Samuel Wilson Parker, New York, to James Monroe, 1850 January 28

New York Jany 28th 1850
Hon. James Monroe
Sir
As one of your Constituents permit me to thank you from the botom of my heart, for the course you took a few days since upon the Slavery question, that prolific theme of Fanatics & Impracticables, so inoppertunely thrust before the Legislature of this state, by a set of creatures who have been unwisely entrusted with power to do mischief in that body, & whose sole aim wherever they are is to agitate the public mind, & public councils, if possible, with that everlasting never ending theme of Political Enthusiasts; called Slavery—One would suppose to hear these deluded men (the term deluded however only applies to a part of the class, not to the leaders & principal operators) ranting upon their favourite topic that the only interest in the State & nation, & the only Subject worthy of a moments consideration in our whole Land, related to the question of Slavery—all other questions & interests must give way—it supersedes & overrides everything else—all Legislation in state & nation must stop till they have "fooled us to the very top of their bent"—their empty resolves relative to Calafornia & our other new Teritory had some little show of significance & point, before the People of Calafornia resolved themselves to prohibit slavery upon her Soil, & before the inhabitants of other portions of our Western Teritory manifested a like proclivity—but the crazy zeal they evince now, to instruct Senators, & request representatives in Congress, to adopt Provisos, and all sorts of restrictions annoying to our bretheren of the south in refference to these Teritories, would be farcical, & excite no feeling but pity or Contempt, were there not a wicked & malicious motive clearly visible behind this seeming phrenzy—there is method in all their madness—the truth is they seek no practical effect as regards the institution of Slavery—no favourable result is anticipated by this eternal agitation—no propitious, or salutary Consequences are expected by them to flow into the troubled Cauldron of public feeling—for when did these champions of freedom, friends par excellence of the slave, ever do anything exactly adapted to promote real liberty, or benefit the black man—did they do it when they helped to elect Mr Poke & thereby secure the annexation of Texas—did they do it when they voted for Martin Van Buren & thereby almost elected Cass—did they do it by supporting as they almost always do Locofoco Candidates for Office—did their leaders in Congress do it recently in voting against Winthrop for speaker—But why multiply examples of their perfidy to the Cause of true, genuine & practical freedom—the inconsistancy & hollow heartedness of these fermenters of discord is proverbial—they are as false in principle as they are selfish & malicious at heart—their only object is to Keep up an organization of their duped & deluded followers, to continue to excite & agitate the Country & exasperate the south, either till the Union is dissolved or they shall be taken into & placed at the head of one or the other of the two great political parties to guide its destiny & feed upon the spoils—
I hope to god no Whig will give the miserable creatures aid or Comfort or Countenance for a moment longer—they have been tolerated long enough—the time serving policy towards them only emboldens & encourages them to make further advances—I want to see them & their treason breathing resolutions discarded & treated with the Contempt they deserve—I want to see everything emanating hereafter from these slimy, selfish, treacherous abolitionists, on the subject of slavery—preemptively summarily & promptly cast under the Table & themselves treated with silent Contempt—I hope no one in State Legislatures, or Congress will ever again reply to an abolition speach, & I should rejoice to see the whole brood of them socially as well as politically consigned to the exclusive society of that Class whose interests they profess to serve—but whose real well being have been cursed by their insincere & perfidious support—I think a better acquantance with these pretended friends would open the eyes of the col'd population, & result in their utter renunciation of them & their championship—their touch is Contamination to Black or White—rely upon it sir Your Course will be sustained—you have the sympathies of the masses—of the intelligent & patriotic of all classes—who cherish a love of our Common Country & its glorious Institutions & who deprecate every thing that has a tendency to divide our people, to promote discord & sever the ties of our political & social Union
Yours most truly
S. W. Parker