The Great Whig Humbug Exploded! Birney Vindicated From The A...

Tlie following letter Trom James G. Bmnky to the Editora of the New York Tri bune, putlished in thal paper of Tuesday, Oclober 15, put to ret all the "Roerback" stories lhnt the Whigs have been so adroitly devising n the absence of Mr. Birnev: Uamden Conn., Oct. 10, 1841. To the Editor cf the Tribune: I have just now seen 'm the Tribune of todny au anide hended "Coolition of James G. Birr.ey with the Polk party." Th? charge of co-ilitlon rests on the fací, that I have been nomiimted for the Legislatura of Michigan by n Democratie convention, and that I usfented to us being dónu. Tl)e following is all, of eobstnnce, that is necessary to e.plain the tranancüon: Duriiiir my absence from home, Jast year, in New England, it was proposed in the Whig Convent ton of the conniy in wliich I reside, to nominale me for the Log Kit ure. The nomination, however, was not made, on the grnund, o? I wasi ntbrmed. that 1 might iiot be vvilliiig to serve 'ü' elected, and that the County, in thnt event, would be put to the trouble and expe".ce of holding another election. Being aiketl, on my return, v hether I wonld have served had I been elected, l replied that I would: tiiatas every valer w the County knew I was an Abolitionist - a rnember of the Libefiy party, and opposed to both the oih - er parties - for í liad used evcry proper occasion, publicly and priyaloly, to expose tlie!r unfairnfiss - I wouid regard my election as coming froin the people, irrespeedve of pnrty.Last spring and summer, complaints of mismanagement on the part of the counfy authorities were made by the people of the county. I thought the complaints were just. The persons most implicnted were of both the Whig and Democratie, parties. A public meeting was held to take into consideration the charges.. I presented the facts of the case to the meeting, and . supported a sst of resolutions embodying the sentiments of the meeting in relation to them. The course I took met with tiie approbation of those who were present and of those who were not - excepting, very likely, the parties implicated and their near friends. The same evening I reviewed before a large assemblage, embracing neariy all who had been in the county meeting just mentioned, the course of the Democratie and Whig parties, as connected with the cause of human liberty, - with the just claims of the North, and the integrity of he Constitution. This review could, of course, be nothing else than severe: yet no one, save it migfu be the party managers, found fault with it: and this because the facts were true - the Ireatment candid and impartía]. It was after this that the wish was expressed by persons of both parties that I should represent the county in the Legislature. I was applied to, to say that I would serve ifelected; My uniform answer - from whatever quarter the application carne - was, that f the people of the county, with the full knowledge which they possessed of my opinions, wished me to serve them, I would do it. I toldthem. moreover, that I should regard my eleclion as proof that the people intended to put an end to the pernicious party contests, by which their own peace and the interests of the county had been so long mar red. Allhough I have been nominated by my democratie neighbors, no one inty would have spoken of me as of that party had not the cue been given by the vvi workers of the Whig. party - especially by the originator of the coalition story, the Detroit Advertiser, a print that has spared neither fact nor fictión to win over the Liberty party in Michigan to the support of the Whigs, by weakeningtheir confidence in me. A specimen of its recklessness may be seen in the statement transferredtothe Tribune, that if my conference with Gen. Hascall at Flint w-ere divulged, it would doubtless disclose, that my mission to the East was undcrtaken at the instance of the Loco Focos, as wcll as leading Abolitionists of New York, though cloaked under the pretence of a visit to my sóh résidinginCorinccticut. - I neilher saw Gen. Hascall when 1 wns at Flint, nor have I ever exchanged with him a dozen wordson any matter of party politics. This is all fiction. Whatever I have done hos been done openly; and I absolve fromevery obligation of secrecy all persons with whom I have conversed on matters pertaining to public men or party méasures. Part of the article in the Tribune is a letter signed by A. P. Davis. of Flint, in Michigan. He professes to' have disco vered the cluetomy t:inveterate hostility" to Mr. Clay, in the aforesaid nomination, and in the fact of my first marriage having been into the Marshall family. No.w it tums out that my fii-st mUrriage was not into the Marshall family, and ihat that family in Kentucky, are, with but two exceptions. so far as 1 have heard. favorable to the.election of Mr. Clay. The charge of invetérate hostility lo Mr. Olay - if it mean any thing more tban political opposition - is wholly imaginary. I have no reasons for opposing Mr. Clay on personal grounds. On the contrary thè intercourse we have had has been of the most friendly character. I oppose his election, because he dísbelieves the great political truths of the Declaration of Independence, the foundation of all just Government, and because.he repudiates the paramount object of the Union, the perpetuation of liberty to all. On the same ground I oppose the election of Mr. 7lk 5-"1 1 m01e deprécate the election ot Mr. Llay- - because, possessing abiliUes superior to Mr. Polk's, he would proportionally wenken the inflaence of those truths on the minds of our countrymen.Kespectfully, &c. JAMES G. BIRNEY. P. S. The only direct nformationl hBve ïad respeeting ihi.s nomination has been con veyed to me by a inember of the Whi? party at Sagina w in a letter just received. -lis I.intrunge shews that my nomination tó he Legisluture is not ovving io party attachment. He eays, "I ibink you raoy make up your mind to spend this winter in Detroit, for his seems 1& be the wish of a good number of )oth panies." Now look fbr a few moments, at the facts rought to view in this statement, l. Mr. Birnrt ha ever been known in hiscounty as u thorough and u.ncompromising Libkrty man. His opinions have been openly and freeïy cxpressed agninsl both the other porties. The Democratie Correspondinor Committee of his own County have taken ground agahist his nomination by thnt party, on nccount of hifi strenuous and avowed hostility to its character and acís. So directly antagronistic to their pariy was the position of Mr. BfRNEy, tliat, nccordioir lo tho Detroit Pree Press, the other noininees on the tickot decïined nccepíing a nniuination willi him. and henee a neiv Conveitiun was called by tle Democratie Cornmittee. And what did tbey say in their circular concerniiigr Mr. Birney'a predilcctions for Locofucoisni'? Did tltey urge their felïow Democrats to support him? No, btit they disapproved the nomination of xMr. Birney on account ofhia avoweb nosTiLiTV to their party, and his uttkr nivFUSAL loidentifv himself with its, interests nnd nieasurea. They published the statement Mr. Biknkt made to Octavos Tliompson, who bad spoken lo liim re-pectir.g a nomination. and Mr. Birney repljnd, "(bat should lie be so nominated and elected to ihe Legiolature,iiBSHouu)GO tiíkre UiNPLEDG Eü Tü AN Y PARTY." Docá this look liko a "corrupt aalitioii' with ' Locofucos''? The Committee thenproceed as fol'o.ws: "To James Fraser, Esq. Mr. Birney propounded the following interrogntory: -"Would it ?io. be best to break up both political parliesV hoving referenoe to the Democratie and Whig prxrties! Mr. Birney further stated to Mr. Fraser, uAs f o thó Abolition question, it beING A LEApiNG QUESTION WITH ME, I WILL NOT TRAMMEL MYSELF ON TH AT SUBJECT.'The foregoing facts Mr. Fraser stnled at the School House, in the presenceof a number of gentlemen, on the 8th Octnst," "Fcllow citizens, are you prepnred to elect a man, whoseavowed determination is TO ANNÏHILATE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY- la stipport a man who opcnly avows kis iviention TO BREAK UP THK PARTY- principies tbr which we have long contended, and wliich are dear toevery sound Democrat? We answer no, and fondly trust you will cheerfully respönd to the cali." Tlie Detroit Free Press, the Democratie State paper, declares lliat Birney is co.xsidjp.rED THE WORST E.NEMr OF THR DeMOCRATIC PARTY I?ï THAT COUrTY.'' 2. Mr BirNey hnd bepn proposed in the Wmo County Convention )a?t year ns a niminee lo the Legislature. Would this have been thought of had he been known to his neighbors only as a "Locofoco"? S. It is evident from this statement, llmt a nuinber of botii parties vvere desirous of his election to the Legislatnre; and he had been spoken to in behalf of a portion of each of lliose partieB. 4. They expected liira to serve them if at all, not as a Danocrat or a IVhig, but as a Libkrty map; and he expressly informed those who consultcd liini, ihat he wou'd not lttram mei himself" ín his advocacy of the Liberty principies. Theasseriion of the Whigp, that he would support "Democratie mkn and sieasurrs," is without the least prooj whatever. Mr. Driggs, the messenger whom the Wbigs of Detroit sent to Sagina w to gather up tho rumors, and give them form and eiiape, could not find a rnon who ever heard Mr. Birnet give any such pledge. 5. Mr. Bjrmiy, in accordance with h'w usu al fairnessand condor, gives leave to all perr sons to relate all they know of his connection with public men or party tneasnres, and absolves them from all obiigationsof secrecy. - Does this look like a profotind and cunning scheme of treason to the Liberty party?And now, Vellow Liberty men, before you listen to the 6lamlers of personal nnd politica! eneroies- jnst put your finger upon thal precieeact in Mr. Bikney wbich jou comlemn. What faiilt do you find with the man? Thai hia fellovv citizens entertained so high au estimation of him that they toished him for their Representative, onght not to be accounted a crime in him. Nor is he censurable because they askcd him to comply with tlieir wishes. This it was their privilege to (io. In vviiat. then, does lu's offence consist? In his answerl VV-hat was that answer? That if clected with the ful! knowledge of his opinioir? enjoyed by the peoplc, he should go to the Legislatura untrammelled in his Libeny principies; and he should consider himeelfas the Representativo of the pcople, "iiuikspkctive ofpartt," and "U.NPLEDGKD TO ANY PAHTV." Tijis S the very head and front of his offending- that he has returned this answer to the expressed wishes of his felïow citizens of both parties. Are you prepared to condemn him for ihis= response1 Do you think him deserving of elernal infamy for his upright and maniv replv in these circumstantes? If you do, yon can join thecompany of the enemies of the Liberty principie?, and 6how yovr attachment to tiiem by doing what Birney will not do - by voting for A SLAVEHOLDER! For our ourselves, we regard Mr. Birney's manly and independent course on this matter as perfectly unobjectionable and proper; and such would be the sober judgment of the whole community, wérè it not for tho unceasing efforts of the Whig Press by the help of falsehood and misrepresentation to present the whole transaction in a deceptive point of view. We think no Liberty man, after reading this exposition from Mr. Birney, can bubt his inlegrily and fdelity to the Liberty cause for a single moment; and should they difTer with us or with him as to the expediency of his course, they will find on refleeiion, tnat this is not a sufficient reason for refusing ñim their suffrages, or least of all,, for beslovnng them upon a Whig or Democratie ünb.epkktixg Slaveholder! Since thepreceding was in type, thefollowing arti.-le from the Boston Chronicle has bea received ï