New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-31
To EACH MEMBER or THE SOCIETY OF
FRIENDS
Tho following is reply made by member Of
.to society of Friends to questions Propounded by
an acquaintance in Pennsylvania:
~ Il

.bc Society of rendH 10 Questions Propouhdtd by
! oo acquaintance in Pennsylvania:
NEw-YoRK 10th no., sd. 1876.
To DEAR FRIrsD-I In answer TO thy
operes relative to which of the Pre-idental candi
dates the Society Of Friends would give their support.
ard whether thought they would generally vote
will mcke few observations.
am myself member Of that Society, have strong
attachment to H. believe in its doctrines, and feel to
Nc duty to maintain its testimonies. a An iDdi-
vidual, however can only answer for my-eh
Ftiepds, as body, are no politicians; nevertheless.
they are not ses spectasrs Of the npen ling strug'
Gle, nor are they Indifferent to the welfare oi thflr
itll w-bepgs nor callOus TO the sutenDgs vi hu'
manity.
Before definitely answering THE question will pre-
sent f,w Of idcas as 10 the reasons OF Friends
not generally voting for candidate. for office under our
civil government. III C fT7 pace. the elections are
generally conducted 10 dlsordery manner Win tends,
uproars 6ghtings drunkenness, ProfaoIty, and their
kindred vice.; and 20 much 70, that voting Is some
times act TO be performed only at the peril OF
mans life. Sco0ndIy, in regard to the Gubernaorial
end Presidential elections, scrupe Of conscience
places her veto the net. need not mention TO thee
net Friends bear decided testimony against rar-a
testimony which, believe is peculiar To themselves as
religious body. Now, in voting for Governor or
President under the laws as they are al present, they
may think it would he IN some sense acting contrary
10 their testimony against WAR. These are only my
smnises, an Individual member, OF their reasons Tor
declining to vote
Having made these premises, i will now give my
own sentiments on the subject. Owing to some of the
above reasons | have abstaned from voting myself;
but now events have assumed such an aspect that L
think TO NEGLECT TO VOTE IL CRIMINAL. i vote Tor
Freedom, Free Speech and FREM ONT As Friend,
think con not only cODscientOusly vote, but that
en- in conscience bound 10 vote. Nor do think that
by voting am in any sense &C essory to Udr Were
10 vote for man expressly for tue purpose o. hset-
ing or Of wagiDg against his neighbUs, then, IN
deed IDv cOnsci would reprOach me. But H1r my
cons ,eI urges he 10 vote even at The peru OF NE
From the West near the grOans OF the dyiog, the
,lrcks of wives aid daughters and the sOos and cries
of orphaned children; from the South hear the clank
ing OF chains the lastng of tie whip, the wang. OF
despair In the Senate Chamber-the seat and poti-
cal center of this great Republic behold q Senator
struck down by ruffan for advocating the csuse of
Freedom / look ground, and see the whole country
in commoton, shaken if by terrific volcano to its
very center, by the giant Slavery Can be Il silent
spectator while such scenes passing before my
oycsl Would | not be criminal in Withholding my
vote, when that vote might break the chan Of the OPP
pressOr and set The captive free when that vote
might paralyze as to cripple Slavery forever? No,
no, Friend of Humanity let me entreat you by the
ii neniaiy of your own natural emotions and by an
enlightened and upright conscience to put forth every
effort in the cause now pending before you. What
would be your reward Prosperity ely, great indeed.
A hOurshDg Republic ultimately free from the blast
ing irfuerce Of Slavery. That national stigma washed
away, tears dried up no more slaves to Il-trea nor
masters to tyranI ze, no more delicate femaos-Inany
or ell at auction to the highest bidder ch0fte;
murders Iapes an asons to peretuate the de-
Oating scourage of Slavery half cont lent made free
and happy Add to THE the adv antages that must ac-
to those very oppressols, who, while tramPlng
Humanity beneath their feet sink with their victims
into degradation, moral mental, and physical.
In answer to the question which of the Presidential
candidates the Friends would vote for can answer,
30 far as my knowledge extends, all are in favor of
FRiMONT have bot heard dissenting voice. 1t is
welknown fact that opposition to Slavery is one OF
their fundamental principles, much So that many
of them conscientiOusy deferred from using any
of tie products OF slave labor consequently, whea
they vote il must be in opposton to Slavery.
Think it is prcsumablo that but few Friends have
yet voted in Pennsylvania; but when the Presidential
crisis comes conscience think, will whisper her eter
nal truth in their minds, and philanthropy urge them
to throw their weight into the scale of judgment, mer
cy, and truth.
Az the matter stands and as the scales now
nearly oise their weight WILL think settle the ques
ton whether Freedom or Slavery shall triumph; and
oh if by neglect of duty the peipeuation of Slavery
should be fixed upon how great, methinks, must be
the responsibility of 50 dire an event
FRIEND OF THE OPPRESSED AND OPPRESSION.