Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-22
siIas wright ON the wiImot Proviso.

My Dear Sir our letter Of the 10th, and
its enclosure, came to me to-day, and hasten
to reply. None Of the articles to which you al
lude had met my notice, although Mr. Bryant
sends to me the sem-weekly Post. was not
aware, therefore, that my opinions on the sub
ject Of the Wilmot Proviso had become matter
OF newspaper discussion. i certainly was not
aware that they could be n matter Of dispute or
doubt have not been ambitious TO promuleate
my opinions upon this or any public subject;
but have not, at any time, ms you arc double
witness, withheld the expression Of them upon
this subject when called upon to express them.
If the question had been propounded to me at
any period of my public life, shall the arms Of
the Union be employed TO conquer, or the money
Of the Union be used to purchase territory now
constitutionally free, for the purpose of planting
slavery upon ii, / should have answered, MOI
And this answer to this question is the Wilmot
Pruviso, as understand il. am surprised that
any one should suppose me capable of entertain
ing any other opinion or giving any other answer
to such n question
The two conversations To which YOU allude-
the one had with yourself at Major Flagg's, and
the other held at the boarding-house Of Niessrs
Townsend, Small, Stewart and Keyscr-are fresh
IN my recollection, and in both of which / ex-
pressed, frankly, the opinions | entertained, both
in relation to the Proviso and Col. Younes reso-
lutons, and those opinions were decidedly favor
able to both.
have repeatedly stated in such conversations,
NJ. NJ I1 p uiu 70 YOU, IN inc conversation at
.iHjor lAeg , mat Sir hing' IN making himself
s1e aulnor Oh tne movement at the last session
IL Sonsiess MAO ac.e1 wl'nout any consultation
wy. Int anu MAY 4 couid nave had my per
soiai onoice, sn1uiu nave preferred that he
would have left that to some other person, be-
cause It would be and was charged that he was
acting from motives notavowed, and through nv
nnPuisl ~ LEI mat nao no complaint 70 make
agniils. mr. hlns' ana no right 70 ask hlmto yield
ms sense oi usty 10 my personal wishes, because
Ahe" ms opinions and inc strength OF his feel
ihgs upon that SUBJECT and was therefore salts
neu una. ne was acnng upon the most sincere,
consclsh'ous CONVICTIONS OF right, and that con.
soeIeu nis movement right IN ITSELF and sound
IN Pnneipie.
am surprised at the ctooe articles, as, with
ene eAeepuon o. s1eh remarks as have just re-
gea'eo, rs 10 ar Ming peing The mover OF the
iio'iso, ca, nave sl,a ho'ning irom winch any
n " ~, sIu;u ,hier any on my part
!, 81 n,,s Iopiss, anu .ras' ,nese remarks
"a ~ ~ ~ III aei:approoanon
~ ae', niuch iess u nis p.oPos'uon.
:. nav narAsu TINS seuer private 70 show
saa' - y MOI lnlenaeI lor PuoAcau9n' put WISH
you SNOW u 10 sir bryant. A, the SANE time,
! WISH 70 say 70 you ana 10 nun TINT when 1t can
- 49,
bersona' opinions upon any popnc question made
me sucJeet o. discussion IN the newspapers 1t
imposs.ole 70 separate such discussions, IN the
Punne MIND, rom an impression either that the
in1ivluuai %nse. Wishes ms opinions promulga-
.su, or .na' ms nlenus pIonuigale them because
Ihey tilnk tney "ii lnhlence others whilst If
tnere Is dispute ABOUT what opinions are really
4. yn'er'alneu, INC iinpncauon 70 many minds Is
1n I eoniIaueIory opinions nave ncen expressed
AnoI ~ = MOI, IN .nis case, my insnus VINO are
PromuisAung my opinions, put mat uhey are try
ing 10 correct erroneous opinions imputed to mt"
my oniy ollec., therefore, IN .nis remark Is to
= sque,u MAJ .ne subject may De disposed OIL so
,sr 5 hir anu yoursei shaii think It prac-
acaple, without piotracted discussion. 1t may
DC closed n peiope you get this but II not sug-
sess INA. nir bryant snouid say, IN very sum
may way ,nat ne mas no knowledge OF who the
ny, warmest anu most sincere trends OF Governor
wright are referred TO by the Globe, but THAI
ne SPEAKS from evidence that proves them mis-
ukeh as 10 the opinions oil that gentleman upon
this subject that he is opposed in principle TO
the conquest OF purchase Of territory now free,
ior the purpose OF incorporating slavery upon it,
that ne thinks It an appropriate tune to declare
Ia