Washington sentinel., 1853-11-08

which the national democracywere pursued with
| such rancorous hate. 1t was against such per
nieious sentiments, fraught with tendencies so
! alarming, that | contended in the Senate and
before the people of this State. For this buff
| feted factions angry waves, and sought to roll
back its tide of black and bitter waters from
the citadel of the Union. 1t was for this that |
was made target for the shafts of freesoil
maleyolence and prosecutions; and it was for
this that the generous and unanimous acclaim
from the people of the south cheered and sus-
tanned me in the path of duty when all hope,
save that which springs from a consciousness Of
rectitude, had nearly forsaken me. @s
Those who remember how bitter and re-
morseless were the Buffalo convention calum-
niators then, will learn with no surprise that
they retired from the struggle nursing their re,
venge like tiger cheated in his foray; and
that since the country has sanctioned the prin-
ciples advocated, and approved my course,
they are endeavoring, by garbling and fraud,
to transfer me from q friend to an enemy of
those measures. From the freesoil leaders of
ls48, stung with defeat, covered with treachery
and shame, and reeking with abolition taint,
or those who for consideration joined hands
with them, | neither expected nor desired JUS
tice or generosity. But if, when this sectional
warfare was raging, and was standing in the
forefront of the hottest battle, employing the
best energies | could command, appealing to
the people of this State in language which /
thought best calculated to rouse them to q
sense of duty, and upholding the constitutional
rights of the southby the best reasons | could
summon, il had been prophesied that within
three short years, when i should be no longer
,,c
but in the quiet walks of private life, devoted
to rural and professional occupations, should
be sought out by those enjoying the fruits of
that memorable contest--the speeches which /
then made upon votes, at all times and upon
all occasions, given against freesoil heresies in
every shape and form, and that, too, against
the instructions of the legislature Of this State,
ransacked for illustrations or figures of rhetoric
to convict me of freesoil opinions, the individ-
ual who had ventured the assertion would have
been rewarded with commission of lunacy,
And yet it is already even so, and, shall add,
has been gratuitously seconded by voices from
the south.
The Washington Union, usually denominated
the organ Of the administration, previous to
the recent rupture between the democratic and
free-soi parties in this State, at a period, too,
when / had not addressed the public in any form
upon political affairs for ten months, published
the charge, from some one who found an anony-
nous signature convenient to his purpose, and
added its own sanction, according to its sub
stantial assertion, from a desire to harmo-
nizen our domestic politics, and from motives
of great personal regard to myself and it has
since continued its attacks almost daily, en-
tirely in selfdefence.n And the Hon. Jeffer-
son Davis, the Secretary of War in the same
administration. thought it suitable to make q
similar assertion in private letter, which he
sent to newspaper for publication. Although
these efforts to class me with the enemies Of
my country evince sense of justice to which
am stranger, and exhibit spirit Of generosi-
ty which do not enjoy, and chivalry which
l do not covet, yet as disposed Of the drawer
some time since, it would be ungenerous to
pursue the endorser, especially as the paper
seems to have gained but limited and preca-
rious credit. But it is pleasant to turn from
these sinister efforts, which are SO solitary that
they prove themselves exceptions to that deep,
and generous, and heartfelt gush of popular
sentiment which comes up to my vindication
from the southern press, in tones bold, manly,
and indignant. / have perused and reperused
it with the deepest emotion, and have been re-
paid tenfold in its lofty spirit of sincerity for all
the assaults which malgn influences have Wis
tied upon me. 1t has assured ma that there is
q Numbering sense of justice, even in these de-
| generate times, which can be reused into ac-
ton to vindicate integrity and rebuke error,
and that the southern people are Justly proven
bal for that noble intuitive spirit which flies to
the rescue Of truth. shall cherish this recol-
lection Of their friendship until the visions OF
life fade away in the distance, and nurse the
fame which it has kindled in my bosom until
it shall pale and flicker in death. ,ss /. " 1as
This Washington organ, too, has essayed to
warn the national democracy of this State, and
| especially myself, of the fate Of Messrs. Rives,
Tallmadge, and others, who separated them
selves from the democratic party in former
struggles This outgiving might well have
been spared, for the democracy Of this State
scorn its officious admonitions as thoroughly as
they defy its impotent augury. 1t would be
well for that oracnlar mouthpiece to remember
| that the detection Of Messrs, Rives, Tallmadge,
and others consisted in opposing, and not in
| too faithfully supporting a great principle Of
| the democratic party, and that for this, they
were denied democratic fellowship, and not
because they refused to associate with aboli-
tionists and renegades; and it must be refresh
ing to those gentlemen and their associates to
reflect, that if they had reserved their separa-
tlOn 10 laIe perlOu, lnSteau OF pelnS eXpeleu
from democratic communion, they would have
been recognized as the I. other section in the
only manner calculated to carry with it convic.
tinnn Nor, if fversed in fables as well as faction,
should the organ forget that, although the eagle
bore away in his talons the frstling of the flock
without difficulty, the raven met with compare
| lively indifferent success in. attempting to ex-
pertinent upon more experienced member.
The national democracy Of this State will, in
season and out of season, support the principles
of the general administration SO long as the ad.
ministration shall adhere fully and faithfully to
those principles as laid down by Jefferson and
Jackson, enuneiated by the last democratic ma
tional convention, and reiterated by General
Pierce in his inaugural and no lnnger, Their
attachment to these principles did not com
mence with the present administration and will
not terminate with it; for they despise all mere
scranbles for Office, and seek only to perpetuate
| the cherished principles of their creed, regard
| less of temporary consequences; and if as
seems to be suggested, the administration has
"policy,p Ian ominous word, contradistin-
puished from its principles they will support