The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-06
WASHINGTON. ID. c.
EXTRACTS FROM OUR CORRESPONDENCE

EXTRACTS FROM OUR CORRESPONDENCE
Danule, Ky, Dec. 8, 1S52-The friends of
Freedom polled but small vote in this State
on the ID of November, and this for various
reasons. The Pittsburgh Convention was con-
vencd at too late period 10 allow an efficient
organization. Some gentlemen, who were
placed on the electoral ticket DETECTED and
went over to Scott, 10 be badly beaten. The re-
suit was, no ticket was perfected till October
then it was too late to canvass the State
Meanwhile c. NJ. Clay the soul of the move
ment, was confined at home, nearly the entire
summer and fall by affection and business.
We are not disheartened The signs of the
times betOkon brighter future. The great
question is to be kept before the People Sue
cess is our mottO-our watchword Ontcdrdi
Hencetorth let the Free Democracy mind
their calling better; and if National Con-
ventiop ~ found necessary let it be held early,
without regard to the Wings and Hnker
Democrats
Much is gained by being first in the field
And why should we wait for the old parties to
display their cOOrs first a.! Does not experience
demonstrate, that whatever be their apparent
hue in the beginning, they invariably assume
in their progress the pro slavery die2 Thou
sands and tens Of thousands in the North, to
the scandal Of the truth and great abuse of
their oonscences, voted for Pierce and Scott
In the humble hope Of gaining some crumbs
Of Executive favor. They shall have their
recOmpense. Such men, Northern men, with
seven principles-fye loayos and two small
fishes" held together by the cohesive princi-
pie of public plumber" do more to perpetuate
slavery than all the world beside If Northern
men would stand by Hale, Sumner, Chase, Mann
and their noble compeers who maintain the
right slavery would die in twenty-five years.
But now, how long! | am a Southern man
by birth and education; and though resident
for several years of free State, am unable to
understand how a Northern man can be the
apologist or supporter Of our peculiar institu-
ton" Give me liberty, or give me death :"
KENTUCKY.
Racine, WIS, Dec. /, 1852 see you are
liable to be misled in some of your extracts
owing 10 distance from the various fields, by
not knowing the full facts
You say Durkee was defeated by a coalition
of Wings and Democrats. The Wings are
hardly subject fairly to this charge.
The Wings could hardly expect TO elect Du-
rand, in any circumstance; and probably ut
least half Of Them especially in the country
expected and desired to vote for Durkeo, and
think with the approbati Of leaders in that
party, especially the Seward Wings who are
large majority. From some cause, they
thought that this State might possibly be car
ried for Scott by great effort. If, therefore,
their candidates for Congress would put forth
special and unwearied efforts, and furnish the
sinews of war; 30 much the more would the
main chance be improved Mr. Durand IA
fellow townsman) did put forth that effort, and
denOuncing the Baltimore platform of his par
ty, stumped the district on the Free Soil prin-
ciples without reservation; and of course, in
the main, drew off those Wings who were pur-
posing to vote for Durkee especially az their
papers insisted that they could elect him (Du-
randi if true TO their party. | do not think
they were sincere in this but they doubtless
were in regard to the result in the State.
think the Free Sellers were rs much mistaken
lat least | was and it was not keeping in mind
the constant foreign addition to our pOpula-
ton almost all Of whom, ut least the first year
or two, if not longer, are Democrats. You see
we have made bad figures in this county*
Four years ago, the disaffection towards
Cass was nearly as great as anywhere in New
York. Almost all the leaders in this place
and county embraced the Van Buren, princ- |
Piles; and, as result all the appliances ~Issi:ci
none but politicians know hOw-ts~-,So ,,oro II,
~ " 'S" Free Soil. Had the
DarnDuInclS NV York stood firm 10 their
PrihclPJSSsStfn lS49 and 1850 the old line Demo-
oi"Ss 10 this State would have been swept en-
Wy away before this time but the applian-
ces to the party used at Washington has proved
too strong, even rs far US Wisconsin, and now
there seems no other path, but over instead of
through, that great party, To me it seems
that the next four years will be decisive az to
the existence of the Free Democratic party, as
such. Unless we can step into rank AZ one of
the first parties a. to numbers, we can hardly, |
in my opinion, maintain our organization. III
Mr. Pierce goes South, we must receive large
accessons from the liberal Democrats, and
must absorb the liberal Wings unless that
party adopts our principles, Are we not II
little too severe towards them, when we call
them, without any exceptions defeated and
obsolete fdcton The term faction is hardly |
in good taste, especially ~ that party has not
manifested 80 much tendency to demagoguism
as the Democratic, but rather their COnsorya-
tism has often led them to mistake real pro-
greSs for tendency TO Agrarianism,
more perfect and thorough State organi-
zation is what we now need, together with an
increase Of Free Soil papers, especially Ger
man. A great and systematic and prolonged
effort must he put forth, commencing from the
The friends in Ohio have well begun Let
their Convention be well attended and give
tone to the effort Let it be followed by one an
New York if they can make II strong demon
stratOn, If not by Massachusetts and 50 on,
IA by some concert shall be most advisable so
that all the free States shall be organized in
season for the spring elections, and the result
will show that It will not be labor in vain.
Truly yours, f. w. De BERARD.
thought | could lay my hand directly on
the vote in this District, but find myself unable
Mt this moment and do not like to delay. In
this county the vote stood--in l848, Durkce
If. S. 9OS, Finch (Whg) 500 Lynde Dem
1872. In 1882, Durkce s57, Durand (Whig)
955, Wells (Dom 1899,
Durkee's vote in tho district is about 600
larger than in l84S but there has been an
increase Of between 1000 and 5000 votes in
the same time.
MaHinSUiHe, Morgan co., Indiana, Dec. 4,
lS52.-ln all, twenty-five subscribers think
there will be ten or twenty more, that will be
sent for from this place. This county has al
ways been in the backwoOds. Formerly, the
Era was looked upon rs most abomnable and
dangerous, but should not wonder if there
should be eighty or one hundred copies taken
now in this county by members of the old par
ties.
Hartford Conn, Dee 8, ls52-The Free
Democracy of this city met ON Saturday even
ing after the Presidential election, and com
menced thorough reorganization, and in de.
fance of all Baltimore Platforms We are de-
termincd to .ag.tate, until the Beshazzar Of
American dospotism shall be compelled to call
our school of Doctors and Prophets, to read
a -, II IA,