Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-07-30

the wing press may do, L bel1eve he Is dis
posed to do me justice.
In the cou:se of conversation between
Col. w ebb and myself, | referred to the
last Presidential contest, and the palpable
injustice which hnd been done me by this
whig press and politicians, in holding VI,
my letter 10 the Chicago Convention as an
evidence of my hostility to all improve
ments, however general and necessary,
bv Congress, and to my letter 10 Mr.
Nicholson, as evidence of my desire that
Slavery should be established in the terri
tories ceded by Mexico to the United States.
| called these efforts the humbugs of the
day, MS they ssere, eoss.z
fessed to have been by every candid man.
In neither of these letters is there 10 Be-
found one syllable favorable TO the con-
structions thus put upon them The letter
TO the Chicago Convention makes not the
most distant allusion to the question OF In
ternal improvements. A person may be-
the greatest latitudinarian or the strictest
constructionist, and yet have written that
letter with perfect consistency, simply be-
cause all it does is to decline being present
on that occasion. The letter to Mr.. Mich.
olson examines and denies the power Of
Congress 10 pass the Wilmot Proviso, and
endeavors 10 show that the measure would
be inexpedient and unnecessary, ,seven if it
were Constitutional This is its extent.
There is not in it, from beginning 10 end
one word going to show my opinion was
that Slavery would be established there.
All this will surprise many good men who
yet retain the impression they received DUR
| ing period of excitement and which they
gained from the press, too often pursuing
its object without regard to the higher con-
siderations of Justice. Let him who doubls
wha, | say on the subject of these letters,
turn 10 them and read for himself. TO
the Law and to the testimony.
| will now ask MIR Greeley-lar T re. re-
speci his candor-what has my letter to
gentleman who invited me TO attend the
Chicago Convention, TO do with my opin.
ions upon the subject of Internal tmpf17e.:
meuts? was asked to attend that, ,Coni
I vention; and that was all was asked. L
answered should not attend; and that was
all answered. And yet this answer, as
Il have Stated, was circulated from one end
of the Union TO the olher, during the late
/ Presidential contest, as conclusive evidence
iof my hostility to any Improvement by the
General Government, be the character of
the object what it might. | had supposed
that the device had served its purpose, and
was among the things that have Teen. Lit.
f tie did anticipate that q man Of MIR. Gree.
ley's intelligence and reputation for irteg-
rity would revive this exploded charge and
rpl for fo hot 1atf
index to my sentiments on this subject, or
any ground TO convict me of inconsistency
in my acts or opinions. did notgo to the
Chicago Convention, because | did NOT
think any good would result from its la.
bors. did not believe, nor, do now be-
lieve, that such bodies, in periods Of noitl.
cal excitement perhaps, indeed, at any
period-either BY the concentration of pub
lie opinion or by the diffusion of informa-
ton can lead TO any useful plan of action.
Invited, as the members Of that Convention
were, from every portion Of the Union,
the sphere of operation was far tco' extens
sive for wise ard cautious deliberation and
decision; There were TOO many interests
involved. ,,rfgeneral propositions only are q
70 be laid down in such a Convention, the
object is not worth the effort; for in the di.
vided state OF the public mind upon the
question, whatever platform might be a.
dopted, the opinion Of parties, and gener.
ally of individuals, would remain the same.
am accused Of Inconsistency, amount.
ing to dishonesty, in my opinions concern:
ing d protective tariff, internal improve.
nents, and the extension of Slavery
The first shall dismiss very briefly, but
very explicitly. The Baltimore resolu.
tions contain my sentiments on the subject
! OF tariff; and neither to Col Webb nor
10 any other man have | uttered Word
inconsistent with them. voted for the
tariff of fs46, and though thee'were some
things should have been glad 10 see other-
wise Cand where are there not in such
complicated questions? yet gave it my
hearty support. never exchanged d word
With Col. Webb on the subject OF d protec-
tive tariffin my live. Nor does he say |
did. Why he supposed | faVoredil ii know
not. 1t is enough to say he is in error, as
are all who form similar opinion.
Ifa general plan Of operations is to be
proposed and pressed upon Congress, the OBJ
jeclions are palpable and grave. The mem
bers are under little responsibility; and as
each section of the country will have its own
objects to attain, these must be attained by
concessions to the objects of others, and the
result will furnish evidence of a mutual
spirit of accommodation, rather than a eau
ious regard for the general interest Such
an assemblage is very different thing from
the attemptto concentrate opinion and action
: in favor Of any improvement affecting par
ticular portion of the Union, where there is
: no weighing of one project against another,
nor any sacrafce to insure the desired re-
suit.
, And am fully confirmed in my previous
$ anticipatlons concerning the Chicago Con-
, vention. l imagine the first man is yet to
S be found who will venture to say that any
t advantage has resulted from its labors.
4 But had yet ranother reason for de
S clining to attend That Convention. | did
: not like its origin. The ear isst notice OF.
r lit which saw was connected with the
$ names Of some well.known Wings, promi-
|. tnent politicians Of the city Of New YORK;
5 and believed, and have no reason TO
|, doubt, that one great object wus to inJure
r the Democratic party by taking advantage
>, r.L ,.a;,..,ont ,uhirh nreyAlled IN Ger.