Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-10-19
From the N. Y. Tribune.
Willis Halls Letter.

To THE CLAY Wines OF THE Cry OF New York
The advice of friends and my own judgment
have at length prevailed over my reluctance t.
intrude myself upon the public, and induced m
to address a word of explanation TO those wit
whom have so long acted and with whom | 81
entirely Sympathlze.
In uniting with the recent movement to rals
once more the name of our cherished leader, pro
hibited by no obligation expressed or implied,
followed the dictates of my feelings and my judg
ment vas convinced that it was the last ant
oGy NJ lis left to preserve the principles Of that
p , y, endeared to me by all my political recoE
loct,As If the old standard with its mottos and
emblaz comments could be kept flying, there might
be raIIyng point for the party after this tenn
porary madness is passed.
For this course have been expostulated with
by friends in the language of friendship, for which
| return them many thanks. | have also beer
abused, my motives impugned, and my acts mis-
represented by those who have hitherto been no
torious for the absence of all principle, public OIL
private; who have distinguished themselves by
their noisy zeal for Mr.. Clay while their hearts
were bursting with rancor against him and his
adherents. Within the last year they revel in
their freedom from restraint; and pour forth
their pent-up venom with redoubled energy upon
the man whom even his generous enemies be
hold with admiration and respect To be en-
balmed in the abuse of those who have abused
HIM is an honor to which | could not have as
pired.
But neither the exposuations of misguided
friends nor the abuse Of common libellers had
particle of influence in driving me from the,
course which had deliberately and conscien
tiousIy adopted No one but Mr.. Clay himself
could have arrested the movement 1t was sup
posed that he would decline accepting a nomina
tion-for that we were prepared and fully nten-
ded to proceed upon our own responsibility, but
we were not prepared for an appeal to u.s. as his
personal friends not to use his name. Venera-
ting the man above all living men-accuStomed
to obey his slightest wishes--the appeal was I'M
answerable, However, painfully notifying, his
friends, myself among the number, were con-
strained to abandon our purpose, and that noble
old standard which had been thrown to the breeze
was furIed for the last time.
From that moment the Wing Party has ceased
to exist. It's name will continue to be used for
a short time to caole those who are governed by
sound without meaning but its principles are
abandoned; openly denounced as impractcable
and obsolete by those who have been most noisy
in their vindication.
my political existence with it, it will end, To
it have given the best years Of my life to it
have sacrificed my health my attachment to it
was too instinctively strong to be deceived
The child might more easily be cheated into
believing the theving Gipsey to be its mother
than true whig from the start, be made to re-
cognize his warm and living party in the lfeless,
soundless substitute sought to be palmed upon
him.
1t was glorious party Its members were
not collected like vultures by the carron scent
of prey-not bandits united by partnership in
plumber, but disnerested and patrotc-t was
bright enanation from free, intelligent and
vlrtuous people. 1t had for its leader the man of
the Age Born among the people, his sympa'
thles were with them, Democrat in heart and
soul. Rocked in the severesl storms of the Re.
public, he had become bold in her defence and
experienced in her guidance. Sincere in his
faith, ardent in his attachment to popular gov
eminent, inflexible in his honesty unequaled in
his carreaching sagacity, in the rapidity and COM
prehensive wisdom of his conclusions, he stood
forth as the Model of Republican Statesman.
No superior has gone before him. no equal will
follow. This man was murdered in the house of
his friends. His assassins are known, and his
tory is preparing to gibbet these Ravaacs in
the c'.!ins which they have forged for them.
se'ye;.
B:ttle Wing party is no more
lie world is all before me- where to choose,
AL Providence my guide"
Wa. the vessel in which | embarked is driv-
ca upon the rocks by the winds of heaven, or by
the barratrous act of the MASTER it is but the
instinct of self preservation to bind myself to the
largest fragment of the wreck. That wreck is
FREE SOIL. To that | will cling till death
shall loosen my grasp.
The noIl-extenslon Of Slavery has long been a
favorte doctrine with the Wings of this State
and it so happens that it is the only one Of Their
issues likely to be discussed or Of any practical
Importance during the next Presidential term.
1t is said by the Cass and Taylor men who
pretend to be in favor of FREE Soil that no far
Their legislation on the subject is necessary-tha
slaves on being taken to Free SOIL become FREE
of course 1t is probably so; but it is enoug'
for me, without entering into any discussion al
TO the truth Of this proposition, that Mr.. Calhoun
and the ultra shareholders of the South deny Thu
doctrine. 1t is therefore proper, if for no othe
reason, to have public expression of the Ma
TONS will on this important point.
The most respectable authorities tell me, alsC
that "Free Soil is all humbug-that slave
would never be taken to California or New Mex
leo. beg leave to differ with these gentlemen
Admitting for moment the truth of their asser
ton, is the principle nothing?
1t was thought important to exclude SLAYER
from Oregon, although there was little or NJ
danger of Slavery's being introduced there. TIL
question is as to the adoption of a general rule
To-day its application may be very immateral
tomorrow it may be vitality important. It ha