Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-08-30
INTERESTING LETTER.

The following letter from the Hon. William
Sade, of Middlebury the Wing candidate for
Governor, who was requested to address the Mass
Convention at Sheldon on the 18th ultno, will be
read with deep interest:
MIDDLrBURY, July 10, 1874.
Gro. FREDERICK HouGHToN, Esq.
Dear Sir,-lour letter in behalf of the Wing l.
Committee of Franklin county, inviting me to at
tend Mass Convention at Sheldon on the 18th
inst. has been received. have delayed answer
from my strong desire to make it in the Affirmative
if could find it possible to dispense with other en-
gagements long enough to allow me the pleasure of
meeting my friends at the contemplated gathering.
But find myself compelled to decline your invita-
ton, the duties of my Office being, at present, too
urgent TO admit Of any relaxation.
] shall long remember the pleasure ! enjoyed in
my visit to Sheldon in 1910, and should be exceed
ngly happy again to meet with my fellow citizens
of Franklin county, and commune with them con-
corning the great matters OF national interest which
now occupy the public attention. The contest Of
this year, need not say, exceeds, in importance, |
the contest of 1910, for there superadded to the
questions of that year, others of great and absorbing
interest. The question of protection to our indus
! try, then little discussed, has come to assume an
importance, which makes the protective policy the
leading theme in political discussions. At the
| termination OF a contest more severe, protracted
and hazardous, than any tariff contest, perhaps
which the country ever witnessed, the Wings of the
9th Congress succeeded in establishing a tariff,
whose adequacy for protection, and whose benefi-
cial influence upon the exhausted Treasury, and
the deranged exchanges the country, the lapse of
less than two years has abundantly attested. That
tariff, need not say, is in danger destruction
at least in so much danger there is danger that
our opponents shall triumph in the pending contest
The undeniable hostility of their Presidential can
ddate to the tariff of 1912, brings the question of
its destruction to an issue which canno: be avoided.
Shall that Tariff stand, with no changes but such
as its most cautious friends may find, on the expe-
rence the equalization of protection to all interests
demands or shall it be swept foom the statute
book, as was attempted at the late session Of Con-
gress? are questions which are suspended upon
the discussions and decisions of this very year.
know there are not wanting efforts TO MAKE it ap-
pear otherwise to the people of Vermont = efforts,
in fact, to show that the very father of the proec-
tive policy has become Indifferent to its support,
while his rival for the Presidency, whose public ca
reer has been marked with undisguised hostility to
it. has become its friend The discussions of this
year will dispel this delusion; and while they de-
monstrate, if demonstration can now be needed, the
adequacy of the existing tariff, will show who are
and who are not, the true and reliable friends Of
this great interest | am glad to see the people
awake to this subject, and rejoice to witness their
disposition to gather in mass meetings to discuss
it. When they come thoroughly to understand
this great question, they will decide it rights and
they will determine that it is safer to commit this
new professions made for special occasion.
But there is a new and fearfully important ques
ton which has been suddenly thrown before the
country, to be decided in the present contest.
mean the question of annexing foreign nation to
our confederacy-a question, involving, as it seems
TO me- nothing less than the very existence of thi:
Union. The contamination Of this project, which
awaits the triumph of our opponents in this years
contest, will be tantamount 10 an act declaring thu
union dissolved and if actual dissolution does no
follow, it win not be owing to any cohesive powe
in the constitution, after the coniederacy shall have
lost its identity in the new and monstrous connex
ion with foreign state.
J There is no aspect in which this measure can b.
viewed, in which it does not portend evil and we
there are thousands who are suddenly going for il
with much confidence, as though they had mad
this great questionable greatest in fact that eve
agated this nation-the study of their whole lives
, In the facility of change thus exhibited, upon
question OF the greatest conceivable moment to thl
country, there is ground of alarm, extending ia
, beyond the limits of the question itself. What ma
Y mol the power Of party accomplish, If 1t can wor
Z the wonder of suddenly raising up, as by magic
/ friends TO such a measure as this? What IS to he
come of our country, if its highest interests ar
thus TO be made the sport OF party ?-if men ar
l. thus to be moved in Masses and wheeled into lin
d at the bidding of party leaders? | do not ask TIN
. lauestion in the spirit of party. No no This
a matter which rises far above all party considera
. tons, and appeals to higher sentiment than eve
= found place in the bosom of mere partizan.-
e Opposition to this gigantic scheme is not anon
n the things which may be given up for the sake c
: securing some good which party may aim TO 'ac
s complish, and which can only be accomplished b
Q party union To hold on to party union, wit
such sacrifice, would not be "unon for the SAX
,, of the Union" but union with the certainty of it
i destruction.
8 need not say that the success Of our opponent
}. in this Presidential election would be the success
k of this measure Their candidate has been selec
ed for the very purpose of carrying it. He is con
If mited to it irrsvocaby. And where is Henry Clay