Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-09-01


proposition presented by our correspondent
Gy-We call the attention of the reader to
the proceedings of the Pttsboro' Convention,
published on the fourth page. We had inten
ded to make some remarks on the subject Of
improving the Cape Fear River, but our space
is SO limited, that it is out of our power. We
trust that the people OF the Cape Fear region
will go on with spirit and prompdtude and ac
complish this great work.
BILLIARD FILLEIORE--TS HE Ar ABO-
LITIONISTg
Under existing circumstances, it is fully as
important 10 the South 10 ascertain with exac-
titude the political sentiments of the respec-
tive candidates for the Vice Presidency, par
tCuarly with reference 10 the slavery ques-
ton, as to know what political opinions are
held by those who aspire to the first Office in
the gift of American freemen. So far as the
South is concerned, there is one subject which,
we are willing to admit, is paramount to all
others, to wit, the slavery question. To shew
how important it is TO know with reasonable
certainty the sentiments on this subject of the
respective candidates for the Vice Presidency,
it is only necessary TO present few facts. In
the first place, there are at present thirty States
in the Union, each of them represented on the
floor of the Senate chamber by two Senator'S.
This body Qhe L. S. Senate) is therefore COM
posed of sixty members. Now, in the second
place, Of these thirty States Is, are slavehold-
ing and Is are non slaveholding States. So
that, should the slavery question assume a
positive sectional, geographical aspect, the
slaveholding and non. slaveholding States are
actually tied in the Senate. Well, now, the
Vice President of the United States, who is
also the President of the Senate, whenever
the Senate is tied on any question, has, under
the constitution, the casting vote. So that in
the event of any bill coming before that body
inimicaI TO the South, it would depend entire
ly on the Vice President whether it should be-
come the law of the land or not. If. on the
one hand, he is inimical to The South-if he
is an abolitonst-of course he will give his
casting vote to any. measure, no matter how
atrociOus in its attack upon Southern institu-
tions; whilst on the other hand, if he is a
friend of the Soulful he is disposed to do
Justice to the South, which is all the friend
ship she asks-he would, by the interposition
of his influence and vote, Vindicate her rights
& her honor. With the Vice President, in all
human probability, will rest, during the next
four years, the power and the responsibility
of deciding between the North and the South
upon this, to us, paramount" question.
Is Willard FILLMORE, the Federal candi,
date for the Vice Presidency, such a man as
the South can support for an office, at all times
so high and responsible, and which, at The
present time, from the circumstances alluded
to above. it is absolutely essential should b.
filled by man entirely free from cvery TAIN1
OF ABoLTTIoNIsM.
We undertake 10 assert that so far from
Millard Fillmore being such man, he is thu
very reversible as tainted TO the core aCttj
ABoLITIONIsM-UE IS AN ABoLITIoNIST.
We shall endeavor. in this and subsequen
numbers, 10 make this assertion good, b,
proofs taken from the public records of thu
country. We will open the ball with hi
votes in the House of Representatives, frs
session of the Goth Congress, on the celebrates
ArHERToN RESOLUTIONS.
If we do not prove from his votes on thes
resolutions alone, to the satisfaction of am
reasonable man, that WILLARD FILLMORE i
an ADoLITIoNIsT, then we can only say tha
we will be very much mistaken.
In the month of December, 1898, Mr.. A,h
erton, of New Hampshire, moved that the rule
be suspended so as to enable him to introduc,
some resolutions in reference to slavery in tn
States and Territories, and the proper DISPOSE
ton OF all memorials, petitions, SC, on tina
subject, that might be introduced into Con
gress
And on the question, shall the rules be sus
pended for the purpose aforesaid
g."
Southern wings and democrats voted in ia
cor OF this motion, while John Quincy adams
Thomas Cor1cin, WILLARD FILLMORE
Joshua K. Gtddlngs, Peck, Parmenter, Slqde
and the great body Of the ABoLlr1oNIsrs, 70
ted against it.
The rule being suspended for the purpose
Mr.. Anterior then moved his said resolutions
which were read'
After various motions for adjournment, &c
" the question was Put that The House do agree
the first of the said resolutions. being in the word
following, viz:
Il. ReSOleed, That this Government is a Gov
ernment of limited powers and that, by the Con
stitntion of the United States, Congress has no il
rsdiClon whatever over the institution of SLAYER
in the several States of the confederacy"
OF course this resolution was so plain, pa
pable, and contained political axiom, tn
truth OF which was so universally admitted
that out of 2O4 votes recorded, there were or
ly 6 nays. The Federalists claim for Fillmol
great credit in voting for this first resolution
and argue, therefore, that he is not an Abol
ZIONIST. The record shows that Giddings an