Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-09-11

frlenQ JdDt. AtflSOU, VIII NC iCuu "il to NSSP1"N
interest throughout the Union. 1t is sound, consis-
tent, high-mindedIand patriotic, and leaves no clue
for demagogues and tlicksters to hang upon. Read
il, fellow-citizens, it IS probably the last emanation
from this high source-from a candidate who IS not
afraid to write-,hat may appear prior to the elec-
ton; and every lover of his country should ponder
long ere he casts his vote against one whose mind,
rs well as his past character, exhibits every element
of human purity andtrue human greatness.
East PAscAGoULA, Sept. 4, fei5.
Dear Sir: On the 22d day Of April last, ! add
dressed you a letter explaining my views IN regard
to various matters of public policy, lest my fellow
citizens might be misled by the many contradictory
and conflicting in respect to them which
appeared in the journals of the day and We're circus
lated throughout the county. | now find myself
and misunderstood upon another
of snch importance TO myself personally. II
not to the country at large, as TO claim from me a
candid and connected exposition of my relations to
the public in 1egardt to the pending presidentlalcan-
vass.s
The utmost ingenuity has been expended upon
several letters and detached sentences of letters.
which have recently appeared over my 81 gnature, TO
show that | occupy an equivocal attitude towards
the various parties into which the people are dlyl>
ded, and especially towards the Wing party, as rep
by the National Convention which assem-
bIed in Philadelphia in June last. Had these letters
and scraps of letters been published or construed in
connection with what | have heretofore said upon
this subject. IshouId not now have to complain of
the speed with which my answers to isolated queS-
tons have been given up to the captlots criticism
of those who have been made my enemies by Il no.
mination which has been rendered to me without
- -. nv 4, ~, y, ~ a.,a nj rf ,,I,,n nv nj fho ,,n
ner in which selected passages in some of my let
tiers, written in the freedom and careessness of a
confidential correspondence, have been commnni-
Gated to the public press. But riyen from the con-
text, and separated from a series of explanatory
facts and circumstances which are, in so far as this
canvass is concerned, historical, they are as decep-
tious as though they were positive tabrications. |
address you this letter TO correct the injustice that
has been done me-, and the public to the extent tha,
I am an object of interest to them, by this iiliberal
process.
| shall not weary you by an elaborate recital of
every incident connected with the first presentation
of my name as a candidate for the Presidency. |
was then al the head of the American army in the
Valley of the Rio Grande, ] was surrounded by
Wings and Democrats who stood by NE in the try
ing hours of my life, and whom it was my destiny TO
conduct through scenes of still greater trial. MY
duty to that army. and to the Republic whose bat
les we were waging, forbade my assuming a posi-
ton of seeming hostility to any portion of the brave
men under my command-aIl of whom knewI was
a Wing in principle, for | made no concealment of
my political sentiments or predictions.
Such had been the violence of party struggles
during our late presidential elections, that the ac>
ceptance of a nomination under the rigorous In,er>
preta.ions given to the obligations of a candidate
presented to the public with a formulary of politi-
cal principles, was equivalent almost to a declare
ton Of uncompromising enmity TO all who did not
subscribe to IFS teBets. | was unwilling to hazard
the effect of such relationship towards any of the
soldiers under my command when in front ofan en-
envy common to us all. Itwould have been unjust
initself, and it was repngnant to my own feelings as
it was to my duty. | wanted unity in the army,
and forbore any act that might SOW the seeds of dis
trust and discord in its ranks. have not my letters
written at the time before me, but they are all ofone
import, and in conformity with the views herein
expressed. 1s-sa3 + .5.
Meanwhile | was solicited bytny personal friends
and by strangers, by Wings and Democrats, TO con.
sent to become a candidate. / was nominated by
the people in primary assemblies-by Wings, De,
mocrats and Natives, in separate and mixed meet
ings. | resisted them all, and continued to do sc
till led to believe that my opposition was assuming
The aspect of a defiance Of the popular wishes.
yielded only When II looked Ike presumption. 10 re
sist longer, and even then | should not have done Sc
had not the nomination been presented to me il
a form unlikely to awaken ~acrimony OR reproduce
the bitterness Of feeling which attends popular
elections. l say it in sincerity and truth that a par
of the inducement TO my consent was the hope tina
by going into the canvass it would be conducted witt
candor ifnot with kindness. 1t has been no fault O
mine that this anticipation has proved a vain one.
After1 permitted mysef TO be announced for The
Presidency, underline circumstances above noticed
| accepted nomination after nomination in the spiri
in which they were rendered. They were madei r
respective of parties, and SO acknowledged. No one
who joined in those nominations could have beer
deceived as to my political views. From the begin
ming till now ! have declared myself to be a WING
OH all proper occasions. With this distinct ayowa
published to the world, | did not think that | had
right to repel nominations from political opponents
any more than l had a right to refuse the vote of 4
Democrat at the polls andI proclaimed it abroad
that ! should not reject the profIered support Of any
body of my fellow citizens. This was my position
when in November last | retained to the United
States long before either of the great divisions d
the people had held a national convention, and wher
it was thought doubtful if one of them would hole
any. ssf <s$ .
Matters stood in this attitude till spring, wher
there were so many statements in circulation con.
corning my views upon questions of Irrational policy
that l felt constrained TO correct the errors inic