Jan. 23d [1849.]
Dear Sir — I
received this morning your favor of the 18th inst. & I beg leave to
disclaim at once all pretention to the position, which your courtesy assigns to
me, of “head of the Free Soil Party of Ohio”. I am but one of a numerous host,
animated by a common desire to divorce our National & State governments from
all support of Slavery, and thus ensure the speedy deliverance of our country
by Constitutional means, from its greatest curse; and to apply the principle of
equal rights, on which our action against slavery is based, to other permanent
questions of public policy. This body of citizens constitutes the Free
Democracy or Free Soil Party, in which and with which I am content to labor, in
any position which may be assigned to me, but without aspiring to lead so long
as the great purpose of its organization require my service. You enquire as to
my views, 1. in relation to a National Tariff 2d. in relation to Banking; 3d. in relation to
Lake & River Improvements by the General Government. — I am not averse as
those acquainted with me well know, to a frank expression of my opinions, as an
individual, to any who may think fit to ask for them:— But, I confess I
should feel some hesitation in answering your questions, put to me as they appear
to be under an unfounded impression, that I sustain some peculiar relation to
the Free Soil Party of the State, if I did not find answers ready to my hand in
the resolutions of our National & State Conventions which set forth views,
which, I as a Free Soiler, adopt & defend without reserve. I answer your
first question, therefore, by a reference to the fourteenth resolution of the
Buffalo Convention:— your second, by a reference to the fourth, fifth &
eleventh resolutions of our own Free Democratic Convention, recently held at
Columbus; and your third by a reference to the twelfth resolution of the
Buffalo Convention. As you may not have at hand the Resolutions of these
Conventions, which constitute the State & National Platforms of the Free
Democracy of Ohio, I enclose a copy. I also enclose a copy of a Resolution
adopted by the Free Territory Convention of Ohio on the 21st of June on the
subject of River & Harbor Improvements, which though offered by our
friend Mr Briggs, was drafted by me and expresses my views.
With great respect,
[SALMON P. CHASE.]
_______________
* From letter-book 6, p. 165.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 155-6
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