Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-09-13
TO THE SOUTHERN STATES.
MIcHIoAN. Aurnst D. Isl,

should
distinctly understand what it has to expect from
The candidate in whom il is invoked to repose its
confidence.
Various circumstances may constitute the basis
OF faith and trust. The local residence of a cand
date his identity of property and interest with the
people among whom he resides, the integrity and
stability OF his character, sufficient without any
specific pledges, to authorize an implicit reliance
on his principles and his action in his executive ca
pacity.
Vaciliation OF opinion, on the contrary, chance
I" views and Votes, support of measure one day,
opposition to 1t the next, justify the conclusion that
The interests committed to the person, whose pub-
lie course is marked by such inconsistency. are
placed in unsafe hands. lntirmitv of purpose Ii
nudity OF action, disregard of consistency superin
'duced by unworthy ambition, are not the suitable
and mt characteristics of President of the United
States.
You must not suffer yourselves to be deceived by
name. The word democracy" has always fas-
cinatei the imaginatons, and almost universally
governed the political actions of large portion of
the people of these United States. But it is not
INC word II is the reality that constitutes its charm
Freedom Of opinion, equality of civil and political
rights among citizens, frugality in public expendi-
lure, light taxes, whether imposed upon importa-
lions OF nome property, are among the best prnci-
pies OF sound Democratic Government. But place
Government In the hands of a man who merely
processes this creed, whose every movement exhi-
DIS the practical reverse Of these features of Amer
'can democracy, and who sustains ressts inca
sures as they may tend TO elevate or depress the
aspirations OF his ambition; and the essence of The
principle, so attractive to 4 Republican, yanishes
from our hopes, and is mingled and lost in the tran
silent exPediency and policy of the day.
You have, fellow-citizens, before you three can
didates Tor the Presidency Mr.. Van Buren, has
accepted the nomination from tangled party.
called me ree-Soil'' men, made up of Abolition
lsts and Wllmot- proviso- Democrats and Whips-
NO Southern State can extend to him its support,
particularly as Mr.. Van Buren, expressly approves
and sanctions these principles
Gen Taylor, another candidate. was made so,
al hrs'' by meetings of the People, without party
oiscrninaton lie had no aspirations for the Of
lice. lie was more astonshed than any one else
nj the suggestion of his nomination. He was in
the tented-held, amidst the most trying events of
the war, ardently devoted 10 his military duties,
ana determined, as far as the cxertion of his best
talents would enable him, to cover the arms of his
country with success and glory, and to bripp the
Mexican War to speedy and honorable close
Zen Taylor was born in the South. He is of
race distinguished for its republican principles as
well as for his bravery and responsibility. His IA
mily, ms property, his domicil, are Southern He
has an unusual degree OF common sense a sound
judgment, discriminating mind, and a decree of
resolution, stability and firmness unsurpassed. He
Is Republican in manners, habit sentiment AS
citizen, no Roman ever more remarkable for
Stern integrity and patriotism. AS commanding
n
gloriously successful As OF hour, lie Is uu
less distinguished.
Gen Taylor, in reply to all the letters addressed
TO him concerning the Presidency, has declared
that he would, if elected, administer the govern.
ment according 10 the strict principles of the Con
suuton, and for the benefit of the whole PEOPLE of
the United States. He could not object to his no.
mnation by any set of his fellow-citizens He had
accepted the nomination of many primary assem-
blles, some Democratic, some Wing, some ire,
Nf Ie oil IL
made by the Philadelphia Convention, ''and would
have accepted the nomination Of the Baltimore
Convention, had it been rendered on the same
terms" without requiring party pledges from him.
Gen Taylor has, In all his correspondence, sub
santlay, uniformly, and consistently said that he
would not go into the Presidency trammelled with
pledges. He sis not party candidate, and, if c.
!ected, cannot be tho President of party but the
President of the ,ohole People Of the U. States"
Does the South ask for any other than a frank,
honest, and firm candidate, pledged to administer
the Government according to the strict principles
ofthe Federal Constitution? Ifshe does not, Gen.
Taylor cannot fail to command her confidence. He
has ga combination" and soul, indeed,
''Whcrc every god DOES TO set his seal,
TO give the world assurance Of MAN"
Gen. Cass is the third candidate He has re-
ceved the Baltimore nomination, and is baptisedas
the nominee of the Democracy But it is only in
name. The proceedings of the Convention were
irregular. South Carolina had no legitimate dele
gates in tina; body. A single individual, assuming
TO represent single district in the State was al
lowed by the Convention TO usurp the power of
casting the whole of the votes of South Carolina
The Convention excluded the delegates of the lar
gest States IN the Union in the worst and most in
sulting form in which such exclusion could have
been made The Convention violated the cardinal
principle of Democracy by requiring two-thirds in
stead OF a majority TO make the nomination.
The Convention laid down platform OF princi-
pies, Of which Gen. Cass said in his letter of ac-
ceptance that he 'adbered to them as firmly as he
approved them cordially"
Let see what this Baltimore platform is
regards the peculiar institutions of the South
The following is the principal resolution there a
dopted touching this subject
"Resoved, That Congress has no power under
the constitution TO interfere with or control the do.
mestic institutions of the several States and that
such States are the sole and proper Judges of every
thing apperaining 10 their own affairs not pro bii
ed by the constitution that all efforts IF Tic aboli-
ton,sts others made TO induce Congress to inter
FIRE ,c questions Of sIavery, 10 take incipient
steps IN relation thereto, calculated 10 lead &c
tho most alarming and dangerous consequences
and that all suci, efforts have an inevitable tenden
cy to diminish the h6 pDlness of the people, and en-
danger the stability and pSrmanency of the Union
and ouQh not TO be countenaDced by any friend o.
orr political institutions"
This is all well enough, 80 far az it goec: but lei
us Tecur to the past. to see what course Gen Cas-
and his peculiar home friends have hitherto pursued
in relation 10 this monentous topic, pregnant with
so much Importance TO the South and so much dan
ger TO the Union The South is generous; bu
she will pause before she gives her confidence to
man who has assumed as many forms and colors a.
the chameleon.
On the first day of March, 1914, Mr.. Edwin RI