New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-15
THE HON. BAYARD CLARKE ON THE
PRE- SIDENCT.

WrsToHEsIER, sept 5, 1856.
DlAn SIR Your favor of Sept. 2 is before me.
am gratifed that the sentiments Of my speech to
which you arc pleased to refer meet your appreciation
could not doubt that every honest word spoken in
yndication Of Freedom, and in rebuke OF the giant
wrong which threatens to subdue our land, would nnd
an echo in all true hearts that have the intelligence to
apprecate the issues involved in present contest
with the Slave Power and the courage TO array them
| selves on the side of constitutional liberty.
You state that my name has been mentioned in con-
necton with the nomination for Congress by the Amer
lean party, and ask I'm candidate for such nomlj
nation. l might reply in single sentence, and refer
TO nv past acts the best interpreters of my present
position but feel that is due to candor and to that
manly frapkness which should always characterize the
recipient of public trust to speak more at length of
those convictions and determinations Of mind which
result from careful consideration Of the present crisis
in the history of nation-a crisis which involves
not only our good name among civilized people, but
also the peace and prosperity Of tho States and the
perpetuity of the Union itself.
The aggressions Of Slavery have now reached
point where they must be met with calm, determined
hencefrh occupy toward the Slavehoding States the
position of conquered provinces reduced to condition
of political vassalage degrading and irritating
than that occupied by the American Colonies toward
the UOtnCr country OF
pendence. Worse than this: the surrender Of our
Free Territories to the blghting of Slavery thus
virtually excluding the free labOrer from their broad
acres, except upon conditions to which he could not
submit without the sacrifice of his entire manhood il
obviously calculated to restrain the immigration of all
whose capital consists solely in strong muscles and
oute wills and thus by closing the natural outlet for
that excess of productive energy beyond compensa-
tory demand for il which exists in all Overpopuated
districts reduce the wages Of the operative, abrdge
his comforts, diminish his of intellectual and
moral improvement and so gradually depress him to
the condition of the serts OF the Old World Or the
slaves of the New In fact the issue Is between Free
Labor and Slave Labor, involving the degradation Of
the former if decided against it, to the condition Of
the latter.
Slavery in its aggressive policy strikes blow not
only at the political independence Of the North but at
the social supremacy of free and intelligent labOrers
over the hnbruted bondmen of the South. The issue
thus made is the most vital that be presented
for decisOn ii Is which involves the future of
our aboring masses, and it shall be decided for
against Free Territory shall that future be marked
with progressive prosperity, enlightenment influence
and power increasing disabilities, hardship, gno
rance deprv aton subectOn and loss of that political
status winch the freemans birthright. Less grave
and momentOus in its consequence was the issue in
vOved Ill our Revolutionary struggle than that which
is pressed by the present crisis upon decision
Compared to it how insignificant and trlhing the
questions that ordinarily enter into political contest
and how do the claims of party dwarf into nohingncss
before the more imperative claims OF PATRIOTISM, when
all tudt II Nitui III Oui Couhu uohVi prosperity
at stake
With the deepest solicitude and seeking to divest
myself of everything that could initiate against in
tegent and comprehensive view OF all the interests
and issues at stake, have sought the path of duty.
The result is fixed conviction that the of Kan
sas and other Free Territories of the United States
from the whitening curse of Slavery. the future we'll
being of the swarming millions OF Free Laborers In
every section of common country, and the per-
petuity of the Union itself, imperatvely demand the
success of those Republican principles which sue
cessfuy vindicaed III Revolutionary struggle and
practically illustrated in the Administration OF Wash
ington and his patriotic successor. We must eject
Chief Magistrate thoroughly imbued with these prnci-
pies and Congress that will sustain him inthat 60eral
and enlightened policy which characterized the states
men of past genel ation and whose re-lnauguraon is
essential to the peace, prosperity and progressive well
being of every section OF our country.
am an Amercan-but know OF no other Ameri-
can principle old significant as the principle of
IIBiRTY without il Amcrtcanism is a sham, pre-
tense mere deuson. For Liberty is the soul of
Republcanism as it is the soul OF Professionalism All
despotisms strike hands-are, in fact essentially In
principle. So too the true friend of religious Free
dom must of necessity be the FREUD of cira Freedom
have no sympathy with that spurious Americanism
that prostitute s franchise TO the extension OF hu
man Slavery that ignore seek to depreciate the
vital importance Of the existing issue between tue Slave
Ogarcy and the friends of Constitutional Freedom.
Every impulse OF my nature every principle instled
into my mind by my political education all the devO-
ton to right that is comprised in the word american,
impels in this controversy to take part directly and
openly with the latter and against the aggessOns of
the former. cannot withhold my influence cannot
from personal or even party considerations 20 be-
stow that it by any possibility contribute to the
triumph of the Slave Power rob my action Of the
significance which mean shall attach to it, In one
word. can see no way in which can yindicate the
cause of Freedom in all its periled interests and
tribute to the perpetuty of Union with all of good
which it inv Olives except have already minated
by doing my utmost to secure the triumph OF the pco-
pies candidate john C. Fremont, eminently in this
struggle the representative and the exponent Of const
tutOna liberty.
The principles which impel me to this decision are
the principles upon which have always acted a
member Of the American party Never will consent
TO the Interpolation into my political creed of prnci-
pies hostile TO these be SO false to the inter-
ests ofLabor everywhere to consent under the pres
sure of any party machinery whatever to tne extern
sion of Slavery over another foot OF territory once
consecrated to the uses of Freedom. Whether a. a
private individual or holeing solemn public trusts this
is my position. Here l stand, from conviction aud
from choice have been thus explicit in defining my
position that Sohng in relation TO it might be left to
conjecture and because l would purchase no mans
suffrage at the price of my manhood |! this frank
avowa of my principles and purposes shall command
the approval of the American party in the District
which have now the honor to represent, will with
pleasure receive their nomination and the support of
all the lovers of Freedom and the Union throughout
the District. am, &C.. &C., BAYARD CLARKE.
GEo. +. SHERMAN, esq