Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-08-21
HETTER FROM sWfLLI4M slADE

soidue' wing candidate Tor Governor IN
vermont, was addressed to theaMasss Con-
Ventlon at Sheldon. 1t is a commanding
sexpression of lofty sentiments and inporo
tant truths.
MIDDLEBuRE, July1O, 1874.
Geo Frsd(HoUghton, ESQ.
DFAR SIR'Your letter in behalf of
me wing Commttee1of Franklin county.
nnEltlng me to attend Mass Convention
sat Sheldon on the 18th inst. has been re-
SceiVed. have delayed an answer, from
my strong desire to make it affirmative, ifI
could find itpossible to dispense with 9TH
@r engagements long enough to allow me
the pleasure of meeting my friends 1T the
contemplated gathering. But | find N.Y.
sself compelled to decline your invitation.
the duties OF my office being, at present,
too urgent toadmt Of any relaxation.
Ishall long remember the pleasure en-
joyed in my visit to Sheldon in 1870. and
should be exceedingly happy again TO
mingle with my feilow-citizens ofFranklin
county, and commune with them concern
ing the great matters of national interest
which W., now occupy the public attention.
Inc contest OF this year, | need not say,
exceed III Importance, the contest of 1910.
lor theretre supefadded to the stions of
thatyear others of great ana absorbing in
terest. The question of Protection to oar
Industry, then little discussed, has come
Ito assume an Importance which makes the
protective policy the leading theme mail
our public discussions AT the termination I
oI contest more severe, prOhacted and |
hazardous tnan any Tariff contest, per-
maps, which the country ever witnessed.
the Wings OF the tWenty-seventb Con
gfess succeeded IN establishing q TaIT,
whose adequacy for Protection, and whose !
beneficial influence upon the exhausted
Treasury and the deranged exchanges of
The country, the lapse of less than two
years has abundantly tested. That "a Il
iii, need not say, is in danger of destr1ic- !
uoL-al least, lnso much danger as there =,
IL danger that our opponents shall triumph "
In the pending contest. The undeniable '
hostility OF their Presidential candidate to Il
the larIii OF l842, brings tie question ofits a
destruction to an ISSUE which cannot be u
avoided. Shall that Tariff stand, with no II
changes but such as its most cautious o
trends may find, on experience, the eoui- u
'il2atlon OF Protection to all interests de- al
nandsl or shall it be swept from the statute n
'Dook' as was attempted at the late session az
ol Cohgres5 are questions which are sus a
Pended'upon the discussions and decisions 1T
~oi this very year | know there are NOT Pl
wanting efforts to make it appear other III
wise to the people Of Vermont--efforts. in N
tact to show that the very father of the
Protective policy has become Indifferent to III
It's support, while his rival for the Presi- III
dency, whose whole public career has C
been marked with undisguised hostility to a
1t, has becomeits friend TIE discussions u
oi TINS year will dIspeI this delusion, and Pi
whlIe they demonstrate, if demonstration
can now be needed, the adequacy of the
existing Tariff, will show who are, and et
who are not, the true and reliable friends as
OF this great Interest s0
am glad to see the people awake to al
this subject and rejoice to witness their
disposition to gather in mass meetings GO
discuss it. When they become thoroughly .,
TO understand this great question, they fl
Will decide 1t right; and they will deter no w.
mlne that It s safer to commit this interest p,
to It's old and tried friends, than to trust to d.
new professions made for special occa. 90, D'
sion. oo'
But there is new and fearfuy mpor rel
tant question which has been suddenly Nc
thrown before the country, to be decided be-
IN the present contest. | mean the uues- be,
ton anneXlng foreign nation to our con- lee
iederacy-a question involving, as itseems COZ
to me- nothing less than the verv eyis wi
tence Of this Union The consrnrnation wi
OF this project, Which aweits the triumph 90,
ol our opponents in this years contest, am
VIII be t0ntamOunt to an act declaring the sl
Union dissolved; and if actual dissolution inc
does not follow, it will not be owing to any No
cohesive power in the Constitution, after wa
the con.ederacy shall have lost its identity, to
in the new and monsrous eonnexion with cor
b" iUI,e'gh m, S'a'e' tiol
lhele Is no aspect in which this aues- ter
tlon can be viewed, in which it docs not car
portend evil and yet there are thousands con
who are suddenly going for it, with as the
much confidence as though they had made int,
this great questionable greatest, in fact, bee
that ever agItated this nutiOn--the study we
OF their whole lives. In the facility Of the
change thus exhibited, upon question of mi,
the greatest conceivable moment TO the vil
country, there is ground ofuIarm, eytend- ber
ing far beyond the limits Of the question ran
itself What may not the power of party cou
accomplish, if it can work the wonder of D.
suddenly raising up as by magic, friends
to such ameasure as this, What is 10 be- zee
come ot'Ourcountry, ii its highest interests des
are thus L. be made the sport of party! if CO.
men are to be thus moved in masses ma thu
wheeled into line, at the bidding Of party I
leaders! | do not ask this question IN the dec
spirit OF party, No!-no! This Is mat ml
ter which rises far above all party consid. ing
eranonG, and appeals to higher scnti- o
ment ihGT ever found place in the bosom NO,
OF mere partisan. Opposition to this gi- or
gantc sohena is not among the things inn
which may hehiyen up for the sake of Sc
curing some good which party may aim wi
to accomplish, and which can only bodc- nm