The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-08
THE REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATION.

Inc lOuOwlng letter is addressed to n mem
Der of the Republican Association of this
city. We publish it for the sake of the sensi
BILE suggestions it makes, and hope they will be
generally acted on. We are happy in being
able to state that the Republican Association
have taken fine Hall, or Club Room, ON d
street. between 9Th and 9th, and that they are
now prepared to forward speeches and other
valuable information (franked) to the order OF
our Republican friends.
PAuLDING, PAULDING Co., ONO,
October "a, 1855.
DEAR SIR: have lately seen several notices
lin the Era) of the Republican Association of
ashlngton;" and feeling an interest in the
success of its object, write to ask a few ques-
lions and make a few uggestions-perhaps
very foolish ones, too-with regard to the mat
ter.
Upon seeing the notices alluded to- and par
ticuarly the 9th article of your Constitution, it
occurred to me that it might prove great ben
ett to organize auxiliary societies ia every
county, township, and village, where it could
be conveniently done, and have your society at
Washington to act as the managing head of
the whole local societies, and aid in dissent
mating political information, tracts, and docu-
ments, among them, somewhat after the fashion
OF the Anti Corn Law League and "Chartist
ASSOCIATION In England, or the different " Re-
peal Associations" in Ireland.
This would probably give us the full strength
OF our party, and enable us to WELD our moral
force with almost all the effect of secret soci-
ETY., without being subject to the dangers or OBJ
jections which would attend the latter.
Or better plan might be formed, by uniting
the useful with the Dra ctioo1 md r1ao
cal societies might where they could conve-
niently do so, las in villages and populous
neighborhoods,) organize reading rooms" and,
by paying IN small sum annually, acquire a
great deal OF political information, by subscri-
bling for newspapers and other vehicles of polti-
cal statistics.
These funds might be transmitted to the
Washington Association, and we could by that
means procure the greatest amount of informa-
ton at the least possible expense, because the
latter Association, contracting for all the local
ones which might think it prudent to encourage
the plan, could, by purchasing or subscribing
for journals by the quantity, get them at the
least possible cost.
Or, should it not be even thought advisable
to encourage the associative plan with regard
to reading rooms, it would be well enough to
organize these auxiliary societies." and let
them appoint some suitable persons to whom
members OF Congress and your Society could
send papers, documents, &C., and let him take
and lend these documents to individuals, getting
them back after being read, and then lending
them again, hrst to one, then to another, and
so on.
BY the aforementioned plan, we could more
readily ascertain our strength, and act in har-
mony, than In any other way. We could also
more readily compel our assailants-these base
assasslns OF hberty-to discuss their principles,
II they have any, and compare them with ours ;
and hence we could more readily fasten public
attention on politics, than in any other manner;
and that being once fastened, all will be well.
1t was the apathy with which the messes here
tofore viewed politics, that gave our Opponents
their strength, and this apathy they have mis-
taken for arprobative sympathy.
nave not time to refer to the Hinutie of
the plan propose, and hence only refer to its
outlines Yet, judging from what litsle-I have
seen In another hemisphere Ireland-I think
it would work well here.
think that shall correspond with our Rem
resentative, Mr.. Mott, upon this subject, because
have confidence in his Judgment, and know
him to be devoted to our cause.
You VIII now please reflect upon the sugges-
tons have made, and let me have your opinion
upon their propriety; and if you have any print
ed blank constitutions, send me few of them.
together with such advice as your experience
may suggest and will go to work here with
heart and energy for the success of the cause
Still, do not think that we can do much in this
county, because its population is very small at
present, and without the promise of much pres
ent increase; yet, little as it is it is an object
70 nave II eonseientiously right; and, without