Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-23
To the Wings Of the Sixth Congress.
ional District Of Massachusetts,.

Tho following is from one of the most able
men in Congress, and will be read with much
interest,
WAsuINoToN, June ~, 1913.
In conformity with your wishes attended the
Wing National Convention at Philadelphia dur
ing the last week. You have already learned
that its proceedings resulted in the nomination
Of ZACHARY TAYLOR, Of Louisiana, for the
Presidency. This nomination is, | feel assured,
not such as would have been preferred by you.
II was not made by the aid Of my vote
Throughout the contest exerted my influence
and continued 10 east my vote for the distinguish
ed and iayorite statesman Of Massachusetts, but
not a single Wing free State came to our aid
New Hampshire, three delegates from Maine,
with one ffOm Now York, were all that could be
brought to vote with US. Vermont, Connccti-
cut, Rhode Island, New York, and every other
free State, except two, went earnestly for
Southern candidate from the start. Ohio and
Indiana, instead Of bringing forward Judge Nc
IEAS or Mr. CoRwTN, offering to support
man who was particularly identified with the
free States, voted on the first ballot for General
ScoTT.
On the first ballot, the free States cast one
hundred and seyenty-one votes; Of these, one
hundred and one were for Southern candidates,
Mr. CLAY and General TAYLOR.
It is plain, therefore, that the North made no
earnest or united claim for free State candi-
date. On the contrary, we have seen that dur
ing the year past the contest has been among
the people and press Of the free States, il was
among their delegates at the Convention, tchich
Of hco Southern gentlemen should be selected
The claims Of Clay and Taylor have almost
cluiyely occupied public attention in those
States. Massachusetts, almost alone, demanded
Northern candidate, and her claim was not re
spondcd 10 by other free States. How, under
such circumstances, could il be reasonably ex.
pecicd that we should succeed2 The majority
of the free States declared preference for ei-
thcr Clay or Taylor, and they were Southern
men. The South were divided between Taylor
and Clay, and it was left for the North to settle
the difficulty and enough votes from Maine,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and
| New York were finally, through n conviction Of
his superior availability, thrown into General
| Tayors scale TO ensure his triumph.
What, then, have the free States 10 complain
Of? | answer, Of themselves and of themselves
/ alone
The South, true to itsown instincts and inter
ests. proposed and urged Southern men, while
the North contented itself with deciding which
Southern man should be preferred. What
ground is there, then, for US To rail at the South
for this nominate n, and TO charge the South
with having trampled upon us in making tY II
the free States, during the year past. had mani
tested any general desire for y Northern candi.
date, and had urged their claims with modcr
ate degree Of hrmness their demands would
have been respected, and the result might have
been different
As it is, we have Southern candidate, fairl,
nominated in general Convention Of the Wbil
party, and l see no reason why the Wing party
should refuse to sustain him. You sent me I,
that Convention to strive in spirit Of honorabl,
emulation for free State candidate. hay,
done all that was in my power, and have failc'
of success for want Of support in our own siste
free States There unfairness in III,
mode OF balo,ing; every delegate announce
his vote rird roce, 20 that the whole pcopl,
might hear and see il. The majority declared
for General Taylor. and against US. Had |
then, the reserved rights, after taking our chanc,
for success, TO renounce and denounce the actor
Of the Convention, merely because our desire
were not accomplished and our preferences wcr
not satisfied
: i know my constituents too well to suppos,
that they sent me there with any such reserved
and yelled purpose When they selected me a
their delegate, they knew well rs they nov
know it, that General Taylor was to be power
full candidate before the Convention, and would
be urged by large portion of the Wing party
They knew that he had declared himself I
Wing; and, reposing confidence in the patriot,
intentions of the Convention, they unhesitating
ly agreed to take their lot in it. / went there
Z
ion which would be etiectuAl to the tearing dow
OF the s,rongholds Of that pernicious party whicl
now occupies the high places Of our Govern
1 ment know no other course by which tina
great work can be accomplished than by the I'm
ion Of the Wing party. General Taylor was no
. my preference; but believe him TO be tru
/, Wing an honest and capable man, opposed +
the acquisition OF Texas with sound and con
, sentative principles, opposed TO further enlargn
fhl 1f.rn artaE ,f he. IF...s Ia i
lives in the latitude where slavery is tolerated
yet do not believe that he desires or approve
its extension.
G His declared sentiments arc guaranty tina
4 he vii never in the slightest manner inierfer
with the action Of Congress, when it shall forbi
the existence Of slavery in our newly acquire
y territories. Let the representatives of the pee
d pie and Of the States be left free to act upo
e that question, uncontrolled by Executive inar
euce and Executive veto, and we are safe.
need not, am confident, give to YOU any me-
o assurance that whenever the question, in an
form, shall be presented during my official tern
the rights Of humanity shall find in me an ut
y yielding advocate. The issue will soon como
l. II is to he met in the halls of Congress; an
then il is to be decided, in all probability, dul
ing the continuance Of MIR Polkis administration
Is Let the people of the free States look to the
Il Representatives. :
If In the meantime, let us labor to bring hac
our Government 10 the paths of peace, OF pro
pcnty, and the pursuit of happiness, by placin
e its high trusts in Wing hands. For, in The wore
q Of that citizen Of Massachusetts, whose fame b.
,, longs to the world, while his great heart belont
q TO his countrywide whole life has been one
g continued, self.sacrfeing, unrequited labor e
n the American People-in the words Of Dan
- Webster, standing in Fnneuil Hall =
u " In the dark and troubled night that is upo
nn afur alar he -. =
y light to guide us, but the intelligent, patriot
united Wing Party of the United States"
GEORGE ASHMUf
d GES. PERsIFER F. SMITH UPON GE,
s. TAYLOR AND MS PoLITIcs-Gen Smith.