The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-06-24
Hon. George Ashmun to his
Constituents. ..

The Hon. GEORGE AsmuN, member of
Congress from the Springfield MS. )Congres-
sional District, and Delegate to the Phila-
delphia Convention, has written nEletter to
his constituents upon the nomination made
by The Convention. Mr. A. strove for north
ern candidate, according TO his own predilec-
tons and those ofhis constituents, but filling
for the very plain reason that the northern
delegates who preferred another than Gen.
Taylor, were 80 strenuous for their person.
al preferences that they would not yield and
unite upon northern man. Mr. Ashmun is
n noble defender in Congress of northern
| rights an d free princplesyet he sees no rea-
son why those who ngree with him upon
these points should not support Gen. Taylor.
lie must have every facility for knowing the
views and principles of Gen. Taylor. In
closing his letter Mr. Ashmun says:
asst is, we have Southern candidate,
fairly nominated in general Convention of
| the Wing Party, and see no reason why the
Wing Party should refuse TO sustain him.
You sent me 10 that Convention TO strive in a
spirit ofhonorable emulation for free State
candidate. j have done all that was in my
power,and have failed of success for want of
support in our own sister free States. There
WINS no uniairness in the mode of balloting;
every delegate announced his vote UiUn voce,
so thnt the whole people might hear and see
IL. The minority declared for Gen. Taylor,
and against us. Had then, the reserved
rights, after taking our chance for success, 10
renounce and denounce the action of the
Convention, merely because our desires were
not accomplished and our preferences were
not satisfied?
know my constituents too well to sup
pose That they sent me there with any such
reserved and yelled purpose. When they Sc
lected me as their delegate, they knew as well
MS they now know it,thnt Gen. Taylor was TO
be powerful candidate before the Conven-
ton, and would be urged by large portion
of the Wing party. They knew that he had
declared himselfa Wing; and, reposing con
lidence in the patriotic Intentions ofthe Con-
vention, they unhesitatingly agreed 10 take
their lot in it. j went there, in good faith, TO
obtain a concentration of opinion which
would be effectual to the tearing down of the
strongholds of that pernicious party which
now occupies the high places of our Govern
nent. ! know no other course by which that
great work can be accomplished Ethan by the
union of the Wing party. Gen. Taylor was
not my preference; but believe him 10 be n
true Wlig, an honest and capable man, OPP
posed TO the acquisition ofTexas, with sound
s. conservative principles, opposed 10 further
charging the boundaries ofthe Union; and,
although he lives in the latitude where sla-
very is tolerated, yet do no; believe that he
desires or approves its extension.
His declared sentiments arc guaranty
that he will never in the slightest manner in
terfere with the action of Congress, when II
shnl forbid the existence of slavery in our
newly acquired territories. Let the represen-
tutives OF the people and of the States he left
free 10 act upon TINT question. uncontrolled
by Executive influence and Executive veto,
and we are safe. need not, am confident,
give to You any new assurance that whenev-
or the question, in any form, shall be presen-
ted during my official term, the rights of hui
manity shall find in me an unyielding advo-
CATE The issue will soon come; il is 10 be
met in the halls Of Congress; and then it is
to be decided, in all probability, during the
continuance of MIR Folks administration. Let
the people ofthe free States look to their Rep
resentdtiues! ... .........
In the meantime, let us labor to bring back
our Government TO the paths ofpeace, of
prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness, by
placing its high trusts in Wing hnnds. For,
in the words of that citizen of Massachtsetts,
whose fame belongs TO the world, while his
great heart, belongs TO his conntry-whose
whole life has been one of continued, self
sacrificing, urrequted labor for the Ameri-
can People-inthe words of Daniel Webster,
standing in Faneuil Hall: IS. .F.....
sin the dark and troubled night that is mp
on us, see no star above the horizon prom
ising light to guide us, but the intelligent,
patriotic, united Wing Party of the United
States" GEORGE ASHMUN.
.