Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-07-19

i him; you have honored him with marks
OF your confidence, and he was worthy
of them. Now give his letter a candid
perusal, and weigh welthe great truths
he so fOrcibIy presents to your consi
ieralioD:
HAMILToN, June 26, 1894.
Messrs. Editors: Having. after ma
fure reflection, arrived at the conclusion
that it is my duty to cast my vote 'or
Henry CLAY at lhe next Presidential
election. deem it due TO the friends
with whom have acted 10 he liberty
party, and who have been pleased to
honor me with public mark Of their
confidence, frankly 10 stale the reasons
which have brought ne to the Concu-
sion. Il is unnecessary 10 premise that
the contes, Ilos wholly between Mr..
Clay and Mr. Polk None are 50 san.
gune as to expect that Mr., Biruey will
carry single Safe, or even that he can
concentrate the present strength OF the
Liberty party Henry Clay or James
X. PoIk will be the next President Of
these United States. This is morally
certain
What then is the great issue to be De-
cided BY the contest? To my mind 1t
is clearly and individually this, Whether
Texas as She is, with her Sld0ery and
her debS is to be immediQteiy annexed
10 this Union, or not? 10 other words
whether slavery ia this country is to be
placed, humanity speaking, hopelessIy
beyond the reach Of unti~slaVery ef-
forts, and forever or indefinitely perpe-
tunted, or 10 be left as it is exposed to
the opposing influences which are now
30 actively AMI powerfully at work in
Fastening its overthrow. | saw, this, to
my mind, 10 tho great issue There are
other Issues which are 10 Themselves
important to the best Interests of the
country, viz Whelberthe Toritf or anti
Tariff policy is to prevail --whether We
are to have sound sad uniform or an
uncertain and Auctuaring currency, &c /;
but they all 10 my humble opinion sinks
into insigollicance compared with the
Texas question.
That do not mistake or OvetTale the
issue, | am convinced from u serious
consideration Of The declared opinions Of
the opposing candidates, and tho SpCc' al
reason OF Mr.. Pok's nomination. Mr.
Polk has declared himself uneqUivocal.
ly and Internationally for immediate an
nexation. He is understood TO have
cordially approved Of the Tyler ind
Calhoun Treaty, tho Disgrace OF our
country, and The scorn OF the world -
No one who hao considered the history
OF tho late proceedings Of the Democra.
tic nominating convention, can for a
moment doubt that ltd decision turned
upon this Uery question Of Immediate an
nexalion. No candid man of that party
will deny this The Southern Domo-
Gratis made this ateSt question. They
not 70 for immediate annexation. Mr.
Van Buren's adverse letter Che ablest
and best document which ever came
from his pon) sealed his doom,
Tho Northern Democrats strangely
yielded aud yielded on this very ground
1t is asserted, and not denied, that they
held q consultation as their NcQujes.
cence in PoIk's nomination, aud in view
OF an anticipated popularity Of the an
nexaIion scheme, which might carry
him in, notwithstanding the contempt
bic ieebleness Of his personal claims,
they sacrificed their veteran and cher
ished faVorite upon the altar OF Texas,
war aud perpetual slavery! Mr.. Polk
is the candidate emphahcally Of the in
mediate and unconditional annexation
lists! aud il elected by the people Of those
United States, he would regard tho re.
suit as an oOdofsemen. OF his avowed
opinions on this subject and one Of the
first acts Of his Administration would bo
a determined movement TO consummnto
this most nefarious scheme, which would
inevitably involve US in a war with
Mexico, and perhaps with England, and
place, as | have already said, the lOsl
tuition Of Slavery in position to defy
the efforts ol its enemies to overthrow
it for generations to come
What now is tho position of Henry
Clay on this question: His noble and
sa,esman-like letter loaves US in no
doubt. That letter, however it may
have been received in the South, is 70
gOrded as entirely satisfactory to the
North. The strongest aboilonlsDs can
find no fault with it. | coniesS, my
friends, when read that letter, 80 do
cided, clear, abe and satisfactory, breath
ing such spirit Ol lofty ans dis,nterest
ed patriotism, generously aud impartial
ly regarding the best interest of every
section OF our country, must say con-
sdered it mantle large enough 10 co
yer a multitude OF sins