The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-08-27
fs0Es Rufus ChOaSe on the Presi-
dPufsaI Question.


Rufus Choate was invited to he present bat be
ing unable 10 attend, he sent letter, in which |
he deiinal his own position on the Presidential
question; and avowed his intention to vote or
AIr. Buchanan We give it below:
BosToS, Saturday Aug. ., 1886.
GaiiemeL-Upon my return last evening,
AFTER short absence from the city found your
letter Of The 3Oih nltimo, inviting me to take
part in the proceedings of the Whiss Of Maine,
assembled in mass meeting
Isppreciatc most highly the honor and kind
mass Of this invitation, and should have had true
pleasure in accepting it. The Wings of Maine
comp9sei a. all times 50 i'm 1ortaut division of
the great national party. which under that name
with or without official power, as a responsible
administration or as only an organized opinion
has done 50 much for our country-our whole
country-and our responsibilities at this mo-
ment are so vast and peculiar, that | acknowl-
edge an anxiety to see-not wait to hear-with
what noble bearing you meet the demands of
the times, If the tried legions, to whom it is
committed to guard the frontier of the Union,
GIter now, who, anywhere, can be trusted
Ny engagements, however and the necessity
or expcdiency of abstaining from all speeches re
quiring much effort, will prevent my being with
you, And yet invited to share in your counsels
and grateful for such distinction, cannot wholly
decline my own opinions on one Of the duties of
the Wings in what you well describe as 'the
present crisis in the political affairs of the coun
try" cannot now, and | need not pause to
elaborate or defend them. What think, and
what have decided to do, permit me in the
brieest anl plainest expression to tell you.
The first duty then of Wings, not merely as
patriots and as citzens,-loying, with large
and equal love our whole native land,-but as
Wings, and because we are Wings, IS to unite
with some organization of our countrymen, to
defeat and dissolve the new geographical party
calling itself Republican This is our first du-
ty. 1t would more exactly express my opinion
tosay, that at this moment it is our only duty
Certainly at least it comprehends or suspends
all others; and in my Judgment, the question
for each and every one Of us is not whether
this candidate or that candidate would be our
first choice; not whether there is some good
talk in the worst platform, not whether this
mans ambition, or that mans scrvilitv, or bold
ness, or fanaticism or violence is responsible tor
putting the wild waters in this uproar;-but
Just hs,-by what vote can do most to pre-
vent the madness of the times from working its
mlddest act,-the very extacy of its madness
the permanent formation and the actual pres
cnt triumph Of party which knows one-half o
America only to hate and dread it; from
whose unconsecrated and revolutionary ban
ner fifteen stars are erased or have fall
len;--in whose national anthem the ole
and endearcd airs Of the Ewtaw Springs
and the Kings Mountain and Yorktown, ant
those later of New Orleans, and Buena Vista
and Chapultepcc, breathe no more. To this du
tv, to this question: all others seem to me t.
stand for the present postponed and secondary
And why? Because according to our creed
it is only the unitel America which can peace
fully, gradually, safely improve, lift up and bles
with all social and personal and civil blessing;
all the races and all the conditions which com
pose our vast and various famiy-it is such a
America, only, whose arm can guard our faG
develop our resources, extend our trade,-an
fill the measure ofour glory; and because, accor
ding to our convictions the triumph of such
party puts that Union in danger. That is m
reason And for you, and for me, and for all
us, in whose regards the Union possesses such
,,L ~ c,or
such danger, it is reason enough. Believir
the noble ship of state to be within half a C
blcs length of the lee shore of rock, in gale
wind our first business is to put her about, al
crowd her off into the deep, open sea. TIL
done we can regulate the stowage of her low
tier Of powder, and select her cruising groun
and bring her officers to court martial at o
leisure
IF there are any in Maine-and among t
Wings of Maine hope there is not one-but
there are any, in whose hearts strong passion
vaulting ambition, jealousy of men or section
unreasoning and impatient philanthropy,
whatever else have turned to hate or coldno
the traternal blood and quenched the spirit
national life at its source; with whom the l
ion Of Slave States and Free States under |
actual constitution is curse, hindrance,
proach; with those Of course our view of {
Guty and the reason of it, are stumbling bic
and foolishness. To such you can have moth
to say, and from such you can have nothing
hope. But if there are those again who i
The Union as we love it, and prize it az we pr
it; who regard it as we do, not merely as v
instrumentality for the protection Of our co
merce and nayigation and for achieving pow
erninence and name among the soyercigns of
earth--but as a means of improving the mat
al lot, aud eleyatins the moral and mental
ture, and insuring the personal happiness Of
millions of many distant generations; If th
are those who think thus justly Of it-and
hug the fttal deusion that, because it is good
ii necessarily immortal; that it will thrive wi
out care; that anything created by mans '
is above or stronger than His will; that beca
the reason and virtues of our age Of reason |
virtue could build it, the passions and stint
tions Of day of frenzy cannot pull it down
such there are among you, to them address 70
sches with all the earncstness and all the
quence Of men who feel that some greater in
est IS at stake, and some mightier cause in h
ing, than ever yet tongue has pleaded or tr
pct proclaimed. If such minds and hearts
4naebnd oil ID eaE, Ruf how SnaciotIs and