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Mr. Hale In The West

Mr. Hale In The West image
Parent Issue
Day
14
Month
July
Year
1848
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The following corrospondence shows the high estiraation in which Mr. Hale is held in the metropolis of the West. With the signéis of the invitation, generally, we are acquainted. Thcy are of all partics, and among the first men of the city of Cincinnati, as it regards position, influence, and intelligence - soine of them being leading merchants and lawyers : " Cincinnati, May 2, 1848. To the Hon. J. P. Hale, Señale, Washington Cuy, D. C: "Dear Sik: The undersigned, citi.enof Cincinnali and of Hamilton eounty, have wiinessed wíth great pleasure your bold, independent, and honest course in the Senaie of the United Slates upon questions connected with slavery. " Unawed by violence and unmoved by denunciation, you have mainiaiiied the cause of conslitional freedom against tlic assaults of its enemies ; and in the name - so Car as we mny speak - of the people of the l'ree Slates, and of the lovers of liberty everywhere, we lliank you for it. " We do not inquire whether your views of the war, of curreney, or of tracle, agree or do not agree with ours. We recognise in you an honest, independent man - a fearless defender of free speech, Cree printing, frne soil, and free labor, and a daontletó opponent ofthe encroaching shve power. ' As such, we desire to take you by the hand, and tender to yon a welcome to our heautiful city - itself an illustrious monument of the patiiotic wisdom of ihé fathers ol the Repnblic, who consecrated ilu: virgin soil of the Northwest immutably lo freedom. 'We therefore cordially invite you to -it Cincinnati at as early a day as your convenience and your public duties will permit. " We are, very re3pectfully, your fellowcilizens, "J. M. McCullough, T. Walker, James Pulían, William Wood, Henry Starr, Wiiüam Burneit, Joshua H. Bates, J. C. Mitchell, George Hoadleyjun. W. A. Adams, John N. Armsirong, T. D. Lincoln, J. McDougal, jun. W. B. Smith, Joln Burgoyne, B.Urier, A. S. Chew, N. T. Horton, Samuel Lewis, Roben Boal, J. Lawson, J. L. Miner, George H. Bates, E. P. Justice, Roland Mitchell, Patrick Mallon, James C. Hall, Flamen Ball, Jonathan Mooney, H. W. Deitz, A. M. Searles, " Alien Hinchman, Rowland Ellis, William R. Morton, Isaac Stevens, jun. Richard B. Pulían jr. Thomas S. Brovvn, N, W. Speare, Marcus Smith, D. Williams, Joseph Claypool, Samuel Richntdson, Edward T. Wayne, E. M. Gregory, James W. Tayl'or, Jacob Shafter, S. G. Burnett,' Geo. W. McEIroy." S. P. Chase, Mr. Il.ilr' Hcply. " Washington-, June 5, 1848. "GENTLEMEN: Your very kind and fiattering invitalion to visit the city of Cincinnati, is belbre me. " The first sentiment of my heart which strugglea for utterance, as I sit down to answer it, is to thank you most heartily and sincerely for the complimentary manner in which you have been pleased to speak of my poor eflbrts in the Senate, in the six months during which I have had a seat in that body. li But whüe I thus thank yon, gentlemen, for lilis expression of your approval, my own convictions oí ihe trttth coinpel me to declare, that a retrospect of my Senatorial career brings to my mind more occasions of regret iban oF self-gratulation. I have to regret that I have not more clearly deíined, and more ably supported, as opportunitics have presented tliemselves, the great principie of constitulional Liberty, upon which alone our fabric of Free Government can permanently endino. "But, gentlemen, I do not intend to write an essay, but to answer your letter. Jt will affbrcl me very great pleasure to comply with your invitation, and I shall certainly do it, provided the present session of Congress terminátes witliin such reasonable lime that I can mnke the journey without being cotnpelled to negtect prior and indispensable engagements. "I wisli to sec you, gentlemen, your citizens, your city, your State, vvhich of itself is such an everlasting monument ofthe wisdom of our fathers, and the goodness of God combitied in thc ordinance of 17S7, vvhich t lie progressive spirit of our age threatens to repudiate and discard from the policy of the Government, so far as respecta the territory which we now possess, or may hereafter acquirc. " 1 regret tliat, after so long a time has elapsed since I recuived your invitation, I ara yet unable to give you a more definite answer ; but so it is. My movements must depend on events beyond my control. " íf I shall be able to give you a decisive anwer in the eífirmntivc, I will write you again at the earliest possible day, notifying you of the time when 1 will he ai your place ; and if, uiihappily for myself, I shall be obliged for Ibe present season to deny myself that jileadme, 1 will in like marnier advise you. ', But, whether I visit you or not, your invitation, and the sentiment of sympaihy and approbation accompanying it, will forevcr remaiii treasured in my heart among the most clicrished recollections of my life. " With much respect, I rernain your obliged friend and fellow-cilizen, "John P. Hale. "Messrs. T. Walker, Henry Starr, WUliam Burneit, W. A. Adame, J. M.McCullough, George Hoadh,jun., and others.