Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-08-16
LETTER FROM CASSIUS NJ. CLAY.
l. a z


Gentlemen: have Just received your letter of
the 10th instant, inviting me to attend a meeting
of the Wings Of Ashtabula County on the 18th day
of July next. regret that my engagements, IL
mong which is an appointment on my part to com
mand the volunteer uniform troops of this State TO
be encamped on that day, will prevent my accep-
lance of your polite and complimentary invitation
had the honor to be member of the Harris
burgh National Convention of 1889; | well remem-
Der the deep emotions which pervaded that noble
band of the Conscript Fathers Of the Republic, a
mong whom few of my age had the honor to Sit
The monstrous and frequent usurpatons Of Andrew
Jackson had produced in the minds of observant
men, who loved Republicanisn, the most painful
forebodngs of an absolute loss Of liberty. 1t was
therefore, no miserable party trick, which mpelled
us to separate without a formal manifesto of Wing
policy but an all-absorbing love of liberty and
bic resistance to tyranny swallowed up the many
subjects of material and economical interests about
which we might have differed, and all acquiesced
IN the absorbing necessity of concentrated effort
to revive in the hearts of the people, the sumber
ing fires of T6 If tears were shed by aged and
clear headed patriots on the occasion, it was not
only because they parted with their long tried friend
and leader, II. Clay, they then supposed forever
unrewarded for the gallant services of 30 years de-
rotlon to his country, but because there arose in
the bosoms OF all then present generous sense of
mutual sacrifice, devotion to country and to free
dom which could not but display itself in that ter
proud spirits are not ashamed to weep. From that
moment, when many had almost despaired of the
Republic, new and irresistible ardor was spread
through the Wing ranks of the Republic which
resulted in the ever memorable triumph of the Pat
riot Harrison.
l'know not how 1t may be with you, men of Ohio,
but IN my bosom the same emotions are vet living
not at all cfiaced by time the relative position
OF our cause with regard to the preservation of this
great Commonwealth. If the vital faith in the ca
pablllty OF men for self government, be not Wing
doctrine, then am no Wing. If equality of suf:-
rage, of political privilege and social position de-
pendent solely upon virtue and talent, be not Wing
principles then am no Wing. In word if lib
erty-true virtuous, constitutional liberty be not
the basis of the Wing party, then am Ino Wing.
II is this vital and living principle of the Whigge-
ry of 10 which next to God is the object OF my
perpetual alteration, that gives that position, which
grleve to say to say induces you now to call upon
me to be with you. If have any power, it is not
the power OF genius OF learning, far less of facti-
tious position. If | ana knowntto you at all it is
because of the power of principle-I cannot mo-
nopoze tit is mine-t is yours--it belongs to
our country-to all mankind. while do not UNI
derrate the subordinate projects of Wing policy l
prefer to nger upon the great and eternal lines OF
separation between the perties--the one advocates
law-the other anarchy-the one appeals to reason
the other to prejudice end passion-the one builds
up-the other pulls down--the one is for advance
ment in comfort and civilization, by creating wealth
the other for selfindulgence on the proceeds OF
the labor of others already expended-the one fol
the honest distribution of the proceeds of labor by
governmental action-the other for spos by the
monopoly of Office The one is consevative-the
other revolutionary. The Wings for libery-the
Democracy for slavery
Such is the creed Of the Wing party, in which
have grown to manhood--it will do to live by
with brotherhood as expansive as the race of man
itAnows no distinction Of nation, tongue, or colo
universal in its principles as the Christian Re
gion ITSELF it has followed hard in its footsteps ant
when rightly combined, they are the basis of tht
highest moral, physical and mental well being o
which civilization is capable-the evolution Of al
those conditions which concentrated in the
single phrase-h,tman happiness.
Let US then, fellow Wings, of Ohio, look to i
that in our success in 1874, which clearly fore
see, we obtain no barren triumph Whilst we a
void war, rapine and dishonor, by repudating Tex
as and its reckless adherens whilst we purify tbs
administration of the Government; protect and ell
evate labor; restore sound currency and put tht
States in condition to wipe off the stain of repudi
alton and strengthen the bonds Of constitutional idu
let us also give sour vote and our influence on al
proper occasions" to vindicatc the Declaration o
Independence and restore our good name among
nations by making eternal war upon slavery, wheth
err it come from the executive or the constituent
till liberty and union" shall pervade the Who'll
land.
Yours, truly,