The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-10-25
LETTER FROM GEORGE RATHBU

LETTER FROM GEORGE RATHBO
The following letter from one OF the les
New York Barnburners, was sent to a Free
meeting in New York:
AUBURN, Oct. a, lS4
GENrLEMEN:-I received your letter OF
End inst, inviting me to attend meeung Oh
Free Democracy ofyour county on Saturday
this morning. | regret that previous engt
ments prevent my acceptance of your invita-
mo man can entertain stronger feelings In Ia
of the principles or the candidates OF the hon
independent, Free Soil Democracy OF the NoI
than do | should be exceedingly gratihed
be with you, and take part in your deliberate
/ like to look upon free men, to associate
free men, and to unite with them IN raising I
shout in Freedoms cause, which carries ter
and confusion to the heart OF the Slave pow
and makes her minions among us tremble w
negro slavery we have little TO do, white slave
is the bane and curse OF our cOuntry-it is Il
effect produced by negro slavery. Negro slave
1 combines the South; through that combinatit
/ the South, by the aid and fundamentally of pa
4 ty, enslaves the North. Northern white SLAYER
is consequence of negro slavery. There is p
Il constitutional compromise guaranteeing to II
4 South the continuance OF this Northern whit
|. slavery; even Cass and Dickinson do not preten
4 it.
4 Our effort is intended, and directed to the
emancipation OF men-.Northern 1Dhite men, from
H the degrading bonds OF slavery, which through
II political parties governed by mercenary spoiIs
hunters, bind the rich, the enterprising, the pop
uious North, to the heel OF lean, lank, poverty
stricken negro slavery in the South.
Cass politicians, and Taylor politicians, rely
upon the bones OF party, to drag the North at the
tail OF the car ofnegro slavery. They stand upor
i the same plattorm-between them there is little
choce-no Northern man who has any principle
eau support either of them. Dickinson and Sc
ward, Weed and Croswell, can consistently sup
port either, or both OF them, their beet being, a.
usual, power and place. But they have no rgh
to insist that the freemen of New York shall be
come slaves for the promotion OF their interests
What noble contrast 10 those men, is to be tount
in the sterling independence of Willis Hall, 10
seph L White, Sedgwick, and host OF others 0
the wisest and best OF the late Wing party. The,
are free, their chains are broken, they are tn
brauest OF the brave in the ranks offreedom. Mr.
Webster and Greeley, Blount and Graham, an
hundreds OF others, wise men, and thousand
more not very wise men, long kept their eye
M fixed upon the old platform, where they fancle
there was some principle worth preserVing-an
especially that any Of hostility to an extension
the slave power, for months they examined tn
ancient noble ship on which they had rode OF
many a storm, she was sound, every plank an
2 every spar--her ancient banner, which had see
p many well fought held-sill floating proud
q from The mainmast-the captain was gone, tn
u mate gone, the crew gone, the log book gone, Ii
3 compass always true, gone-the platform deser
2 ed-there had been mutiny on that old ship--h,
= noble old commander, loved and cherished by
Z great majority OF the officers and crew. had bee
! assassinated and the ship deserted-the assassin
in terror had plunged into abyss without hea
pilot compass Or plattorm-they saw the assassi
q struggling in the dark abyss Of uncertainty, thu
" heard their means and cries-they listened
b their appeals for help-they trembled at Il
y thought of deserving the old ship, the old cor
q mander, the old platform, and the old 1ag, al
4 still more they trembled al the fathomless le
4 they were urged to take in behalf OF Slavery
! but party had her hands and chains around the
A and one alter another they have been dragged
i board, and now stand arrayed on the side Of 81
very, fighting her battles and aiding in extendi
her power.
/ We are told that our platform is the old WI
Z platform. The Wing party deserted it at Phi
A adelphia, at the same time they inundated tn,
great champion in obedience to the beh ests of t
lgi Slave power Cass deserted il for the sake
T. Office we found it vacant, it was free territoE
Ae we occupied it, and by the grace ofGod, we v
| defend it.
K. Your obedient servant,
l. GEORGE RATHBUN.
= Messrs r. H. Stephens, H. Gardiner, d.
I Burtis, Esqrs., Committee.
IL WHICH IS THE SLAVE! The slayehold
II