Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1855-10-04
Ole 6lasgo(o Gimes
From the Missouri Statesman.
Letter from Mr.. John W. Henry.
FAYErTE, Mo-, Aug. 20, 1855.

FAYETTE, Mo-, Aug. %, 1855
Cor. SwIrzLEn: l have observed that
several Democratic papers, edited by rene
gdde Know Nothings, are belaboring me
for an American speech l had the honor
and pleasure Of delivering at Fayette, a short
time since. One or two Ct them announced
that have left tie Democratic party
They mean, presume its carcass and that
is true. Another, the Dollar Journal, that
l have quit the Benton party-and that is
false, for never belonged to that party, and
the author knew that he lied when he wrote
it. 1t is not, however, for the purpose Of
making filings at such things as Peabody,
that | am writing this COMMUNICATION.
have friends throughout the State, whose
good opinion value-whom 1 desire to
know my position, and the reasons which
have induced me 10 take that position.
Foreign influence has been growing in
our country, with alarming rapidity for
twenty years, Inthe effort to secure that
influence in popular elections, both the great
political parties have become corrupted and
denationalized. Nominations have been
made by them for the highest offices in the
gift Of the people, TO accommodate the Cath
olc and foreign vote. That the Wings
nominated Gen. Scott, supposing it more
probable that he, than Fillmore, would gel
the Catholic vote, have never entertained
doubt, and that the Democracy believed
that Pierce had better chance than Gen.
Cass and other distinguished statesmen, for
both the Catholic and foreign vote, and
therefore nominated him, is eq,tally clear;
and thus both parties set aside tried states
men Of their own party for an able and ac-
complished, and the other for very inle-
ror General-the one without any expert
ence in civil affairs, and the other with none
Of which he or his country has reason to be
proud. Nor was this the first time in the
history of either party, that obscure politi-
clans and mere military chieftains were nom-
mated in preference to great statesmen who
had claims upon their country and their
parties, for signal services rendered both. -
Courting the factions Which have SO long
cursed this country, and panderiRg 10 the
Catholic and foreign vote, instead of facing
these things like mon, has so weakened and
degraded both the old parties, that there is
scarcely State in the Union in which they
can rally, and that either can re-unite its
fragments for presidential contest, no man
in his sober senses can believe.
Apart from all this, the present admins.
tration has irretrievabIy ruined the Demo,
cratic party. Elected as national Demo.
crat, the very first act of his administration
Pierce's formation Of his cabinet) was al
insult of the grossest character to the na
tional Democratic party. In that cabinet i,
n Wilmot proviso Democrat, one who voted
for that infamous measure and placed him
self with the free soil faction of the North
twas supposed that the warm support
which the Kansas Nebraska bill received
from his excellency, had reinstated him will
Southern Democrats, but in organizing tn
territorial government, Pierce appointed
= Southern man Governor of Nebraska. whicl
Southern men had given up 10 free soil an,
h Northern man Governor of Kansas, wlol
Southern men supposed and hoped woulC
be slave territory. So base was Reeder'
conduct, so unfair to the South, the Presi
!, dent was petitioned TO remove him, and Fl
naly consented TO do so, removed him, no
r for eovertly endeavoring TO make Kansa
free soil, but upon pretexts, which may sat
isfy him, but ought never TO satisfy South
1t ern Democrats. So soon as he remove
= Reeder, he appointed another gentlemen O
II free State, who declined the honor. II
= then appointed another gentleman of fre
# State who accepted it. He has had four O
,, five opportunities to appoint souther
man Governor of Kansas, but has neve
yet rendered it to one. "Call you this back
ing your friendsP"
The assurance that Pierce was sound o
the question Of slavery, by which, in III
South, is understood one in iavor OF protee
" ting the Southern people in their rights
slave property, and opposed TO any measure
:, to restrict slavery TO the limits within whic
it now exists, secured him the vote of I'll
Ie South; and ifhe regarded the institution 4,
Is slavery with any favor, justice required
y that while the South gave up Nebraska I
N free soil, he should, at least, have done nolf
,e ing to prevent Kansas from becoming slav
i State. ..
On the contrary, he continued Reeder {
Governor of Kansas, knowing that he W,
exerting all the influence of his position, di
10 honorably at that, to depress the slavery il