Communications

Ann Arbok, April 17, 18-17. James G. Birnf.y, Esq. - Sir, I have just nrose from ilic perusal of your letler in the Signnl of to-day, containing strictures upon my arlicle in the same paper of March 20ih. Having (lefined my position in " terms tliat cannot wel] Le niisundeislood," it is gratifying ihat I am stil] found in the " anti-slavery ranks, " yourself heing judge. This to me is an er.vialile position. You ask if I wam the election of a candidute for any other than a " practical purpose." Ccrtainly not. Membcrs of ihe Whig or Democratie party are not teehnically Liberty men, not belonging to the Liberly party - tho' they might embrace the principies I have laid down- still, for all " practical purposes," they would be such - professing the nbility lo do all the most ultra Liberty man could ifelecledto the same office. Henee, for "practical purposes,"' and no other, would I have them elected. That the Whig and Democratie ties nre " proslavery and corrupt," therr can be no doubt, and a " Liberty man,' in tlieir ranks, may, foraught I know, be in a " wrong place," yet if he ie a Liberty man," his speeches, acts and voles, will all bo against Slavery, and in favor of Liberty. Thls is all I ask. The man of ihia character may no: " want a love of truth," nor be unwillinj to "join himself to a smnll party ; " bu1 may remain in bis pnrty honestly believ ing that, the most eflectual way for the accoinplishment of his object as an anlislavery man. Whether the man be a " traitor," or " false to his party, " I nin not concerned lo know : it is for the party and not me to decide who are " traitors," to their irinciples. It is suffieient for me lo be satisfied tJial the candidato is henest and capable, and tliat lie will not be a " trailor," to the cause of Liberty when placed in power. A man ma}' be n Wliigor a Democrat, and declaro himself such, and with equal frank ness and honesty, be, and declare himself a friend of the slave. To me, therefore, it is not evidence tliat a man is dishonest in his antislavery professions, simply because he has not joined himse f tlie Liberty party. For Wliigs, Democrals, or Liberty men, as such, I have no partiality. It is for the man who is right according to the high and Iioly standard of antislavery moral and poütical action, and has the best chance of success, that I give my sufïrage - nnd ibis, irrespective of party. To do so, ii not, in my opinión, to vote for the " Whig or Democratie party," or " :heir principies," nor to " support slnvery," any more than 1 should in votingfor the Liberty man : for ere he elected, on all subjects not involving the quction of slavery, he would, in al! probabili'.y, be either a Whig or Domocrat. To vote for the man who will use all his individual and official influence and power for the overthrow of slavery, is all tliat can be reasonably tsked of me, and should I vote fora candidateof either of the two great parties in preference to the Liberty nominee, it would be because, other things being equal, he has the best chance of success, nnd my vote might place him, al once, in a position to do all [ ask or desire. I go not to a " traitor, " nor to a "man who has not the courage to avow his principies before the world," for aid or nssistance in the antislavery cause. I joto high-minded men who have, and who dare avow, and act upon the principies laid down in every relationthey sus tain to society - to government and to the world. As an independent man, it matters not to me what the '' Kalamazoo," or any ther '■ Convention," thinkordo. My opinions are neither forged nor ïnished bv caucuses or conventions : I think and act for myself. Should a Liberty man, such as I prolose, come up in " both the other parties," then let the ''Liberty party by delegation choose belween the two," andthusgivc us a canilidnte, and one that will besure f succes. In this I see no diiïiculty - and no necessityfor abandoning the Liberty party. Let it reinain firm and unbpnding in its Tiirpose, and should the time ever come when we can co-operale with others for the accomplishment of the one grand object, we will do so. I wish it distinctly understood by olher parties, and their candidatos, that they must be right acenrding lo our slandard un the subject of slavery in order to receive our suiïïage and support. With artificial conversions, and evanescent pretensior.s we nevcr have, we never can be satisfied. You ask if " we are bound to succeed." l answer, we are. For to "succeed," and nothing else have we enlisted - and if the "success of a pnrty," is the triumph of its principies," our final success is written upon the scioll of desüny. Rut to " lower our piinciples úll men will nccept thein," wou!d be the heiglH of lroacliery. I ask it not. But when men come vp to our standard, ct lis not reject tlietn because the)' do not clioose to becalled byour name. Towliat I conceive to be " right, and ust, and irub," 1 am " prepared to stand," alone and single hnnded if neeH be,till time shnll end. 'J'omethis s ll everything," wlmlcver be the fate of myself or my canse. My " project," to yim nnd others may je " wild and visionary," nnd show nn utter want of " ripe reflcction," but so t is. On reading your Jetter, I have been ed lo review my positions, but I must confess my opinions remain unchanged. seo not my error, if error 1 embrace. The Liberty party, by a timely npplication of its influence and power, can Tiake itself the honored instrument of leliverance to the suffering and ■id milüons of our land : orby itsobstinnay and folly, may becomo shorn of its ■itrengih- falier nnd expire, eaving the 3laveto bleed nnd die in hischains. That wisdom may guide or steps, ond Jead us triumphant ihrough, is the earnest desire jf one. who, whether he " succeed " or nol, expects " to remain a friend of the Liberty ofall.andof the equal brotherhood of the race." As ever, your?,