Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-09-30
Ex-E0VERNOR FRANCIS THOMAS
A MkRYLAND FREE-sDII.ER sur
PORrINs PIERCE.

A MAR ANDxtkEE-SDlt.ER SUP
RORTIN~ PIERCE.
MA. EpsroR: For several weeks oar citizens
have seen il announced that Ell Governor Francis
Thomas and Others woulI address he Democracy
ia Hag.rssown. Frederick, and other places. This
announcement recalled 10 my mini cersain events
ID he political life Of Mr.. Thomas which /, nav
no, BE uniAiereslipg to recover ffom The pas, ard
again lay before The public, which events viii az
ford the key To- Mr. Thomas present position al.
Jude 10 Me-. rs advocacy Of Van Buren and Adams
the Free. Soil candidates in 1915
Ca the 2Oih al August 1918. Mr.. Thomas wrote
iciier 10 the Free-Seil Central Committee Of Ma
ryland, in which lie came ontopenly for tkose doc
I lrines which are looked upon as dangerous ia 4 I
slave-holding community, 50 dangerous that were /
Yankee 10 utter them in midst bis life would I
be in danger He knew q 81 no rbiSe question. 70
BE- Decided he approaching Presidential teeiioa. Of
50 aaci moment ttas parlirHlaflg iareced IN fAe
nominations at B41al0 better calculated % a1rakea
is preference for ne EIeetoral dkei yen rrtpose 10
kare nOmiaated.a
r. send you copy of Mr.. Thomas letter which
you win oblige me By publishing, for the special
benefit OF Virginia and Maryland slave holders who
are weekly invited 10 attend Pierce Mass Meetings
70 be addressed BIZ this ehamFioA Sf tie Stare todas
interest Ii must he REGARDED srather cool 10 say
III. least Of il TO extend to Virginians invitation
to listen TO the political teachings ofone 50 deadly
hostile 10 the peculiar Institutions Of the South
Those opinions have never been reirae,ed, aad he
is now lollowingi in the footsteps Of his particular
fliend Mr.. Van Buren,, and both viewing the pub
lie question involved in the nominations atBafalo"
OF more importance than all others the conclusion
is irresistible that both regard the election Of Frank
liu Perce as best calculated promote their pseu-
liar views. S0uTHERNOR.
ALLveHkSY CorNrY, August pc, 1913.
GExTrEMgs Your letter dated on the 18th OF
this month, inviting me to be present a: Mass
State Convention, at Union Hail. IN The cry Of
Baltimore on Wednesday next, has been Forwarded
from my house in Frederick to my temporary resi-
dence 10 this county, where have been detained
for more than moa;h past in attending To private
business.
From your letter learn thai the principal object
OF the proposed Convention ill be the formation -
an Electoral ticket 10 be voted for BY the people 81
" Maryland favorable To the Clection Of Mr.. van
Buren 10 The Presidency.
! have not participated 10 The proceedings Of any
political melting large or small, since my canvass
ior the Chief Magistracy q Maryland clused az q
public meeting Ia the town Of Cumberland, early 70
October 1911. Il am, therefore, under no oblisa-
lion express or Implied 10 support OF vote Tor ell
Their one of the nominees OF the National Conven-
tions held by The whig andsdemocraic parties, re-
spectiyeiy. Being free 10 make choice Of candi-
date to be voted for from the three gens men VINO
have been brought before the public through the a.
esncy of othersI shall most certainly il live and
can attend The polls vote for hat electoral i9eet
which shall s,and pledged 10 vote for Mr.. Van Bu-
rem Tor The Presidency, and Mr. Adams LOT the
: | Vice Presidency.
, Having neither leisure nor inclination, at this
time to elaborate my reasons for this determination
/ shall content myself with saying, that have
: orcai carGdenee in Mr.. Van Buren, as tried
Statesman, emincn,ly qualified for the duties i'm
{ | poscd by The Constitution on our Chel Mays
!, rate; that in my opinion the whole country owe
10 him much for his distinguished agency in giving
nrord FREEDOM nance To 4 great measures q pub
d lie policy 10 The success ofwhch my own political
: life was 10 a very small sphere, devoted and that
Il my preference for him. arising from these consIde
] rations, instead Of being diminished is increas
ed by the pledge he has given, 10 follow in The loot
/ steps Of those fflusrieus patriots and philanhro
u pisls who by adopting the Federal Constitution
I that clothed Congress with power prohibit the
il African slave taade sgnifcd distinctly, their de
u sire to have the further extension OF slavery arrest
I ed, and who BY adopting The celebrated ordinance
Il of 1881 orbidding The introduction OF slavery int
ell the territory then held by he United States,
& an example that ought % have been followed J
their fosterityl = II
:, The opinion here indicated. have fong enter
and know of sR why My, she9 a
u opinions On this subject 4 know of no public anes
ton to be decided in the approaching PresdrnIia
elections OF 50 much moment hat particularly
involved in the nominate rs at Buffalo or beteI
calculated to awaken my decided preference for The
$ Electoral ticket you propose TO hVe nominated
I, Seeing thatl cannot attend the Sling IL the Con-
. vention 10 be held on Monday next must be con.
Il tent With rendering my best wishes for success ID
your commendable purposes, and am, very respect.
4 fully, you fellow citizen
FRANCIS THOMAS.
Messrs. w. Gnnnison, r Gardner E 8. Gun.
ningham, T. 4. Sanford and J. Z. snodgrass Com
mlee &c