The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-11

MANY t3Ltta NA+lrEc Aas&A Aottts
natine. m connection with II, nf a PanIllhlei
had issued IL this CITY, but winch he had nsi
then seen Ee made II an 0ccssinn, too, I'D
applying sums very harsh remarks 20 nuy COURSE
ON rhe Presidential cnnrass Of D ssa rhonghs
they called for some reply from me. hare
nrnde II IN the following letter. copy Of which
hns 'hssn sent 70 Nf C.. skiing HIM to put il
bef,re the readers q the TrbsaS But lest
yssgr eRo@s salouls ,szewnt HIS reoeiYing il, and
publishing Il IN fbes Trr6gas, 1 asr ,Jo1 the
fartr 70 Ief IL appear IN your journal.
VERY respectfully, JAMKs G. BRsEY.
Cincinnati, FEB. 70, 1852.
CHcIsSATI, FEB. 8, 1882.
To the Editor Of The Nsr York Tribune
The report of my death, as published in the
Tribune and other papers, do not at ell
attribute to any unfriendiy motive. II proba-
bly, originated from the fact that a gentleman
Of nearly the same name as mine James g.
Barney died not long age in Lower Saginaw
The circumstances under which you express
your opinion of me relieve il from any suspicion
Of insincerity 1t is founded entirely on the
course which l. and others who voted for me,
thought it right TO pursue in the Presidential
election of 1914 Yon find fault that we did
not so shape it that Mr.. Clay would have been
elected instead of Mr.. Polk This would suit
equally well partisan Of the other side, for
am unaware of any reason why the Democratic
party had not the same right with the Wing
party, for neither Of them were supposed to
have any affinity with the Liberty party, to
ask us to lay down our principles and vote with
Them
= IL 30 happened that at the time alluded to
was made the representative of opinions deemed
of much more Importance to the country than
either the election Of Mr. Polk or Mr. Clay
IL gives me much pleasure, too, on looking
back, TO see that maintained them though
many efforts were made to show that was
altogether unworthy the vote of any honest and
reputable man.
You are much mistaken, as it appears to me,
in supposing that the consequences Of MIR. Clay's
election would have been 80 much more fayora-
bic to the cause Of the country than what we
now see. In saying SO do not forget that
ought to make a large allowance for the warm
party man, who Often suffers his passions and
his devotion to an individual to get the better
of his judgment
am fully inclined to admit. had Mr. Clay
been elected, that the circumstances of the
country might have been very different from
Nhdb Why uEt uOW~-lOT III uOLlllHK more buuu
a fair inference from the fact that two different
minds would have managed its affairs-yet
entertain the belief that it is quite likely there
would have been no substantial change for the
better
1t was Mr. Clay's indeeision about the ad-
mission of Texas that defeated him Had ne
been decidedly in favor of the admssion---as
Mr.. Polk was from the beginning--he would
have ltza1 oil tba I'D 1at NJ.
Polk could have claimed from that circum-
stance. AS to this matter, he would have put
the Democratic and Wing parties on an eouati-
ty. And as he was unquestionably much
ADLER man than Mr.. Polk, and could bring his
measures more successfully to pass-and on
that account as thought and expressed my
self the more dangerous--he would have been
elected. His different letters on this subject
showed indecsion and even if they were not
SO intended, they made many of his friends
believe that he iods undecided From his sup
posed wayering on this subject--and you know
that the election was made TO turn on IL, more
than any other, he lost the votes of many that
were opposed tothe admission of Texas, as well
as OF those who were in favor of it. That in
either event Texas would have been in the
Union, appears now very certain to me, as
believe it does 10 most others - though a
decided party man might express himself
differently. f
Soon after the election--for could not get
it before--I published evidence to show the
utter goundlessness of the charges brought
against mo. did this mainly for the satisfac-
ton of those who had voted for me---to show
them that they had not misplaced their conf.
denoe As far ~ know, this produced a
thorough conviction in their minds that had
been wrongfnlIy traduced and that nothing
but my persistence - obsfinacy perhaps you
would call it---bronght the canvass 10 the
favorable termination which many thought il
had.
In making these charges the Tribune was
conspicuous yet am unaware that any cor
rection OF its msstatements WAS ever made by
1t
1t is far from my intention to open anew the
discussion of old matters, that trusted dis
turbed no one. have only given my opinion
on subject that you yourself have introduced,
and made the foundation Of your remarks.
Having no expectation that you will nor at
tend to evidence that you disregarJcd when the
thing to which IL applied was fresh, l do mos
ask you TO do so.
While acknowledge your right to express
your opinion---and, should you see fit, to express
II in very decided tone--i must content N.Y.
self with an utter denial Of all your charges cal
culated in the slightest manner 10 impeach my
integrity in the canvass of 1914. Here must
leave ID.
You have thought proper 10 refer TO a pamph.
let have Published here, containing my conn-
sci to the free colored people TO emgrate TO Ii
IBERIA. The propriety of this course attempt
to strengthen, by showing the condition of our
country, from which they have but little TO
hopo. examine decision of the Sunreme
Court of the United States supposed 10 be un.
constitutional, but concdent with the views
held by large majority of our countrymen,
The last part of IL is taken up chiefly with an
account of the continued and growing persecu.
tons OF the free colored people-and certainly
Tor these christianized and civilized times, they
are the most prosecuted people on earth and
ending with the opinion that the best way TO
avoid these prosecutions is to remove 10 Liberia.
VI course, they can follow the advice or not
according 10 their discretion, for nothing CON-
pulsory Is intended. But one OF the mos. mourn
l9i things see, and one against which we will |
always fear, have 10 contend, is the very low |
standard Of liberty which the free colored pco-
Pile, as class, have set up for themselves They |
'eem to content themselves with what no white |
nan would endure, and think they are on the |
when even dull observer sees the |
ron walls OF their now narrow apartment draw i
ny closer every day i