The true Democrat., 1856-06-10
.al Mr.. Jones' excellent letter.
SmiMviUe, Nav 22d 1856
EDITOR TRUE DEMOCRAT

| EDlTOR L RUE DEMOCRAT
! 10 set myself right with my friends.
| wish to make brief statement of my politi-
cal position through the columns of your val
liable paper.
! During the session of our last legislature,
was induced by some of my old democratic
friends to join the self-styed American party.
did SO with honest motives, and with the
expressed understanding that should have an
honorable withdrawal, at any lime that should
choose to disconnect myself from the organi
cation. With that understanding | thought
| would see what | could see.
After going in found myself among men
OF all parties, both wings and democrats, all
uniting. My friends told me that this party
was gotten up for the benefit of all parties:
that its platform would be one and the only
one upon which the American people could
with safety stand, and preserve and perpetuate
our glorious and happy republic; that it was the
only platform that could check the alarming
strides of abolitionism and fanaticism at the
north; which, if not checked, would eventual.
y end in the dissolution of the Union. | was.
at first, somewhat encouraged to see SO MANY
democrats taking deep interest in it-at the
same time, there was something about it fear
ed was not right. The oath and secrecu and
the religious test were stumbling blocks and the
more reflected upon it and the more read
concerning it, the more serious became my sus-
plclons. Listening to able discussions upon
both sides, l at length became fully convinced
OF its wrong, and, without delay, wrote letter
OF withdrawal to the council at Little Rock
where was Initiated. | should have publish
ed my withdrawal at the time had expected
to become candidate for any office whatever.
but, having determined not to run for office. I
felt that my views were only those of pri
vate individual in which the public had no in
terest MY political opinions, however, never
concealed, and | am at all times ready to de.
fend them. Since my withdrawal, which was
several months ago, things have developed
themselves SO plainly in connection with that
party, that, as conceive it is in direct hostility
to southern rights and interests; and am una
Die to explain why men, protesting to be south
erners in fact and in feeling, can for momert
sympathize with such party. The election of
Banks as speaker of the House Of Representa-
tlves, and the action of the American conven-
ton at Philadelphia, in February last, it APP
pears to me, should satisfy every conservativ We
man. That there are good men who are not vet
| unHocaivod howovor ~.
American ticket, know and regret.
/ have watched the movements of the Amer.
lean party till am fully Convinced that It not
only originated with northern fanatics--with
the very class Of politicians against whom it
was represented to be SO intensely hostile-but
it was originated for the purpose of creating
dlscord and confusion in the south, SO that
they could elect their black republican candi-
date to the presidency.
Many OF my warmest personal friends will
differ with me in what l have said, but the
pride and boast of our republic is that every
freeman has the right Of exercising his own
free will at the balot-box, and in the exer-
else of it, ne should consult, not SO much his
own personal interest, as the great and para.
mount interests Of his country, and, acting hon.
orably and independently, should vote accor.
dinghy.
The democratic nominees for governor and
for representative to- Congress in the northern
district heartily approve, and shall take plea
sure in casting my vote for them. among per-
maps not less than one thousand in old Law.
renee, on the first Monday Of August next. -
am democrat-was raised democrat-and
the proudest days of my life were when
could boast of the success Of democracy ~
Should turn traitor to the very PRINCIPLES
that have so long preserved and perpetuated