Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-07-14
DIR. WALK.

Dr Walk -
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1856.
SIR: have to acknowledge the receipt of let
ter from you dated the 9th instant. You inform
me, that Gas am your representative in Congress,
you take the liberty of addressing me on the most
important subject that ever has been before the
American people, that is, shall slavery be national
and freedom sectional or shall slavery be section
al and freedom nationalS" You also feel "sure
that ninety out of every hundred of my constitu-
ents are for freedom, and you hope that will cast
my vote for freedom, and do everything that can
to have Kansas admitted as free State and by so
doing oblige my constituents" / copy your Ian
guage with exactness, and it is neither more nor
less than as quote II from your letter.
should have been gratifed il, in addressing me
on that "most important subject" you had indica-
ted the Internationally Of freedom, the nation
atty of slavery in the United States. From my
earliest recollection, my mind has ever been inn
pressed with the conviction, that freedom was the
national characteristic of the American people,
and if it has become otherwise, am certainly not
aware of it and you may have possibly discovered
the remarkable anomaly thatin New York freedom
means one thing, and in Georgia another
Most unfortunately for our domestic tranquility,
and eminently dangerous to our peaceful repose
upon the rock of the constitution, not only some
of my constituents, but those Of many other Rep
resentatves here, have become converts to new
of species Of monomonia, they have gone mad
withfreedom, and are swapping and biting at every
body who comes within their reach, and screech-
ing liberty and equality in the Of the unthink
ing and reckless, soon, perhaps, to be crazy as
themselves. The disease is becoming more and
more inveterate and alarming, and unless some
radical cure can be found for it in the patriotic
conservatism of the great masses of the people, /
am inclined to the opinion that sectionalism will
both rule and ruin the country.
have not so learned my duties here as to for
get that am Representative Of the United States
from of the districts of the State of New York.
and that am under the most solemn obligations
to every one of the States, to be faithful to my
constitutional oath. / am as much In favor of
freedom, true constitutional freedom, as any of
those who shout 80 loudly about il, and shall al
,oays vote for IL. But when am called upon to
vote for freedom, presenting herself in the unclean
garments Of harlot, and claiming admission as a
virtuous sister, as Kansas did with her Topeka
constitution, shall alscays vote no, as did upon
q recent occasion. When Kansas presents herself
iegitrnafeiy to Congress, and asks to be admitted
into the Union, shall vote for her coming in
without any regard whatever to her CONSTITUTIONS
being bond or Free II her people, the bona fds
residents and settlers choose TO have slavery that
is their ccneorn, not mine; If otherwise, thank
God that IL 10 their right to regulate their own af
fairs In their own way.
shall ever be most ready and willing TO "oblige
my constituents" but never at the cost of my In
dependent Judgment to foster and encourage rev. |
stationary or reasonable movements.
Your obedient servant,
WIN. W. Walk.