Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-04-12


We print below IA brief correspondence
which should interest every protectionst
and every free trader in the country, and,
over aud above that, every citizen who de
sires to see that mischievous anomaly, the
Solid South" broken up The letters be
low propose as will he seen, the call Of a
Southern Protectionist convention in Chat
tanooga next May 10 concert measures for
a contest in 31 Southern Congressional dis
tricts on the simple question Of protection.
NATURAL BRIDGE, Va, Feb p, 1857.
THOMAS SEDDEN, ESD
Mn DEAR SIR since our brief conversation
have deter mined TO write this letter.
We differ In all our past political association
aud in local politics. but We agr'e that NO free
trader can o. right represent any one Of the 81
Southern Congressional districts Of which we
spoke four in West Virginia, two in Maryland,
six in Virginia. four in North Carolina, four in
Tennessee, four in Kentucky, one in Georgia, two
in Alabama, five in Missouri. one IN Arkansas aud
two in Texas-m the Congress Of the United
States aud that It il within the province OF those
who hold the prosperity Of the south above all
partisanshp to make all such misrepresentation
impossible In these white districts the race
question is not paramount, and u Is due ourselves
| that we demonstrate to the world that the right
of citizenship is held rs sacred as in any other
part of this nation.
/ suggest for myself and those may fairly
represent, to yourself and those who assert like
independence that We meet in Chattanooga IN
May next in convention and organize a southern
Protective Tariff League. confined To the mineral
districts and to national politics. which shall 50
educate and organize our people that they may
assert the balance Of power they rightfully hold
| TO protect and advance the material velopment
| Of the South further suggest that when 100
| names are secured "A call for such convention
| be issued Yours truly, II. c PARSONS.
BiRMiNGHAN. Ala, March 1, 1889.
| II G. Parsons. Esq E.
My DEAR SIR-I have your letter Of February
| - | approve heartily of your suggestion. We
willImeet and cooperate with you in the organza'
| ton of the southern Protective Tariff League.
Yours truly. THOMAS SEDDEN.
1t will, we understand, be proposed in
this convention that in each of these 30
Southern districts the protectionists who
call themselves Republicans and the protec-
tionists who call themselves Democrats
shall Join hands to nominate and vote for
protectionist for Congress If in any of
these districts the majority of protection
list voters are Republican, in that case a
Republican will be nominated, and the
Democratic protectionists will vote for him.
| If, as will be the case in most of the dis
tricts the majority If protectionist voters
call themselves Democrats, Democratic
protectionist will be nominated, and the
Republicans will support him.
The movement above indicated is a sig
nhcant one. To Nermonters it is of spe
cial interest because Col. Parsons is a Yer
monter, resident before the war in St Al
bans. He now owns the wonderful Natur
al Bridge estate, is leader of the Virgins
Republicans and one Of the foremost advo
Gates of the business and industrial devel
opmeut of the new South