Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-04-16
TULIP GROVE, near Nashville,
March Roth. 1896.


GENTLrMEN;-I did not receive until yestcr-
day your official note of the 26th of February
last. informing mo Of my nomination to the office
OF Vice President by the American party. and
asking my acceptance of the same.
For the iattering terms in which you have
munlcated this proceeding, beg leave to offer
y"u my sincere thanks. ! accept the position as
signed me- by the American purity, with "A just
sense. trust, of the responsibility belonging TO
II. ] attended the Convention with no cxpecta.
ton that such nn honor awaited me. and il my
own feelings aud wishes could have been consul
ted. it would have fallen upon some other mem.
ber OF the American party in whose ranks ARE 80
many distinguished individuals, better known to
the country and better prepared by experience
for the high duties of the station, should the
voice Of tho people be in accord with hat,of which
you are tho organ on this occasion, but acting
upon the maximum left us by the great men Of
the earlier days Of our Republic. that public Of
foe should be neither sought nor declined yield
to the judgment of those who have thought that
my name might be Of service in advancing the
important objects which constitute the American
party.
Our leading idea is that the two old parties,
Democratic and Whig.have ceased to exert their
former heaihful influence in the management of
the public interest, and that, without the inter
veuton of reforms which they can never effect.
the beloved Constitution and Union, bequeathed
| to US by Forefathers. will not long be pre-
| served.
For the most of the evils with which we arc
| Threatened at the present period, the admins
tration of President Pierce Is evidently response
bic; but instead ofind,ng his party engaged in
| the prosecution OF measures Ia avert the dangers
he has brought upon the land see it more ac
tive than ever in scattering the seeds of seetionu
| strife md social anarchy
| When Gen. Jack son came into the Presiden
IL
obligation of the Executive to restrain the patro
mage OF the Federal & overnment. so that it should
| not be brought into conflict with the freedom OF
elections. But modern Democracy stands il
direct antagonsm to this obligation. There i,
scarcely an election precinct IN the United State,
which has rot witnes .ed the most shameful in
terferonce with elections by the agents Of tn,
Federal Government acting in tho name Of De-
mocracy.
In former times when parties created BY
patriotic and national sentiments npon measures
| of general interest to the whole country. we ney
er heard that measure could be declared Dem
ocratc in one place, and not Democsatic in a,
mother. by leading men processing to belong To
this party. Yet see this enormty exhibited
daily by the party press in the pay of the present
| Executive. > The necessary result of such cor.
rupt'on If not successfully opposed. must be- to
destroy all political morality, and 10 continue
power IN untaIthful and incompetent hands by
the mere influence of the money derived from
the taxes which are rai,lby the people for far
different purposes. II is undeniabl- that the an
tagonsm now prevailing bet we-n the North and
the South Is mainly attributable to the political
aruhee which has enabled men holding directly
opposite opinions on the power Of Congress over
the Institution of slavery in the Territories, but
yet processing TO belong TO the same Democratic
party. The Nebraska Kansas act is constantly
called by one portion Of Democrats, law .hob
VIII prevent the extension of slavery To the Ter
ritorles. and by another portion. a law which
VIII enable the South to carry slavery to the
Territories. Ey the same failacy, seces,iou. nnl ),
li6cston. abolition. and all other isms have fon,,
q shelter under The Gag q. demoeracy,explaineg
~ it is by modern Interpreters.
In former times. also our best patriots. with.
out distinction Of partytspoks OF the nece ss,y Of
guarding the ballot box from the dangers of for
eign influence and of keeping separate the Churcl
and State; and of the advantage TO be derives
. from frequent recurrence TO the earlier adyic