Mr. Birney To The Liberty Party

[CONTINU ED.] The following lotter; refemng (o the same occasion, is trorn Mr. J. R. Sto fluid (a Whig,) of Cleveland, Ohio. "Ni LES, MlCHIOAN, 7 Nov. 19, 1844. 5 Ja.mjes G. Birxev, Esq: gm:_-yOurs of tho Ist, directed to me at Cleveland was received by me todavrHaving been a passenger on board of the Great Western, and hearing your reinarks "in relaiion tothe Whig and Democratie parties and tlieir candidates for th? Presidency," you request of me to know, whether you expressed a preference of Mr. Polk over Mr. Clay or of the Democratie policy over the Whig policy. On that occasion you said, Ihat for vourself and for your party you deprecated the annexation of Texns, it being a measure that would perpetúate Slavery nnd establish a prepondcrance of the political slaveholdlng power, and that there was more danger of annexation if Mr. Clay was elected, than there was il' Mr. Polk was elected. The reasons you assigned were, that Mr. Clay was personal]y in favor of annexation as well as Mr. Polk, and that Mr. Clay could, and would lead his party, but that the democrats could not, nor would not be led into the raeasure, for Mr. Polk liad not the influence with his party that Mr. Clay had. - The inference to my mind vas that you favored the democratie party. Being a "Whig, and knowing that Ut. Clay was only in favor of the measure under restrictions that did not admit of a possibility of annexation, and wishing to ö away the impression that your logic mighthave made upon the minds of the others present, I obtained the consent of the passengers to have Mr. Cassius M. Clay's speech (which had recently been delivered at Boston) read, as an antidote to your remarks. Your obedient servant, J. R. STAFFORD.51In the Detroit Daily Adveriiser of Oct. 4 is the following: "His (my) present missionto the East, we have also reason to believe, has been undertaken at the instance of leading Locofocos as well as abolitionists of New York, though cloaked under the pretence of a visit to one of his children in Connecticat. His conference with General Hascall at Flint, if divulged, wouid doubtless disclose that fact."As soon as I saw this statement, which I-did, forthe first time, in the New York Tribune of the 10 Oct., I contradicted it in a note addressed to that journal. Asit was wholly false, I thought it not unlikely that it might have grown out of some mistake oí my person. What was my surprise, at finding, on my return to Buffalo, the falsehood repeated in the face of my denial, in the Detroit Advertiser of 21st Oct., with the addition of circumstances to give it color! I immediately addressed the following note to theBuffalo Commercial Advertiser, a Whig paper. "Buffalo, Oct. 28, 1844. To the Editor ofthc Commercial Advertiser:I have just now seen the Detroit Advertiser of the 21st inst. That print reiterntes the false statement that I held a private conlerence with General Hascall, a democrat. at Flint, in relation to making my present visit to the East, subservient to the democratie party in New York. As soon as I saw the original statement I pronounced it false in a letter addressed to the Editor of the Tribune. - The Advertiser has the hardihood to reitérate it in the face of my denial, saying 'that a respectable (anonymous) gentleman on whose authority we confide, assured us that he saw Mr. Birney and Gen. Hascall, iíi a private conversation in a room in a tavern, at Fliat, and overheard enough f rom both, to disclose that Mr. Birney's visit to the East, had been sought by leading Loco Fccos as well as Abolitionists of N ew York. Our informant kuew by sight both Birney and Hascall, but was himself unknown to either."The circustances here mentioned strip the account of all excuse on the ground oí mistctke. I pronounce the statement false throughout. 1 did not see Gen. Hascall as I carne through Flint, nor did I ever have an interview or any comraunication xriüi him, public or private, in relation to my journey to the East, or lo any party or political moveraent whatever. The sole object of my visit was to fetch home before the winter should set in, two of my children who were attending school in Connecticut.On the occasion referred to, I arrived at Flint after 9 o' clock at night. I do not ie nember to have seen at Hickock's tavern ■where Í stopped, any other persons than the barkeeper and Mr. Clifford, the stage j proprietor - the inmates generally having retired to bed. A matter of business called me away from the tavern to a store and flouring mili not far off, for half an hour. On rny return to Hickock's I paid my stage fare to Clifford; and, as I wasto be called up beforedaylight nexl morning, I went to bed without delaying even to take supper. Accordingly I was called up in the morning about daylight. The stage set off irnmediately - stopping a j ment at the gate of General Hascall, as it left the villa ge, to take in a young woman who was going a short distance into the country. Gen. Hascall did not make his appearance - if he was at home.Farther than this - on no occasion have . .1 met wjih General Hascall at any hotel in Flint, nor do 1 remember even lo have seen him any where, sincc last winter, except as a hearer, at a lecture delivered by ! me on the evening of the 4th July, in Flint. when on passing each other. after 1 bad finishcd my remarks. we exchanged the ordinary salutation of acfjua'mtances; nothing more. I have thorpfoiO;to charge fhe conductbrs of the Detroit Advcriiser, the orgfin of the Whig party Ín Michigan, üniéss ifiéy bring forward the "i-espectable gentleman" on whose .uuhorily fhey have proiessed to confide, with the wilfi'il and deliberare fabfication iind reiteration of a fnlsehood. As ihe original statement nppenred in theWhig papers generally, and as the rcitcratian of it has already as I have been told, appeared to some extent, in them nlso, ihe insertion of my denial, in the Whig press, is nskcd asan act ofjusticc only. Respect fully, &e. JAMES G. BIRNEY."Even this circumstnntinl account of my night's sojourn at Flint did not abate any thingofthe haröihood of the Adverliser. Without bringing fonvard any evidence- without even giving the name of the informant, the charge is again repeated in the following paragraph of the Advcrtiser of Nov. 2- ttoo days hef ore Lhe State election:"Mr. BlRNET AND Gen. HaSCALL. James G. Birney, ín a note published in the Buffalo Com. Advertiserof Tuesday, denying that he met General Hascall at Flint. uses the following langunge: ul have. therefore, to charge the conductorsofthe Detroit AJvertiser, the organ of the Whig party in Michigan - unies they bring íbrward the "respectable gentleman," on whose authority they have professed toconfide - with thewilful and delibérate fabrication and reiteration of a falsehood." We have nlready twice stated that we recéived the infortnation írom a respectable and credible gentleman, who nssured us, that he was present. We have not professed to speak from personal knowledge. We now add, that our informant made the same statement to others in this city. Mr. Birney is welcome to charge us "with the willful and delibérate fabrication and reiteration of a falsehood, as often as he pleases. W herever we and our columns are known, such charges will fall harmlessto the ground. The causes of lus bitterness, are perfectly understood and appreciated, at home and abroad. - Let him rail on."It will be seen from one of the letters below, that I demanded of the Editors, the name of their informant, and that they refused to give it me. The following affidavit, in the form of a letter, is from Gen. Hascall: "Flint, Nov. 30, 1844. Dear Sm:- y I am just in receipt of your letter of the 16th inst. in which you request me to mak e a statement in the form of an affidavit, relative to the conversation alledged (by the Detroit Daily Advertiser) to have taken place between James G. Birney and myself previous to his deparlure for New York last fall.In complying with your request, I can only say, that I read the article in the Adver tiser all udud to in your letter, and that every word of it is false. I riever had any conversation with Mr. Birney upon political matters but once to iny recollection, and then but a few words, which was at the Court House on the evening of the 4th of July last, relative to the Mass Meeting at Pontiac Mr. Birney never intimated to me that he was in favor of the Democratie party neither have I seen Mr. Birney at a Tav ern in this village (to the best of my ree ollection) during the present year, no have ever had any written correspondence upon any political subjoct, or any political understanding, directly or indirectly. CHAS. C. HASCALL. Subscribed and sworn before me this 30th day of November, 1844. R. J. S. PAGE, Justice of Peace, Genesee Co.. Mich." An anonymous correspondent of the Rochester Democrat - who, on a demand made by me of the Editor of that print, turnedoutto be a Mr. George N. Williams, formerly of Palmyra, New York, now an itinerant speculator in land-tax titles in this State- writing from Flint, Oct. 2, relates the follovving story:"I wasalso assured this morning, on my vay between Saginaw and this place, by Mr. Fitzhugh, the nephevv of Mrs. Birney, that he has propounded to Mr. Birney the following enquiries, and received from him the following nnswers: 'Are you in favor of the present tariín" "I ara not." "Are you in favor of free trade?" "I ara." "EIow do you feel personally in regard to the annexation of Texas?" "On this point I have never expressed myself publicly but my own private sentimentsare, that it is the safest and most effectual way of getting rid ofvery." "This," continúes Mr. Williams, "I had from Mr. Filzhugh not four hours ago. Now, i should like to know what sincere, conscientious abolitionists will say to this. I think they must, without hesitation, make substantially the same answer whichMr. Fitzhugh did: - "Good Heavens, Mr. Birney, if you are an abo-] litionist, pray teil me what a locofoco is VIf there were any truth in this story, 1 might sny in reply 10 it, that I had previously publishcd, as extensively as I could in the public journals, that I was in favor of continuing the present tarifl, as long as it should be found beneficial and acceptable to the country; - that I hadliever spoken or wntten any thing, from which the commonest understanding could infér that I was favorable to what is generally understood by "free-tr'ade," and that I had been unremitting, both in public and in private in my opposition to Annexaiion, from 1837, when that nefarious 'Tlie conversation rclaiive tothoMass Maling nt Pontiac must have heen v.ery sliylii, as i ' has 'eft po iinprpsBion on my memory.project was first seriously bronched, up to that moment. But the folsehood isdestitute of even a partiële of tmth. In confirmation of what has already been published, as authorized by Mr. Fitzhugh, I have to say, that neither the dialogue itself, nor any other, bearingthe least semblance of it, ever occurred between that gentleman,or any other person, & mysolf. That it may be seen inlo what hands the management of the Whig cause in this State had fallen, and how carefully evcry clue to the dctection of their late conspiracy against you and ngainst me is attempted to be concealed, take the following correspondence: "Detroit, Nov. '2, 1844.Sir: - In a letter addressed by you to Mr. Winthrop, of Boston, hearing date October7, 1844, and now generally published in the journalsof the day, ttiis expression occurs:- cifle(meaningme) isjully commüted to the Locos, except as to anncxation perhaps." I ask as due to me, that you state explicitly, whether this statement was made onvour own responsibiüty, or on the information of others; if the latter, I ask the name of your informant. Kespectfully, &c. 1 JAMES G. BIRNEY. J. M. Howarp, Esq. Detroit. REPLY OF iMR. HOWARD. "Detroit, Nov. 7, 1S44.Sm: - Your friend, Mr. Holmes of this city. has this moment handed me a letter froni you of the following tenor. (Here my letter is inserted in full.) From itsperemptory tone one might expect to find in your note some allegation of mistake or in jury; at least a denial; but as nothing of the kind appears, I must decline any further answer unlil I am informed by you in what respect you feel yourself aggrieved, and for what purpose you solicit the information. As the matter stands, I can see no practical purpose in your inquiry. I am sir, Very respectfully Your ob't. servant, J. M. HOWARD. Jas. G. Birxev, Esq., Lower Saginaw, Mich. To the Editors o( the Detroit Advertiser: Gentlemen:Some time ago, in an article that ppeared in your journal headed "AniBNT.GnuDGE,"you stated as on the aulority of a "a comvwn friend" that 1 ntertained an "invetérate hostilüy" (peronal ill will) against Mr. Clay. As the charge implies, in my view, ome moral incul pation, and as it is unounded, I ask of you the name of the peron on whose responsibility you made he statement.As you have also again reiterated the statement, that I had an interview with Gen. Hascal at Flint, I dcmand of you to 'urnish me with the name of the person on whose representaron the statement has jeen made. Resrecttully, &c. JAMES G.BIRNEY." REPLY. Detroit, Nov. 2, 1844. "James G. Birxey, Esq: Sir: - I have just received your note of to-day, demanding the name of a "common friend," and also of another person, to whose statements with regard to yourself we havereferred in our columns.Mr. Williams, one of the Editors of the Advertiser is absent from the city. - But for myself, I do not feel at liberty to furnish the ñames - certainly not without obtaining their consent. Yoursrespectfully, F. A. HARDING." ANOTHER LETTER THE EDITORS OF THE ADVERTrSER. Detroit, Nov.' 2, 1844. "Gentlemen: - In the Advertiser of October 16, you publish extracts of a letter, which you ossure your readers is "f rom a gentleman of the higliest standing in Ëdginavr." There are parts of the extracts which reflect strongly on my integrity and veracity. I therefore, demand, as an act of justice on your part, that you make known to me in reply to this the name of the gentleman who has hazarded his own character, by calumniating mine. Respects, &c. JAMES G. B1RNEY."REPI.Y. "Detroit, Nov. 2, 1844. James G.-Birney, Esq. - I have received your nole demanding the name of a gentleman in Sagina w from whose letter we published extracts some weeks since. Ido not feel myselfat liberty to furnish it, especially as it was not addressed to ourselves. Yours respectfully, F. A. HARDING." Remainder next week.The fullowing is ïhc letter refcrcd to ín full: "Dethoit, Oct. 7. 1844. Dkar Sm:-Mr. James G. Birney has been uominatecl by the Loco Focos oí Saginaw for c sent n the Legislature of the Stotc: 1 send you i number of the Detroit Advertiser con(aintnt' the proceedings of the Democratie Convoniion ai which he was npminated. Me has accepted the nomination, and is tully commiued to the Locos, éxcëpt aa to annoxation perhaps. . There is no cnrthly doubt of all this- use il hen. It will influence isvcniy thousand votes in he Norih. I have addressed a noie to the Editoi of the Atlas. Youro truly, J. M. IIOWARD. Hon. R. C Wikthkop. Boston. Mass."{LrAmong our miscellaneous articles. will be found one upon "Womens' Rights," by an elegant and sensible writer of iheir own sex. We commend it to the attention of our femaie readers. It has some suggestions that may profit them.