The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-06-28
From the State Register
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Hon. E.R. Webb.

hon. 4. Is. Webb, to whig friend, upon
the present condition Of parties. Below we
give another, addressed to the same gentle
man, copy of which has been furnished US
for publication. This letter will be read
with much interest, especially by those with
whom Mr.. W. has hitherto acted in politics
CARMI, June s, 1856.
Dear General: l only received your let
ter of Sd inst. by yesterdays mail, and al
though my nerves are all unstrung with qui
nine, trying to break the ague, the latter
part of your letter. in which you ask II. and
expect my cooperation, makes it imperative
that should answer Immediately. This is
my answer:
Read over my last letter carefully; strike
oat the word "black" wherever it occurs,
for although it is harmless, and used in no
unkind sense, / would not use any disagree
able word in speaking Of party, to mem
bcrof that party. Then, to you and to oil
n.ysA,a friends and The rest of mankind,
who have curiosity on the subject, that let
ter defines my position.
am not stand still whig, or careless
locker on. | am not now fond of the ex-
citrnent and struggle of political contest as
l once was; and ii | were, so far as | can
see or know, am alone. The other "ele-
ven obstinate jurors" are gone. But as one
of the two millions of voters Of this yet uni
ted country, ! shall vote and act at all cleo
tons, when think the vital interests of the
country are at stake. And thinking all
those vital interest at stake on the issues
now made by the republican, party, in
any contest where l see that party with
those issues, one Of the strongest | am not
only not for it, ! am against it; and as | can
not vote against it without voting fyr some
other, in such event ! shall vote with and
for the other, OF the two strongest parties,
be it whig or democrat, man or demon.
etthe old sta.es alone! But no slave ter
ritory; no new slave states. These Z" re
publican issu is arc exceedingly plausible,
and when subtly PLACID before the mass OF
the people of the free states, whose feelings,
interests and gfneral sense Of right are that
way inclined, ape hard 10 meet.
But i, who don't want to make president,
senator, member Of congress, and all that
sort of thing, at such fearful peril, | who
want to be c0nrinced,-I ask. what terrific
ries are you talking about, and who do they
belong to- An swcr: They are millions Of
square miles ofthe finest sol and climate in
the world, with scarce ciUilizcd inha5itant
on them. They were inherited, bought,
fought for, re annexed and belong 10 these
United States, neither half nor any Of the
states owning . single acre, but ali and each
owning an undivided par, of erery acre.
Yet your republican issues say to titeen
Of these states Your sons and daughters
may go upon these territories, provided they
leave behind them their property, manners,
customs, homes aud associations, and their
old fathers and mothers, whose habits are
too fixed TO change,
There is such a thing as Jesuitsn in the
Brooklyn churches, as vel as Naples cathe-
drals. Is not this practically saying, True,
the undivided half Of this property is yours,
but we mean TO take and keep al, and enjoy
the real or supposed political or other ad-
vantages that may flow from it, possession"
INV Gcnoral. ask yourself kindly ard
calmly, whether people, whose mothers
would not drink taxed tea, aud whose faith
ers would not write on stamped paper, ought,
can, or niH stand the success of these is
sues: No. Violent disruption must be the
inevitable result. And acc may I've 10 see
the Ohio and Mississippi, the only natures
highway for Egypt, and many broad acre
besides, in the possession 81 and Of right be-
longing to foreign and dead Y hostile pow
or, made up of stout, stalwast and indomi-
"a OiI D.O-Ni, ASI-GS CI ANS,
like ourselves.
And to ,hink,that this state of things, IL
ways possible from the clashing interests
and passions Of mankind, should be made
almost probable by the action OF sehigs, who
think they are only fighting the democracy,
as with Henry Clay and Daniel Webster,
they fought it in times past.
Whiggishly speaking, what difference can
| see between Col Bssell, Judge TrumbuIl
and Col. Richardson: They each profess
to be democrats, and the representatives of
tic true democracy. | have served with
them all in different legislatures, when party
was rife, and have seen each give and re-
ceive many a gallant blow; but upon my
word never saw or heard either Of them
do an act or utter word which sympathi-
zcd with wing policy, party or men. And,
forsooth, l should have respected them less
If had.
You speak Of the repeal of the Missouri
and the republican issue,
talk freely of the encroachments of the
south. Now, in trying to convince ourselves
or each other, let US not deal in epthets or
but calmly see what are the
facts.
In or about 1877, there was ceeded to the
United States, mostly by the south, that
vast empire now called Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nois, Wisconsin, now containing eight mil
lions Of people, and one-tifth of the whole
strength and wealth of this nation. At the
time Of cession, it was slave territory, even
within the sense and meaning of the "re
publican" issues. With the consent of the
south, at the request Of the great ceding
power, Virginia, it was solemnly made free
territory and free states. Well, some thir-
ty odd years after this "encroachment," an
other territory, also, within the sense and
meaning of the republican issues, with
a southern population, southern habits and
southern property, constitutionally qualified
and fortified, applied for admission into the
Union, and WAS REFUSED, because she would
not, by her constitution, drive out her then
population and their property, and admit no
more such! Men now living, who witness
ed that storm, may yet live to see our great
country and great government shivercd and
destroyed by similar "encroachment"
Gallant old Harry is not here to pour oil
on the troubled waters And who is there
to take his place? Perhaps Mr.. Seward
could do it, but like you, he won't believe
in the possibility of disunion, until the pie
ces Of a million tons weight come tumbling
about his ears. And-I fear he would rath-
er be president than right.
But the compromise" was repealed, and
how? By fifteen states against sixteen in
the senate, and Heaven knows what odcs in
the house. Let us be candid. Would this
encroachment have been made or tho't
OF, had-not all the elements which are now
tumbling into line to constitute the "repub-
lican" party, agitated, agitated, AGrrArED
the subject of slavery, in the states and out
of the states, and by word and deed refused
to extend the line. or consider it applicable
to the vast extent of after acquired territory.
/ can say no more. My friend come out
from among them" If you cont come out,
not only will not help you, but whenever
there is fair blow to be struck and can
strike it, l sciU strike against the " "republi-