The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-22
DANIEL wEBsrERs LETTER TO JOHN
TAYLOR. 49,

The following letter written in the most
homespun style, by Daniel Webster to John
Taylor, his man of all work, at Marshfeld,
contains as much sound sense and high-toned
patriotism, as ever before came from the pen
Of its great author. 1t should be read and its
sentiments carefully treasured by those who, in
any contingency, would "let the Union slide"
"WAsH1NGToN, March II, 1852.
"JoHN TAYLoR-Go ahead. The heart Of
the winter is broken, and before the first day
of April all your land may be plowed. Buy
the oxen of Capt Narston, if you think the
price fair Pay for the hay. I send you
check for S160, for these two objects. Put
the great oxen in condition to be turned out
and fatted. You have good horse team, and
I think in addition to this, four oxen and a
pair of four-year old steers will do your work.
If you think so, then dispose of the Steven
oxen, unvoke them and send them to pasture
for beef know not when / shall see you,
but hope before planting. If you need any
thing, such as guano, for instance, write Breek,
Esq, Boston, and he will send it to you.
Whatever ground you SOW or plant, see
that it is in good condition. We want no PEN
myroyal crops "a little farm well titled is to
farmer the next best thing to little wife
we'll willed.' Cultivate your garden. Be sure
to produce sufficient quantities of useful vege-
tables. A man may half support his family
from a good garden. Take care to keep my
Mother's garden in good order, even if it cost
you the wages of man to take care of it.
have sent you many garden Seeds. Distribute
them among your neighbors. Send them to
the stores in the village, that every man may
have part of them without cost. I am glad
you have chosen Mr.. Pike Representative
He is true man. There are in New Hamp-
shire many persons who call themselves Wings
are no Wings at all and no better than dis
unionists. Any man who hesitates in granting
and securing te every part of the country its
Constitutional rights, is an enemy to the whole
country.
"John Taylor If one of your boys should
say that he honors his father and mother, and
loves his brothers and sisters but still insists
that one of them should be driven out of the
family, what can you say of him but this, that
there is no real family love in him? You and
l are farmers; we never talk politics; our talk
is of oxen; but remember this that any man
who attempts to excite one part of the country
against another, is just as wicked as he would
be who should attempt to get up quarrel be-
tween John Taylor and his neighbor, old Mr.,
John Sanford, or his other neighbor, Capt. Bur-
leigh. There are some animals that live best
in the fire, and there are some men who delight
in heat, smoke, combustion, and even confa-
grafton. They do not follow the things which
make for ,eace. They enjoy only controversy,
contention and strife. Have no communion
with such persons either as neighbors or as
politicians. You have no more right to say
that slavery ought not to exist in Virginia, than
Virginian has to say that slavery ought to
exist in New Hampshire. This is a question
left to every State to decide for itself and if
we mean to keep the States together, we must
leave to every State this power of deciding for
itself
al think never wrote you a word before on
politics I shall not do it again. only say,
love your country, and your whole country;
and when men attempt to persuade you to get in
to- oaquarrel with the laws of your State, tell them
that you mean tp mind your own business, and
advise them to mind theirs. John Taylor, you
possess good principles; you have large
family to rear and provide for by your labor
Be thankful to the government which does not
bear you down by excessive taxation, but
which holds out to you and yours the hope of
all the blessings which Liberty, industry and
security may give. John Taylor, thank God,
morning and evening, that you were born in
such country. John Taylor, never write me
another word upon politics. Give my kindest
to your wife and children; and
when you look from your eastern window upon
the graves of my family, remember that he
who is the author of this letter must soon fol-
low them to another world.
"DANIEL WEBSTER"