Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-09-24
AN ABLE LETTER-A STRONG MAN
HAS ABANDONED LOCOFOCOISAI!

AN ABLE LETTER-A STRONG MAN
HAS ABANDONED LOCOFOCOISM!
We copy from the Summit Beacon, the
main portion Of powerful and convincing
letter, from very prominentand infuen-
tial man, who has heretofore acted and
voted with the Locofoco party, but who
now gives to the public and to his friends
his reasons for enlisting under the banner
ofthe Wings, erected on the true Democra-
tic platform. We need not add word Of
Comment in order to ensure for his letter
the Calm and considerate perusaI, Of all in
whose hands it may fall. Those who COM
mence reading it, will not stop until they
have finished, and it will not fail to pro-
duce conviction in the mind of every can
did and rejecting man. 1t Is directed to
the Secretary Of the Clay Club OF AIron:-
o. S. Journal
''In acting with the Democratic party
heretofore, have never pledged myself to
any course. or measures which would not
be approved by considerations Of duty and
patriotism. In the ueso issues which have
lately been forced on the Democratic party,
] am called upon not On to abandon my
long cherished opinions and principles, but
to support measures which believe dam
gerous to the very existence OF Republican
Institutions,
Party organization is useful in free
Government, so far as by association Of 0c-
tion on the part of individuals, it secures
a wise and Just administration Of the Gov
ernment. But when it becomes in the
hands of selfish and designing men, an in
strument to promote their ambitious de-
signs; or when il assumes to dictate to the
people what men and what measures they
shall support--as did the late Baltimore
Convention in nominating Mr.. Polk and
forcing new issues upon the Democratic
party--it becomes irresponsible tyranny,
destructive alike of public and individual
liberty.
The question now seems to be, whether
the people shall maintain their undoubted
rights Of freedom ofopinion and the nomi-
nation Of their own men to office, or whe-
ther they shall abandon their taVorite men
and adopt measures dangerous to the very
existence of the American Union. These
are crave issues and do not see how any
man can vote for Mr.. Polk without sane
tioning as great an act of violence and in
Justice as was ever committed by any de-
liberate body against the rights Of the peo,
pie. Does not the principle that the ma
iority shall rule, lie at the very foundation
of Republican Institutions, and is moi, Mr.
Polk a minority candidate, forced 0BgthC
Democratic party, agains. the known and
declared wishes of large majority? Was
not the Democratic party in the Free States
and with occasional exceptions Throughout
the Union, opposed to the infamous pro
iect of the annexation of Texas! Did moi
Colonel Benton, Mr.. Van Buren, and others
truly represent the wishes and opinions
of the parry on that question! | well re-
collect when the subject was first brought
before Congress by President Tyer's Trea
ty, this measure was denounced as inta'
mous-G Hick--G kind of .forlOrR hope
measure; to reanimate and bolster up the
waning fortunes of Mr.. Tyler. This TOT
was the just and uniform expression
throughout the country.
What has produced this sudden affec
ton for measure which few days agt
was denounced as infamous by nearly thu
entire body ofthe Democracy! Hook upol
this change as an alarming evidence of tn
power-the omaipOtem pot0er-cf party
drill over the opinions and conduct o
men. In this question the people hav
been cheated and an issue forced upol
them with which they have no sympathy
and | should consider myself recreant II
my Country (however true such a course
might be regarded to party if | could b.
brought by party drill to sustain nomna
ton made in such manner.
Persons entertaining similar views will
myself on this subject, excuse themse ve
for supporting Mr.. Polk on the ground o
old attachments to the party; and for tn
sake of preserving, IN appearance at least
of political consistency. But what object
there in preserving our attachments to
party which has abandoned all the cherish
ed objects which in its better days diSiil
guished W And how can we preserve oil
attachments when the known and &C
knowledged leaders of the party have beef
thrown overheard! 1t is well known tha
Mr.. Van Buren, and Governor Shannon
and host Of other eminent men in Ohit
and throughout the Union, refuse to sub
scribe to all the new tests and dangerou
doctrines of the progressive democracy
IA democracy, satisfied, in the Language
of one of its leading organs, with nothing
o. less than ga ready and cordial adherence
to the 6oLdea and most radical measures o
the party" Mr. Van Buren, and Governo
Shannon were not swift of foot enough t.
keep pace with the rapid strides OF th
progressive democracy and have beel
thrown overheard can for myself SCI
nothing in the Polk party to identify then
with the old and cherished principles O
JeffersoniaN Democracy to which | an
and ever have been devotedly attached.
The new tests, as | understand them