The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-17

Washington, ID. e., Jan. IL, 1856.
DEAR SIR: The undersigned have been ap.
pointed u Committee, on the part of the Associ-
alton whose Declaration, Platform, and Consti-
tuion, accompany this, to address circular
letter TO our Republican friends, urging upon
their attention the importance of immediate and
thorough organization of Clubs or Associations,
somewhat similar TO our own, in every city,
town, and village, in the Union.
The power aud influence of these organiza-
tions cannot be oyer-estimated by the friends of
Freedom. They are all-iuportant TO carry on
a political Campaign, and it will be a matter of
impossibility to compete with those arrayed
against US i'll the approaching contest, without
them. They are the most powerful and only
efficient means for bringing out, concentrating,
and making known, our true strength. They
will serve to rally the people, inspire them with
confidence and enthusiasm, and furnish the in
formation necessary To expose and fairly meet
the sophistry of pro-slavery demagogues. We
have seen the power OF these Associations fully
manifested In recent elections. Let the friends
OF Freedom learn wisdom, even from their enc
mics. We go Into the contest as q near and
Uatried party, opposing old and well-organized
parties, sustained and backed by Government
patronage or bound together by old party ties.
We must compel these parties to show where
they stand on the only great issue now before
the oountry-Slavery or Freedom. We must
force them 70 array themselves on one sids or
the other of this question, and consider every
man who is not openly and avowediy on the
side of Freedom, as against it. How, then, is
this to be done, unless the friends of Freedom
are themselves united? And how can they be
better and more efficiently united than by these
organizations?
Again We recommend prompt organization.
III there be but SIX persons in your town who
sympathize with you in this movement, organize
with these six. Do not despair. If Repub
lican Association can be put in successful ope-
ration ia Washington City, under the immediate
frown of the National Government, and in a city
dedicated 10 Slavery where is there the CITY,
town, or village, in the North, East, or West,
that cannot do likewise?
We appeal, Sir, TO you, TO make this person-
al duty-to set about at once bringing the
friends of the Republican Movement together,
for the purpose Of organization on a platform
similar TO the one which accompanies this and
which you will find so liberal on the Slavery
question, that every man, who is not entirely
welded TO Slavery and its interests, may stand
upon it, without its interfering with any of his
former party predictions.
And now, a word as to the Association We
represent. You will perceive in the 4th and 9th
articles of the Constitution its main object. We
propose to act in concert with the Republican
Members Of Congress, AID all Associations that
may be formed throughout the States similar
to our own, as National Committee for
the dissemination of political information
among the masses. We have taken a Hall in a
central position, established Reading Room
for the benefit OF our visiting Republican friends,
and have made arrangements for the issue in
pamphlet form of all important speeches that
may be made during the present Congress. We
have also engaged the services of a very com
petent German translator, with the intention,
should the means be afforded, TO have many of
the speeches translated into the German Ian
guage.
IL must be apparent TO you, that the compare
lively few who compose this Association cannot
contribute all the funds necessary to carry on
80 important work nor can the members of
Congress, who always expend large sums in
the publication of their speeches, be expected
to meet al the demands of a Presidential cam
paign, however literally disposed they may be.
1t Is often desirable to distribute hundreds Of
thousands OF copies of a single speech, or other
publication, which. of course, cannot be done
without considerable expense.
How, then, ID this expense to be met, and how
are these speeches, &c., to be circulated? Sim
ply through the active exertions Of these pro-
posed organizations, In collecting and forward
ing funds and names for that purpose. Tho
Administration party are already at work. Eve
~ Office holder is regularly assessed to meet the
expenses of the campaign. We have no such
facilities, nor do we desire any SUCH Our aid
must come from the voluntary contributions of
the People. Will any che doubt for a moment
the utility of scattering broadcast over our land,
such documents and speeches as will have a
tendency to enlighten the public mind on all
those exciting questions which will more or less
engross their attention during the approaching
important political crisis? We think not
We have every facility here, through our Re
publican friends III Congress, of issuing speeches
and other documents, at the least possible ex-
pense; snd by the voluntary labors of the mem
bers OF the Association in directing, and the
cooperation of Members of Congress, we hope
TO have the people fully supplied with the right
kind of political reading matter
We have therefore TO request that should
you organize q Republican Association, or
should there be one already in existence in
your place, you will urge upon its members the
importance OF at once collecting funds for the
purpose of procuring and disseminating the
proper KIND OF documents among the masses.
either by your Association or our National
COMMITTEE These speeches and documents
can be directed, singly, to such names as you
may send us, or they can be put up in packages
and sent to any one person, free of postage,)
to be by him distributed, as may best suit the
parties ordering.
We also particularly make the following re-
quests
i. That the names of the officers of each as
sooiation formed be sent US, as speedily after
It's organization as possible, and, when practica
Bile, the number of its members.
:. That list be made out, and forwarded, of
all persons in your vicinity 10 whom it may be
desirable TO forward speeches and other docu
ments-not only friends of the cause. but per
sons of all parties-and marking, opposite each
name on the list so sent, TO which of the politi.
cal parties the individual belongs, that We NAV
send documents adapted to each particular
case. These lists will be entered in books TO
be kept for that purpose by our Association,
and suitable documents will from time to time
be sent them.
3. Much good might be accomplished by
each Association regularly corresponding with
the one here, giving information relative to the
state of things in their several precincts, or
general political intelligence.
In conclusion, and even at the hazard Of be-
ing considered importunaie, let us again urge
the Importance of sn immediate and thorough
Organization.
Yours, truly,
DANIEL R. GooDLos,
II. 3. Brown, Committee
LEWIS CLEPHANE,
ES@ Address IL. Clephsne, Secretary Repub-
loan Association, Washington, ID. c."
Declaration, Platform, and Constitution,
or