New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-18
-. E,eesssn % A4-Libsria-Lessef' Nv"
James @. Btrney. ,o.s

c,nc,rs.rr, Monday, Feb o. 1857
r, N. Ea,tcr. Of TIE ~ " Tr'Dsn<; ,.
The report of my death, az puol!sneu ~
..a other papers, do not 81 all a"noa'e
=. -. r,sr,epdly motive 1t proesoiy onsina'eo
-. faet that gentleman OF nearly the same
no. ..,us tJames c. Barney died not long ago
I. Lever Saginaw.
-. .,vcumstances under which you express your
;n,on Of me, relieve 1t from any suspicion OF insln
ssy,tv Ills founded entirely on the course whichp
ana others Who voted for me- thought rshs 10 pun.
ma IN the Presidential Election OF 1884. You nno
1su,t that we did not shape il that Mr. Clay ~ouso
have been elected, instead of Mr.. Polk Tnis "ou'a
mutt equally well partisan Of the other nae' 'oi
am unaware of any reason why the pem'cfa''o
n.x,v had not the same right with the wing parry
"a, neither Of them were supported to nave any anNr
~ vith the Liberty party-to ask as ." lay o""h
eur principles and vote FOR thsm'
-. h.nn.nsd that at the time alluded 20, l was
"a. the ,epresenfaf,re OF opinions deemed OF mucn
ors importance to the country than either ths eec-
ton Of Mr.. Polk or Mr.. Clay It gives me much
nessure, too, on looking back, to see that main
tsined them though many efforts were made to show
that was altogether unworthy ths vote OF any hon.
ct and reputable man.
You are much mistaken, as it appears to me, in
tion veuld have been so much favorable to the
aause of the country, than what we now see. In
.avins no. do not forget that ought to make large
aliOWance for the warm parIy.man who often suffers
Nis passioas and his devotion 10 an individual, TO gel
abe better Of his judgment
I am fully inclined TO admit, had Mr.. Clay been
elected thstthe circumstances OF the country might
have been very different from what they are now,
for II II nothing more than fair inference from the
fact that two different MODS would have managed
I enfe Ia
likely there would have been no substantial charge
for the better. ,.... ~
reras that defeated him. Had he been decideoiy
In favor Of the admission, as Mr. Polk was from lhe
beginning, be would have neu,ralized an tae a..
wants res that Mr. p. could have claimed rom that
s;ycu9stsnce AS to this matter, he would nave
mi the Democratic and Wing parties on an equal
Nv And as he was uDquestonaoly much aoet
man than Mr. Polk, and could bring his measures
more successfully 70 pass-snd on that account, az
thought and expressed myself, the more DANGER
ous-he would have been elected. Hts dlnerent iet.
teTs on this subject showed noecisloh anu ooeh a
friends believe that he was undecided. From MS
supposed waveriDg on tbs anoJect-and you Know
that the election was MADE 10 turn on II, more tnan
on any tner-he lost the vote OF many maj were
opposed 10 the admission of Texas as well as those
who we're in favor OF it. That 10 either event Iexas
would have been In the Unisn appears nov very
though decided party man might express hiuisen
differently.
fors-I published evidence TO sho the utter GROUND,
lessness of the charges brought against me. Ola
this mainly for the satisfaction OF those who haa
voted for me--so show them that they had not ms
placed their confidence As far as know, this pro-
duced thorough conviction In their minds that
had been wrongfuily traduced, and that nothing Dut
my persiste ncs.Iy oostinscy' psrsapa you would
nation which many thought 1t had.
In making these charges, The Tribune was con.
spicuous yet am unaware that any correction OF
Ia hv nj
II IL far from my intention to open new the dis
cussion OF old matters that trusted disturbed no
one. have only given my opinion on subject that
you yourself have introduced and made Che founda
lion Of your remarks.
Having no expectation that you VIII now attend 10
evidence that you disreearded when the thing to
which applied was fresh, do not ask you to do So
While acknowledge your right to express your
opinion and should you see fit, TO express 1t IN
very decided tone, must content myself with an
utter denial OF all your charges calculated In the
shghtest manner 10 impeach my integrity in the
Canvas of 1914 Here must tesve IL.
You have thought proper to refer to pamphlet
have published here containing my counsel TO the
Free Colored people TO emigrate 10 Liberia: The
propsiety of shis course attempt to strengthen by
s, Su s o 81 o Ser
of the Supreme Court of the United States, (sap-
posed to be unconstiutonal) but concident with
the views held by large majority OF our country
men Tho last part OF it's taken up chiefly with
account Of the continued and growing prosecutions
OF the Free Colored peopieand certainly for these
prosecuted people on earth--and ending with the
opinion that the best way to avoid these prosecutions
a. 10 Temeye TO Lbena OF course, they can follow
The advice not, according to their discretion fer
nothing compulsory is intended. But one OF the
most mournful things that see, and one against
which will always fear have to contend, 10 the
very low standard of liberty which the Free Coored
people, class, have set up for themselves. They
seem 10 conteR, the mseyes with what no white man
would esdure-and TO be on the advance when even
q dull observer sees the iron wallis Of their now mar
cow ent drawing closer day.
regard consistency, as II is generally understood
as OF little worth; consistency In error as actually
Injurious II entertained a wrong opinion in reia
ton to the Free CoOred people-or, indeed, on any
subject would not hesitate TO abandon H. Truth
h the only thing which ought to be desirable to man
-thso My thing that can beneht hm-his only sove'
lam unconscious of having changed any opinion
which formerly entertained on this subject al
thoueh "pewspaper reports" have said so. have
the same opinion that have had for many years
about the principles that gave birth 20 the COlonza
zion Society, and which no hnds vent In that nss-
tuition. But make wide distraction between
them and emigration or removal TO Liberia
would not commend them, and to get away from
theu pressure, advise the Free ColoIed people as
have done Had the facts on which my opinion
new 10 founded been as fully developed formerly as
think they are now, I.would have offered them the
same counsel.
While hold myself bound at all times 10 kno vi
edge and correct any material miss.atement OF fact
on unsoundness Of argument or inference contained
IN the pamphlet, must fcrbear answering snything
that applies 20 me Individually, aud that 10 foreign
from II. lmsy be as bad your words would rep
resent me, yetmy arguments for particular course
may be good. Should you think them so, or as sd-
ding any thing 10 the that have made you IA.
vofsbe to Lberian emigration, will not permit N.Y.
self to doubt that you will give them the aid yoa
tbink best ask IL for the colored people II no. for
nyself Respectfully, JANIS G. BiRNEy.
Remarks.
Mr.. Birney labors to forget that his posi-
zion in 1874, deliberately taken and relte-
rated, was that the Annexation Of Teas
was MORE likely to take place If M. Clay
should be chosen President than If Mr.. Polk
should be. That was an assertion which