Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-28
CASsIUS vi. CLAWS LETTER TO THE
PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

While was battling in the North, in TRAM
gular fight, with Wings, AboIitonists and. Demo-
Gratis, for the postulate that what the law makes
is property, and that all good citizens
should abide by the law, till they can, in legal
and constitutional manner, conform it to their
conscientious standard of morality, the southern
press was dcnouncing me as wishing to employ
the army and navy ofthe United States in the
forcible liberation of the slaves. The many cal
umnies, Institutions against my fidelity to the
laws and State allegiance, | shall not coadescend
to repel. say to those who are so nsiduousy
attempting to prejudice me in the confidence Of
the Wig party, that | shall nothing palIiate OF
deny; conscious OF my own duty to the Ameri-
can people, have fearessly discharged il: and
as l never played the sycophant to men for the
sake office, through sacrificing some personal
pride in the cause of the political principles Of
that party, to some portion Of which l owe moth
ing, SO in defeat, have nothing to deplore but
the common caamities of the country.
To the people of kentucky | would humbIy
suggest TINT | am the son Of one OF the first pio-
neers of the Wcst-a man who in an obscure
way, rendered some service to his country, both
in the council and in the field he was one Of the
founders of the State Constitution & his services
we're not unappreciated by those who have per-
petuated his memory, by giving his name to one
of the counties of the commonwealth ! speak
not Of these things in vain spirit, or for over
weening hlial affection, but to remind those men
of yesterday, that they are presuming too much
upon popular credulity, and their own signifi-
canoe, when they set themselves up as the eXcIu-
siye guardians otthe honor and welfare Of the
State, and undertake to denouuce and ostracise
me as an enemy Of the country Having some
small interest in the soil, as well as the good
name of the commonwealth, with all my humili-
ty and love Of equality, | cannot but give utter
ance to some touches of contempt and indigna-
ton towards those feeders upon the crumbs which
fall from other mems tables, who affect SO much
sensbility about the property ofthe country. Ii
there is in our State something improper or dam
gerous TO be talked or written about, | put it to
every true and manly Kentuckian, if that thing
is not improper and dangerous in its existence
among US? And if so, is he who undertakes to
remove the evil, the enemy ofhis country! Or
rather, is not that man, who seeing the wrong,
for the sake Of popularity, and narrow selfin-
terest, in opposition to the welfare of the great
mass of the people, dares not attempt its eXtinc-
ton, a traitor and coward, and truly deserving
the execration Of his countrymenl am not
ashamed to admit that am the uncrompromisiog
foe of tyranny, wherever displayed and proud
ly ayow myself the eternal enemy Of slavery. Az
the same time, eXperiepce-taught charity warns
me TO lose none ofmy sympathy for the slave
holder, because Of his misfortune or his fault;
and whilst would be just to the black am
free to confess, that every feeling Of association,