Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-07-27
Political.
Correspondence of tho Tribune.
The Question-.Letter from G. M.
Clay.

time 10 cool, as well as TySeIl, ana seem
yet hesitating whether or not to go for the
regular Wing nomination, you will allow
me to suggest few thoughts for your con-
sideration. We are both Wings from youth
up to the present time. We certainly then,
if we should think proper at any time to
change our party alliances, cannot be re-
preached with deserving our first love for
any other motive than because the Wings
cease to be worthy of farther alliances
That you should hesitate what TO do in the
present emergency, when the subject ofSla-
very Extension comes up for immediate ac-
ton, is to me a source of pleasure and hope
rather than of pain or censure. Let us,
then, see.
In the first place, fairness requires North
ern Wings to go for the Nomination. The
friends of Taylor wished to run him as an
independent candidate; but no, said you and
|, if "Whig, but not an ultra Wing" let
him come into the Convention and stand or
fall with the Wings. 1t can hardly be pos
sible that you wished to bring US into coun-
sci to DESTROY US! Personal honor, then,
requires you to support Taylor, unless the
Republic manifestIy would receive great
detriment by your fidelity to pledges. Let
us see. Can we beat Taylor and Cass with
free soil candidate! If we can, | think
the great question of the age requires us to
insure certainty, and not trust an uncer-
tainty. Wings should elect the man who
will VETo ALL SLAVE EXTENSION. l think
you will believe, with me, the "THE TIME
HAS NOT YET COME" Any detection, then,
on our part, will enure to the benefit of
Lewis Cass and to the injury Of II. Taylor.
Now, however much denounced, | am for
the LESSER EVIL" | know no morality
based upon any other PRINCIPLE, than to
look around you and MAKE THE BEST of all
the circumstances which occur. Any 9TH
err principle puts the good in the power Of
the bad-the scrupulous in the power of the
unscrupulous-the just in the power of the
unjust First, then, as to men. Taylor Is
a STAKEHOLDER by birth and ha6it-Cass a
STAKEHOLDER politically by calculations
Which is the better man? l say Taylor
How do they stand committed Taylor
says nothing upon the subject Of Slavery
but claims Washington as his model anC
declares in favor of the sup, emacy of Con'
gresS. Cass holds that Congress cannot e'
gslate against the admission of Slavery in
to new territories, and of course must VETO
any bill prohibiting its introduction. As
men, then, Taylor is preferable to Cass.-
Now as to parties. Who will be most APP
to stand for Liberty, the Wings or their op
ponents! Let Texas speak Let the Mex
ican war speak Let the ultras of the Soutl
speak Let those who openly avow in Con
vention "aH of Mrnico and Cuba" speak
Again, suppose Lewis Cass President, ant
bill comes up for the admission of New
Mexico into the Union-or its constitution
into a Territorial Government-and ma
jority of Congress put in the Wilmot Pro
viso, will they stand out against the Execu
tive Veto, and claim Free Soil or no Soil!
Let the Vote on Texas answer! Suppos
Taylor President and such bill up, wi
not the whole Wing party of the North an
some large portion of the South, say" Ere
Soil or no iSoH?" Let the past answer, a
so. From Gen. Taylor's pledges, l believ
that he could not interfere by the Veto: fu
unless the law be unconstitutional he coul
not interfere. But with all the acts of thi
Government in favor of Slavery Restrictio
as ably set forth in the Utica Address, wit
the lead of Washington and Jefferson,
think there is moral certainty that h
would not veto such bill. But suppose
, did: would not the triumph of the Viii
party with its Free Soil Prestige be MOI
, likely to summon true men enough to loo
the wheels of pro-slavery action, than til
) same result would be likely to occur undt
the Party who claim Te1os as an 'Erte,
sion of the area of FreedOm?" Such
= least are my conclusions, honestly and m
turely arrived at On "the question"
2 Slavery which to me is the most vital of al
r however much may be denounced for il
: consistency, Taylor the stakeholder is infil
t itely preferable to Cass. Simply as men
; Der of Republic, in other respects desi
| that the Constitution should be restored
f the faith of the nation vindcated-its ma
/, nanimity and honor re-established--i les
: in the van of nations regained. In our
: nestle policy, l desire to see econon
+, brought back into the disbursement of ia
a es-fdelity to public trust rewarded--pa
: tisan feeling moderated--industry and il
: provement revived-in word, | long for
+, PArERNAL instead of destructive ruler
t That Zachary Taylor is the man for Il
g times honestly believe. | trust you al
y the people will finally also so conclude.
:, Respectfully your ob't serv't.
! c. Nj. CLAY.
, P. S.-The pledges made never again
" vote for STAKEHOLDER, regard as shol
u sighted Why trammcl ourselves that u
> enemy may conquer usl The only pied!
e if indeed pledges are at all useful in al
: cause, should be faithfully and honorab
10 carry out its ends. c. M. c.