Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-10-02

AT u wing mass lneetlnB, nsiu on Lne IOIn ull'J
in Statesyille, North Carolina, among number
of letters read was the following from the Hon.
wM A. GRAHAM, the Whig candidate for the
Vice Presidency:
HIILsBoRoUsH, Sept a, 1882
GENTLEMEN: / gratefully acknowledge your
favor of the 26th ultino, inviting me to mass
meeting Of our political friends in that part OF
the State at Statesyille, on the 10th instant, IN
honor of the nominees of the Wing Convention at
Baltimore for the Presidency and Vice Presidency
of the United States.
You pleased to add that this assemblage
has been appointed at the site Of the old States
vile Academy, not very distant from the place OF
my birth, and whittier | was sent when / first
left my parental home, to pursue that course OF
education which was to determine my destiny in
life; and that the friends OF my youth, and asso-
ciates and aequaintances OF maturer years, will
be there in large numbers TO offer me friendly
greeting.
Few events, | beg to assure you, could offer
me more qualification than to comply with this
fattering and cordial invitation. 1t awakens
recollections dear to my heart, and adds the
charms of personal friendship to political appro-
baton Confidence has been said to be plant
Of slow growth. After life, now past meridian,
and for nearly twenty consecutive years connected
with public affairs it is to me refreshing to be
reassured that, as regards myself, it ie yet fresh
and unbroken in the soil where it first took root.
You likewise suggest that the occasion will be
| an appropriate one to v.ndicate the great man
with whom am associated in this election from
charges of hostility to the South, and inhdehty
to the Compromise of the last Congress
| 1t is one of the shalloWest and commonest de-
vices of party to find out what is most odious or
dstasteful to the prevailing sentiment OF a coun-
try or section, and impute that to it's opponent.
This charge of favoring abolition, or being under
it's influence, has been standing accusation at
the South against every Wing candidate for the
Presidency for the last sixteen years. 1t was al
legged against Harrison, whose competitor has
been the abolition candidate for that high station
against Clay whose successful competitor ap-
proved the Oregon Territorial bill, inhibiting
slavery therein, whose rival declined to vote for
the fugitive slave law, because it did not provide
jury trial for the returned fugitive--in the
federal courts, of course. 1t was alleged against
Mr. Webster, 80 long as he stood a chance for the
nomination and his most patriotic speeches, ad-
vising acquiescence in the Compromise, were gar
bled and criticized to substantiate it: and 1t was
| freely imputed to Mr. Fillmore by the opposition
press of this State, even after he hau approved
all the Compromise measures, and had issued
orders for the execution OF the fugitive slave law
by military force, if occasion should demand It,
And had he or Mr. Webster been the nominee OF
the Convention, instead Of General Scott there
would have been, so far as regards this objection,
if we may Judge of the future by the past, but
the change Of name The tale would have been
repeated, and probably with more emphasis.
While the people of the South will be vlgllant
and firm in the maintenance Of their just rights,
l trust they will be misled by no idle clamor.
| After On agitation Of many years on matters con-
nected with slavery, there has been an ADJUST
nent, in whish l am persuaded the mass OF the
American people has acquiesced The authors
and friends of that adjustment, am sure, VIII
! be the last to reopen the controversy.
So far as may depend on me, the charges against
| General Scott, to which you refer, have been
already negatived, and that in manner indica-
ting n stronger conviction on my part than any
reasoning can employ. Bound to North Caro-
lima by every tie of interest and affection which
attaches other men, am under the additional
obligation Of gratitude for her highest honors re-
peatedly bestowed. If | could consent to com
promit her interests or honor, IN matter vital
to the South and the Union, by any combination
or association adverse to her, should be untrue,
not merely to the impulses Of patriotism, but to
the instincts of nature. When, therefore, nc
cepted the nomination for the Vice Presidency,
| (which your delegates in the Convention Will
| bear me witness had not sought, knowing what
principles had been declared by convention, and
| that General Scott was my associate for the
| Presidency, by that act l proclaimed my conh-
dence in him more emphaticaly than / can now
twelve years, aad was intimately associated with
him during the most trying period OF the Com.
promise when its fate was suspendedln doubtful
scales knew that he had been the trlend OF
these measures when they stood in neea of iriends
that independently Of his lllust1ous services ana
worldwide fame, which will place HIM IN Amerl-
can history side by side with Plutarchs 8 men IN
! the republics Of antiquity, and which forbid any
pettv sectional or factious views TO be enter
| tanned by him, he was committed to the Com
promise as one of its most effective supporters at
| the time of its adoption And to me, who have
been in position ever since to observe the pro-
cress Of events in connection with this SUBJECT,
and TO whose lot il fell 10 issue the orders ioI the
execution of the fugitive slave law by military
force if necessity should require it, within forty
days after it's enactment, it has been gratifying
to observe how opposition to the Compromise has
given vay and many who stood out in opposition
long after Its passage, have become its ardent
sunnorters If it's enemies have become it's
friends, it is cause for rejoicing; but let them
not be permitted to transmutc its friends into
enemies.
regret that it will not be in my power TO be
present at your meeting, nor IS II my eABecta-
ton to address popular assemblies III this can
vass. but could not refrain from saying thus
much in reply to your cordial and obliging letter
! beg you to believe me, gentlemen, with great
re'p''7 ''N' WM. A. GRAHAM.
To Messrs W z. caldwell, K. II. PARKS,
! JoHx DAVIDSON, r. REID, and MuToN CAMP
! BELL Committee.
| - na4l