LETTER TO A COMMITTEE OF HUDSON RIVER COUNTIES, POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK,
OCTOBER 3, 1856.
PHILADELPHIA, October 3, 1856.
DEAR SIR,--Among valued opportunities, which, by the dictation of
my physician and the admonitions of continued ill-health, I am
constrained to forego, is that afforded by the invitation, with
which I have been honored, to meet the Republicans of the Hudson
River Counties at Poughkeepsie. They will, I trust, believe me
not indifferent to their kindness, or to the cause in whose name
they are to assemble.
Nothing but necessity could keep me thus aloof, a mere looker-on,
while the great battle of Freedom is waged. The pleasure of the
sight to a spectator secure in the distance has been declared
by an ancient poet in a much admired passage, reproduced by a
greater modern:--
“’Tis pleasant also to behold from far
The moving legions mingled in the war.”
Yet the impulse and ardor of my convictions do not allow me to
be content in any such retirement. I wish to enter the strife,
and give such powers as I can to the righteous cause. But I am
forbidden.
It only remains that from my retreat I should send all that for
the present I can give, the prayers and benedictions of one yet
too feeble for any exertion.
While thus sitting apart, I am permitted to survey the field and
to recognize the ensigns of triumph now streaming in the fresh
northern breeze. Everywhere the people are aroused, at least
away from the pavement of great cities, where, too often, human
perversity is such as to suggest that “God made the country and
man made the town.”
Iowa, at the extreme West, and Maine, at the extreme East,
testify to a sentiment which must prevail also in the
intermediate States. In proper season New York and Pennsylvania
will confess it. And this is natural; for the whole broad country
has been shocked by the enormities of which Mr. Buchanan, in
the pending contest, is the unflinching representative, and Mr.
Fillmore the cautious, but effective, partisan.
In this contest I discern the masses of the people, under the
name of the Republican party, together with good men regardless
of ancient party ties, arrayed on the one side, while on the
other side is the oligarchical combination of slave-masters, with
the few Northern retainers they are yet able to keep, composed
chiefly of sophists whose lives are involved in a spider’s web of
fine-spun excuses, hirelings whose personal convictions are all
lost in salary, present or prospective, and trimmers whose eyes
fail to discern present changes of opinion only because they are
fastened too greedily upon ancient chances of preferment. Such
are the parties.
And I discern clearly the precise question on which these parties
are divided. In stating it I answer it.
The Territory of Kansas has been made the victim of countless
atrocities, in order to force Slavery upon its beautiful,
uncontaminated soil. By lawless violence a Government has been
established there, which, after despoiling the citizen of all
his dearest rights, has surrounded Slavery with the protection
of pretended statutes. And the question is distinctly submitted
to the American people, “Are you ready to sanction these
enormities?” This is the simple question. The orators of Slavery,
freely visiting Poughkeepsie, could not answer it, and therefore
they have kept it out of sight. But there the question stands.
Refusing to become partakers of such wrong, you will contribute
not only to the freedom of Kansas, but also to the overthrow
of the brutal and domineering Oligarchy which seeks to enslave
Kansas, simply as a stepping-stone to the enslavement of the
whole country. Surely, no man can hesitate, when Freedom requires
his vote. Nay, more, is not this cause worth living for? is not
this cause worth dying for?
* * * * *
Accept my thanks for the special kindness of your communication,
and my regrets that I can answer it only by this imperfect letter.
Believe me, dear Sir, ever faithfully yours,