Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-10-07
Correspondence Of The Indiana State Sentinel.
WAsHrNerox, SEPr. %, 1917.

TIE Wilnot Proriso-Great necessity IF harmony IN
the ranks of the DemOcracy-SiaS Wigh-The
.NsV York State Agricultural Society Protective
policy.
regret to learn, through the public papers, and also
through private channels that the great agricultural
fair of New York has not, this year, come up to pub
lie expectation has not, in fact, in any degree, been
equal to its annual predecessors; agricuu
raj point of view. The arrangements on the part of
the citizens of Saratoga. where the fair for this year
was held and also, on the part of the officers of
society, were highly satisfactory and praiseworhy
but amongst the members-he only source as all who
have attended such exhibitions frequently, will agree
of pre-eminent Observation-Disclosures, lukewarmness,
and very great want of laudable competition pre-
vailed
Nothing, perhaps, lent so much interest, solemn
though that interest was the OCCASION as the read
ing of the address of Silas Wright by General Dix
| hive read the address, carefully and attentivey
and. whilst it would be almost impossible for me 10
say lchich of the products of that mighty intellect
most admired, as it would be to tell Which of my
children most doated upon, cannot for the life of
me- persuade myself that this is his masterpiece
And can pronounce higher eulogy upon it! Sllas
Wrght's masterpieces No, nothing this side of
Aattery, constitute higher praise. 1t is repIete
with tie authors characteristic logic simplicity of
thought and symmetry of expression.
IL has uniformly been, you know, the remark of
protectionlsts that free trade beautiful thing on
pa per but it will not bear the test of DOWNRIGHT ex
pertinent" Gov. Wright embraced the hest and most
appropriate occasion imaginable, to prove that this
was entirely gratuious-that the very reverse was in
fact, true; feeling and conviction that are aud
have been Tor years, gaining ground in the minds Of
the agricuurists of country throughout its vast
extent. Protective tariffs, such have their
days numbered, thank Gud in this land where the
first blow for liberty struck under the venerable
motto of - Free trade and sailors rights"
1t will be difficult to find statesman that will fill
Mr.. Wrght's place. But few men in America have
secured that indeble confidence of the toiling mil
lions Of his country, irrespective of locality, which
he possessed. And nowhere will his loss BE- more
manifest than in the democratic party; of which he
was at once an ornament and beacon light; for, in
the darkest hour of that partys adversely, no one
was more ready to yield his personal cams-to fore
go political honors, pour oil upon the troubled wa
ters and unite the divided elements and strength of
his party, than Sias Wright of New York. He not
only favored every step which had harmony for its
object, but he dscountenanced and opposed everything
that might, by It's operation, produce dscord and d.
vision. When a certain measure, which has given a
widespread fame TO the name of Mr.. Wik1lot, of
Pennsylvania, was introduced into Congress, Gov.
Wright appealed to, in such manner as to cause
those who made the appeals to believe the meas
would have the weight and influence of his grea,
name and acknow ledged popularity, in its favor His
answer, which was not delayed for an opportunity to
calculate, but was given, piping hot, from an honest
heart, was such had always distinguished the Caro-
of America.
"Gentlemen," he said, 81 am, as you are, opposed
to slavery. If proposition were now before the
people of my own State for its re-admission, none
would oppose 1t more strenuOusly than would. But
we must remember that greater blessing could DE
meted out 10 the people Of tile United States than the
ascendency of the democratic party We must further
more remember that nothing prevent that ascend
ency but division in our ranks; and nothing. is better
calculated to such DIVISION in my option than
such prOrtSO the under consideration further
think, any else. we bear in mind that IL
is mere trLfe when compared with the mschievous
schemes of whiggery. What honest democrat would
not prefer that the people Of each new State be admit
ted into the Union, with without slavery, as they
themselves might elect, than to see a United States
Bank, protective tariff, distribution Os the proceeds
of the public lands, general bankrupt law an as
sumption of the State debts, and all the other avorte
measures of the whg party, brought back upon US,
with the full knowledge which experience has given,
of their power to demOraze us and cripple our ener-
gies, and which, if we permit that party by own
divisions and discussions, TO again attain power,
would as certainly be dOne as that the sun rises and
sets durnally! hardly think | need ask if you
would be willing, upon sober aud dispasslonate
sideraton of the subject, to lend yourselves and your
influence to such object, for the mere purpose OF
depriyng the people, who may hereafter adopt a.Slate
constitution for their government, and not ours
of the right to say for themselves whether they shall
or shall not admit slavery into it,"
How perfectly characteristic repeat, is all of this
good sense and common honesty, Of the great anC
prudent democratic statesman from whose mind II
flowed With experience in public affairs pos
sessed by but few-wIth observation and reflection
upon the foreign and domestic policy of our country
which uniformly looked to the lettering Of the condt
ton of the aborng classes of the land with what
peculiar proprety does such advice and admonltioT
come from such man! How natural, it seems tC
me, that Silas Wright should feel and say that will
the democracy Of the United States supremacy o
their party in the executive and legislative department.
of government, should be greatly paramount to al
local prejudices and personal preferences.
Il e. W. K