The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-01
THE REPUBLIC.
Letter or Hon. w,ll,.m A. Graham.

Latter OF Hon. william A. Graham.
| At a Wing mass meeting held on the 10th
ultimo, In Statesville, North Carolina, among
a number Of letters read was the following from
the Hon. WILLIAM A. GRAHAM, the Wing
candidate for the Vice Presidency:
HILLsBoRoUaH, September 4, 1852.
GENTLEMEN: ] gratefully acknowledge your IA
vor Of the 2Sth ult.. inviting me to mass meeting
Of our political friends in that part OF the State al
Statewide, the 10th inst in honor Of the nomi
nees of the Wing Convention at Baltimore for the
Presidency and Vice Presidency Of the United
States.
You are pleased to add that this assembage has
been appointed at the site Of the old Statewide
Academy, not very distant from the place Of my
birth, and whittier was cent, when frat 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 associates and
acquaintance of maturer years, will be there in
large numbers to offer me friendly greeting
Few events, beg to assure you, could afford me
more qualification than to comply with this iatter-
ing and cordial invitation. 1t awakens recollec.
tivns dear to my heart and adds the charms of
persona! friendship to political appreciation. Con.
fidence has been said to be plant of slow growth.
After life now past meridian, and for nearly
twenty consecutive ytars connected with public
affairs, it is to me refreshing to be treasured that
| as regards myself Il Is yet fresh and unbroken in
the soil where ii 6rst took root.
You likewise suggest that the occasion will be
, appropriate one to vindcate the great man with
whom am assocatedin this election from charges
OF hostility to the South, and nfdelity to the Com
promise of the last Congress.
1t ia Of the sballowest and commonest devices
! OF party to find but what is most odious or dis
tasteful 10 the pre'aiiHg sentiment Of a country
or section. and inpute that to its opponent. This
charge of favorna aooliton, being under its in
| huence, has been standing accusation at the
South against every Wing candidate for the Presi.
| dency for the last sixteen years. II was alleged
| against Harrison whose competitor has been the
abolition candidate for that Ugh electromagnetic
Clay, whose successful competitor approved the
Oregon Territorial bill, inhibiting slavery therein
against Taylo 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. II was alleged against Mr.. Web.
ster, go long 40 he stood chance for the nominal
ton; and bis most patriotic speeches, advising
quescence in the Compromise, were garbled and
criticised 10 substantate it; and 1t was freely im
puted to Mr.. Fillmore by the opposition press of
this State, even after he had approved all the Com
promise 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 conven-
ton, instead of General Scott, there would have
been, 80 far as regards this objection, if we may
judge of the future by the past but the change OF
a name. The tale would have been repeated, and
probably with more emphasis. While the people
of the South will be vgilant and irm in the main
tenance of their just rights, trust they will be
misled by no idle clamor. After an agitation Of
many years matters connected with slavery,
there has been an adjustment, in which am per
sunded the mass of the American people has ac-
quiesced. The authors and friends of that adjust
ment, ain sure, will be the last to reopen the
trovcrsy.
So far as may depend on me, the charges against
General Scott to which you refer have been al
ready negatiyed, and that in O manner indicating
a stronger conviction on my part than any reason
ing can employ. Bound TO North Carolina by
every tie of interest and affection which attaches
other men, am under the additional obligation Of
gratitude for her highest honors repeatedly be-
slowed. If could consent to compromit her in
terests or honor, in matter vital to the South and
the Union, by any combination or association ad-
to her, should be untrue. not merely to the
impulses OF patriotism, but to the instincts Of ma
ture. when, lore, accepted the nomina.
ton for the Vice Presidency, (Which your dele
gates in the convention will bear me witness had
not soughtD knowing what principles had been
declared by a convention, and that General Scott
was my associate for the Presidency, by that act
proclaimed my confidence in him more empbati-
cally than can now do in words. l had known
him Familiarity for twelve years, and was intimate
ly associated with him during the most trying Pc
rod Of the Compromise, when it's fate suspend
ed in doubtful scales. ] knew that he had been
the friend Of these measures when they stood in
need of friends; that independently of his lustri
Gus services and world. wide fame, which will
place him in American history side by side with
men in the republics Of antiquity, and
which forbid any petty sectional or factious views
to be entertained by him, he committed to the
Compromise as of its most effective supporters
at the time Of it's adoption. And to me, who have
been in position ever since to observe the pro
gress Of events in connection with this subject, |
and to whose lot il fell to issue the orders Tor the
execution of the Fugitive Slave law by military
force, if necessity should require it, within forty
days after its enactment, il has been gratifying to
observe how opposition to the Compromise has
given way, and many who stood opt in oppo
sition long after its passage have become lite ar |
dent supporters. If its enemies have become it's
friends it ia cause for rejoicing; but let them
be permitted to transmute its friends into enemies
l regret that it will not be in my power to be |
present at your meeting, is it my expect alton
to address popular assemblies in this canvass, but ]
could not refrain from saying thus much in reply |
to your cordial and obligng letter
beg you to believe me, gentlemen, with great
respect, your obedient servant
VIM. A. GRAHAM.
To Messrs. W. p CALDWELL, r. II. Parks, John |
Davidson, X. Reid, Milton Campbell, commit
tee
VIsiT or Hon. JOHN p. KENNEDY THE NAVY
YARD On Tuesday the Secretary of the Navy,
Hon. John p Kennedy, accompanied by Captain |
mckinney, of the Mississippi, and Commander
r n Cnld Waited the ard fart ha |