Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-10-18
MIR. CLAY AND ANNEXATION,


forded an uncommonly favorable occasion
for the Development of the dishonest, but
invariablc tactics of the Locofoco party of
this country.
The Wings have presented to the people
as their candidate, man, who throughout
long and eventlul life in the public service,
has without any variablcness or shadow of
turning, pursued the plan of frankly and
openly avowing his sentiments on all sub
jects Of public interest, regardless entirely of
their probable or possible effect upon his own
prospects ofpreferment. From his first en-
trance into public life, this perfect freedom
from the demoralizing faint of ron. comnittal,
has been his most remarkable Characteristic,
and many of his honorable adversaries began
the o~',est by candid avowa that they
were now about to meet fair opponent,
concerning whose views they apprehended
no chance of misconccption.
But although it would seem that IN regard
to such man, the elements opposition could
hope to gather but little aid by recourse to
misrepresentation and the attrlbuton of opin-
ions not his own; yet the fertility of Loco
tocoism in dishonest and dshonorable means
of offensive warfare, has demonstrated that
this very frankncss and candor, may be turn.
ed to good account by reckless and unscru-
pulous enemy.
The man of candor, holding his own opn-
ions firmly and decidedly, and therefore
needing none of the tortuous absrusilies Of
noncomnitalism to represent them in Ian
guage, is very apt to express himselfin strong
and direct terms, which while to man seek
ing the intention of the author, they convey
the IDEAS intended, are yet extremely apt TO
present an opportunity for malevolent per-
version ard reckless Justification. |, is the
careful, cautious holder ofopinions which are
intended for the public market, who uses
language which must either mean the thing
essential or mean nothing. 1t is an a,trl-
butte of frankness 10 presume the existence
of the same quality in others, and hence the
genius of housing rascals is usually turned
toward the congenial task of seizing on every
expression of ii great man, which Industrious
malice can pervert, to fasten opinions upon
him which he never entertained.
The present canvass therefore has proved
a nine of wealth in this line, to the profound
politicians who do the dirty work Of Locofo-
coism. Mr.. Clay never held an opinion of
which there is not abundant evidence in the
possession of the people. Every where, on
all proper occasions he has promulgated his
opinions TO the public, although he and his
friends well knew that on all questions at is
; sue, with perhaps the exception of anncxa-
ton, they could be but condensed repetitions
of the eloquent language Of his whole life.
Yet tine Jackals of party, obeying the behesis
of their superors, have labored necessarily
E to prove that his opinions on all subjects Of
political importance, are precisely the reverse
of those to the advocacy of which his life has
been devoted. And this they have done, of
course very logically, and much 10 their own
, satisfaction by dishonest garbling Of his
0 speeches and letters, and his labored reason
! ing, founded on premises TO which not only
his whole public life, but the very speeches
and letters themselves, truly interpreted, in
. evlably give the lie.
:, The issue of Annexation so basely stolen
from the poverty stricken Tyler, and with
such inefiable efirontery thrust into The con-
tes, in the northern as well as the southern
. States. presents the most favorable field for
t, MISREPRESENTATION of Mr.. Clay. The whole
!. effort of the Polka, party, in all their vile
J. fals,ica,ons of his frank and straightforward
: expressions of opinion on this subject, has
been to prove that he entertained views re-
e, cording annexation, as vile, shameless and
" abominable as their own. If,hey had sue
\ cecded, il would, and it ought to have de-
ID stroyed his prospects, at least in every north
i. ern State. 1t sometimes seems TO relieve
villain of portion of his load, TO be able to
a prove that somebody else is as great viii
of lain as himself. Thus It has been with the
i'd men who in the north advocate annexation
'e with its hideous train of complicated sins and
n evils. 1t seemed to help their case some
re wha, to have some puppy read them frothy
article wherein it was proved mathematicaly
" tina, Henry Clay was in favor of immediate
~ ~, annexation, in spite of his repeated dcclara
,re lions to the contrary. Of course therefore
od the annexation lie has served as wadding Il
'n every Polkat pop-gun since Mr.. Clay
Ct second letter. 1t was medicine demanded
NJ by the Locofoco stomach, and "where Their
-. is demand there will bca supply, especial
~" when il costs no more than that Locofoc
81, shn,1ld fllsify the truth.