Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-08-16

Bosroy, Aug. 8. 1872.



DEAR S1R-The receip: Of your kind letter
hs, given NE special qualification. becSuse it was
in Bennington | commenced my lahore for the
extirpstou Of ohAttel slavery from the Aueri
can coil That was in 1928, iJrty-f1ur years
ago. Ny "reminiscences Of the place are Etill
fresh with me, whether any Of the inhabitants
hear me in their memory or net. To see It once
more, snl thus to recall the thrilling Essoci.-
tiors Of the past, vouN alone he sufficient in
ducement to comply with tie invitation extended
to me to visit Bennington On the l6ih met, L
h,d not other engagements
You state that, on that Jay. lie anniversary
OF the battle Of Bennington s to be celebrated
By = maxs meeting Of the Republicans Of the
County and in their behalf you invite me to
fpesk On the political ssuects Of the times. That
| should be able 20 DO in no pGrtiIau spirit, if
were present ; but. for resSons it is quite IN
neceecAry to specify, must decline all over
lures to address political gatherings using my
pen, ins,eS1 Of my voice. to bear my testimony
a. best can for the furthersnce Of popular lib
erty sud the genersl welfare
From 81 independent position, looking down
into the political arena, l see two parties strug
Cling for toe mastery in regard 70 the manage
nent Of cur uaiionsl Gl1irs. One Of these is
the Republican ptrty, eubodying Al immense
proportion Of the intei!i gerce, education, cul-
ture, patrio;ism RAJ Tiety Of the nation the
other IL the Democratic party, assisted By COM
psrstive,g small uu-lter # . c1liei Liberal Re
pu5lcsns, under the banner Of which are rally
iag nearly all those WHO, through rebellion and
civil var, sought TO dismember The republic il
the interest Of negro slNvcry-all those at the
North Who were IN sympathy with them-sl
the dangerous classes universally. TIE contract
il striking, needing 10 spelisl enlightenment on
which tiie every loyal, l5erty-loying voter
should he fund 70 tnnl. The record Of the
Republican party - inc3mrsrsbiy better than
ttzt Of .uy her political organization since the
foundation C the government lie leading
measures hsvg been 10 accordance with the claims
Of justice. humanity, and equal rights, aHd viii
make .t famous Ia history. The re7ort Of the
Democrats party. un 20 lie hciie retsmorpho-
SIS a. Baltimore isst month, Il one Of unre,entiug
opposition % su those measures, particularly
viva reference % our cllorei population Des-
pairing Of sE.ln controlling the nstion by the
election q suy ore CT is stripe, on account Of
the oi.um into which it llE fallen, il has PIT in
nomination dr the Presidency one whose 1ecre-
Gncy to the Republican csuse iF, in view Of d,
sayings and Sc's, il astounding as it is deqlors-
bic sul 10 sfect, 20 regard lis triumph hy ;Eis
ruse a. certain, sc,iug as il docs under false
pretences tru,t the Intelligent farmers Of
Vermont will not be deceived ~ any Of is de-
vices This is WHIST Nr. Greeley ssid Of the
Democratic party Only lsst year, ami since then
it las changed in nothing excepting IN tactics -
o Il Is reto, - the core today. hardly Able to
reconcile the defeats OF Lee Johnston, Bragg,
Hood and Price, sui the consequent downfall Of
It's beloved Coufslerscy, with IT'S traditional faith
in Divine Providence Il would hsil the election
OF Democratic President in 1872 IS = virtual
reversal cf the Appomat;cx surrender. Is would
come into power with TIE hate, the chsc-in, the
wrath, the modification q ten bitter years to
impcl ami guide its steps. Il would devote il
self 70 taking OF OF reducing tax after tax. uH-
Ill the Treasury Ess deprived Of the meAus Of
ysying interest IN the national debt, Eni would
Lsil the tiiings Of nstionsl bankruptcy with IN
snoyei elSdness Aul uucoucesiet exultAion.
Wtate7eT chattisemeut may be deserved by our
national siur, We npst hope that this Disgrace
Eud humiliation will be spared US Referring
to Preslent Grant he said" Thst be hss made
some mistakes in appointments - Il would be
strange indeed II one 50 inexperienced in the
conduct Of poli,i,Sl s,Isirs had wholly escaped
then. While Sssertiug the right Of every Re
publican to HE unjrsmmo.ed choice Of = candi-
dkte for next President, until \ nomination If
made | venture to suggest that Cen. Grant viii
be far better qualified for that uouentous trust
in 1872 than he was in 1865. Yet, since his
own fortuitous nomination Sc rival candidate
by the Cincinnati and Baltimore Conventions,
Mr. Greeley has been actiyely occupied in i'm
peaching the patriotism and staining the char
scter Of President Grant IS msn totally un-
worthy Of tie confidence or respect Of the Amer
ickn people In addition to this bsseners and
treschsry, his specisl organ, the Tribune, is
daily filing the air with the foulest accusations
sgsinr, the President, and exhibiting meannets
and msligniiy towards him utterly despieAble.
To al these crushing refutAtca is TO he found
in the testimonies I have quoted made by iir.
Greeley only last year
Hoping that, in the coming struggle, Vermont
will be true TO her well-detervei fame ~ " the
stsr th.t never setF, ! remain,
Cordially yours,
W.. LLOYD CAREIsoN.