Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-05-21
To John Porter, acting editor ofhe Free Pres,

noDle wings oil Inc "Old Domlnon,'
To John Porter, acting editor of the Free Press:
FRIEND JOHN: was sorry to see proposition
that you made in the last number of the Free
Press, for the reason that | entertain the notion
that you are stalking a valuable article (your lle)
against nothing, or as near that as may be. You
offer to 60 10 Mexico, TO fight the Mexicans, if e.
ther Of certain individuals IN your village will co.
Now, friend Porter, by the time that you have ar
rived at the age Of forty, you will have learned
that there is good deal Of humbuggery in this,
our republican country, and that certain individ.
uals claim, and always will claim, to be the excu.
sive guardians Of humbuggery; and the ones you
refer TO in your proposition are of those that claim
that guardianship in this community. Now, if
the vrtuous and pure Of community would assert
and maintain their privilege of leading in matters
of public interest, then affairs would be different;
but, alas for our country, the base and vicious are
The principal brawers and directors of public
opinion. For example, take the individuals that
you refer to (and they are pretty fair match)
and examine their characters and their conduct
for some twenty years back, and what a humilia-
ting spectacle does it exhibit. There may be
some who hate and fear them on account of their
one that loves and respects them. or that has that
confidence in them that cilizens ought to have in
one another. Now do not consider me as hatter-
ing you in this communication: you are a young
man that can make yourself useful if you try 10,
to your feIlow-cllzens: therefore, think il was
wrong in you to stake your life against the life oc
as worthless and cast off things as those you have
proposed TO 60 10 Mexico with. You are an ed-
H., -, H., ,,fT
but know too well your opinions and views 10
regard to the interest and welfare Of our beloved
country 10 doubt, for moment the propriety of
an old acquaintance addressing you in a familiar
line, or 10 suppose that you would back out from
any proposition that you had made, that was fair
and honorable. My object was merely to give
you friendly hint to not be drawn into any posi-
ton by the drawings of vicious and corrupt dem
agogues. Knowing that whenever our country
needs the services of her gallant and patriotic
sons that you will not be among the last to carry
her stars and stripes against the foe, subscribe
myself, Your FRIEND.
P.S Oh, had like to forgot 10 ask you ques-
tion which has often come into my head when
hearing these patriots spout about this war, and
the question with me is this: how comes it that
these things that go about public places, courts,
musters, elections, &C., &C., TO urge men to 90
to this war, and 10 advocate it, can't find time to
go themselvesl Do they think themselves too
goodl or do they suppose that it is necessary for
them to stay al home TO run for Congress, and
fill the other Offices in the countryl Some of our
neighbors think it would look as we'll for them to
volunteer themselves, as TO be all thelme preach
ing 10 others what they ought TO do; and they
think too, that some Of these heroes could be spa
red as we'll as better men. Your FRIEND.
0ETThe question of our correspondent covers
so much ground that it cannot be definitely an.
swered without reviewing the political history of
the country for the last two or three years;-a
task which we have not, at this time, the leisure
to undertake. The results of the elections held
within the past year, has proclaimed, in language
not to be misunderstood, the popular opinion rel
alive TO the war, and the fate that surely awaits
the Administration that mady involved US in it.
Hence shuffling and mock-enthusiasm arc resort.
cd to, to hide the waning fortunes Of the Admin.
istraIion from the public gaze. Ohice-hoders
and officeseekers who feel more interest in secu.
ring their "bread and buttcr' than they do in pro.
noting the interests of their country are ever the
foremost in this business. They are, commonly,
men without any regular or useful employment,
with desires beyond their means, and ambition
beyond their capacities. They reverse the or
der of the Scip;ures,-" beg they cannot, and
to dig they are ashamed, ,"-and resort to meas.
ures to secure livelihood, which honorable
minded men must everhold in perfect adherence.
Being students of the venerable instructress of
"Paul Clifford" they firmly believe that people
Judge them more by their ,cords than they do by
their actionS,-n fact this has become such a
mania with them, that in their profusion of ,cords
they have ceased to act at all. We find them at
public places and crossroads haucring the people
by compliments and in numerous other ways in
gratiaiing themselves into their favor, and for
what purpose! In our juvenile days we were ac
costed, by neighbor, with "John, you're the best
and smar'es' boy in this country. Come, let US