SHALL I VOTE FOR JOHN P. HALE?

Brother Douglass:—It is my purpose to vote for Hale. "How can you do so?" is the exclamatory inquiry from the lips of esteemed friends. My reply is thus: At the Canastota Liberty Party National Convention, Sept. 1st and 2d, I was zealous for the nomination of Wm. Goodell and C. C. Foote, for I then supposed that Mr. Hale would endorse the whole of the Pittsburgh platform. As I understood some parts of the document, my vote for Mr. Hale, under such circumstances, would say. "I recognize slavery as capable of legalization." My feelings on that subject are such, that my choice would be to part with my right hand rather than employ it to deposit such a ballot. But Mr. Hale's letter relieves me from all such embarrasment.—His platform is constructed by his DEEDS.—There I can meet the Free Democracy. My friends may repudiate my logic, but I solicit that they do not assail my motives; for I have resolved to vote for Mr. Hale as one of the best measures which I can adopt to rebuke the slave power, sustain freedom of speech, and aid the work ultimately, of establishing a righteous civil government.

Yours truly,

J. R. Johnson.

Syracuse, Oct. 6th, '52.