mark of their confidence,
frankly 10 state the reasons which have
brought me TO this conclusion. 1t is I'M
necessary 10 premise that the contest lies
wholly between Mr. Clay and Mr. Polk.
None are so sanguine as to expect that
Mr. Birney will carry single State, or
even that he can concentrate the present
strength of the Liberty party. Henry
Clay or James X. Polk will be the next
Presiden, of these United States. This
is morally certain. What then is the great
issue to be decided by the contest2 To
my mind it is clearly and individually
this: Whether Texas as she IS, with her
slavery and her debts is to be Immediately
annexed to this Union. or not? In other
words, whether slavery in this country is
to be placed, humanity speaking, hopeless
ly beyond the reach of antislavery efforts,
and for ever or indefinitely perpetualed, or
10 be left as it is, exposed to the opposing
influences which are now so actively and
powerfully at work in Fastening its over
throw. say. this, TO my mind, is the
great ISSUE There are other issues which
are in themselves important to the great
interests Of the country, VIZ. Whether
the Tariff or AntiTariff policy is to pre-
vail-whether we are 10 have sound and
uniform, or an uncertain and fluctuating
currency, &C.. bu, they oil, in my hum
bic opinion, sink into insignifcence COM
pared with the Texas question. That |
do not mistake or overrate the issue, am
convinced from serious consideration of
the declared opinions of the opposing
candidates, and the special reason of Mr..
Folks nomination. Mr. Polk has decIar-
ed himself unequivocally and unconditiOn-
ally for immediate annexation. He is
understood to have cordially approved of
the Tyler and Calhoun Treaty, the dis
grace OF our country, and the scorn of the
world. No one who has considered the
history of the late proceedings Of the
Democratic nominating convention can
for moment doubt that its decision turn
ed upon this very question of immediate
annexation. No candid man of that par
ly will deny this. The Southern Demo-
Gratis made this test question. They
were resolved to have no man who did
not go ior immediate annexation. Mr.
Van Buren's adverse letter Che a5lest and
best document which ever came from his
pen) sealed his doom. The Democrats of
the North strangely yielded, aid yielded
TOO on this very ground. 1t is asserted,
and not denied, that they held consula.
ton as TO their acquiescence in Folks
nomination, and in view of an anticipated
popularity o! the annexation scheme, which
might carry him in, notwithstanding the
contemplate ieebIeness of his personal
claims, they sacrificed their cherished ia,
vorite upon the altar of Texas, war and
perpetual slavery! Mr. Polk is the can
didate emphatically of the immediate un>
conditional annexationists and if elected
by the people of these United States, he
would regard it as an endorsement OF his
avowed opinions on this subject, and one
Of the first acts Of his administration
aoo~Id be q determined Increment to cor
summate this nefarsous scheme, which
soOuld inevitably involve as IN q aoar scith
Merico, and perhaps s0itA ENGLAND, and
place, as 1 said. the Institution of SLave-
ry IN position TO defy the efforts of its
enemies TO overthrOao II for generations TO
come.
What now is the position of Henry
Clay on this question His noble and
statesman-like letter leaves US in no doubt.
That letter, however it may have been re.
ceived in the South, is regarded as entire
" satisfactory 10 the North. The strong.
est abolitionsts can fnd no fault with it.
[ confess, my friends, when | read that
letter, so decided, clear, able and satisfac.
tory, breathing such a spirit of lofty and
disiuterested patriotism, generousl y and
impartally regarding the best interests Of
every section of our country, must say
considered it mantle large enough to
cover a multitude of SINS. Whatever
faults belong 10 Henry Clay, open hearted
honesty has not been denied him by his
billerest enemies, who knew him or had
any honesty themselves. do not there.
fore have any fears of Mr. Clay on the
Texas question. The noble sentiments
of his letter will govern him in this mat s
ter, and that villainous scheme of the adj l.
vocates of perpetual slavery, and swind-
ling spectators and land scrip owners, to c
hang around the neck Of this nation, the
slave holding, inSolvent, Botany Bay OF =
The American continent, can find no favor 1
while he stands at the helm of this gov> I
Here, then, repeat, is the is t
sue before the American people: Polk, S
Teas, War and perpetual slavery, or t
Henry Clay, no Texas, no War, and
Slavery, lat the wors) left as it is. ,
However others may feel, confess as
an honest abolitiOnist, and a sincere lover