The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-22
ExEcuTISE CHAMBER, FLORIDA,
TALLAHAssEE, Sept. 4, 1851

MY DEAR Sir: In reply to your inquiries, will
very briefly give you my views in regard to the
course which conceive the South should pursue in
respect to the nomination of candidates for the
next Presidential election.
A statesman will have read the signs of the times
to little purpose if he cannot see and understand
the position Of the saveholding States at the pre-
sent crisis. man of wisdom and sound philoso
ply, before he makes up the last issue upon which
destiny hangs, would take great to see that it
rot only places him III the right position, but that
it places his opponent clearly in the wrong. This
conceive to be The attitude of the southern Sates
in accepting the Compromise measures OF the last
Congress a final adjustment of the delicate and
exciting question of slavery. On the part of the
South that settlement will be adhered to in good
faith, and from the North like good faith will be
required
With the friends Of the Union at the North, who
have so nobly sustained and maintained the Com
promise measures, the southern Wings will cor
daily unite in the choice of n Chief Magistrate for
the nations but with the fanatics and "higher
aw'' factions they will not affiliate. very qui
ely submit to any further agitation of the slavery
question in the National Councils.
AS little as have seriously apprehonded any i'm
minent danger of dissolution of our Confedcracy,
believe the next Presidential election will be the
test of its permanency, and that great wisdom and
prudence will be required in the selection of the
candidates, and in concentrating the Union Con
sentative party of the nation The failure In an
election by the people should be avoided If posi-
ble If it goes to Congress, theatre will be pre-
scented for all the ambitious, designing, and evil
spirits in the land, TO plot mischief and treason
gainst the Union. The northern abolitionists,
and the southern secessionists, will find it field
for the accomplishment of all their views and for
which they are now striving. The Democratic
party are making strong efforts to rally the party
upon old party issues, dsregarding recent dissen-
sions, calculating, in the event of defeat before
the people, upon their strength in Congress-; and
this Weldon would admonsh us to guard against;
for, notwithstanding their boasted adherence of
Free soilsm, they have shown, in the whole history
of their party, that when it becomes necessary to
insure political success, they never have been very
scrupulous about the means.
Under all the circumstances, / think National
Union Convention, disrcgarding old party lines,
would be the course of wisdom; but if that cannot
be effected, there ought to be National Wing
Convention, and all the southern States should
send delegates to it, but under instructions to re-
uurc the adoption Of resolutions by the convention
that no candidate, for either the Presidency the
Vice Presidency, should be put i'll nomination
who had not made, would not make, an explicit
declaration of his approval and support of the
Compromise measures, and especially ofahe Fugi-
tive Slave law; and his disapproval of any repeal
| or modification of it. And without such explicit
declaration by the convention, before proceeding
to the nomination of the candidates, to withdraw
from any participation in the convention.
These are, hastily, my views.
| am, yours, very truly, THOS. BROWN
| W. G.. NJ. DAVIS, ESQ