The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-09-13
LETTER OF w. NJ. BTRWELL.

The letter of this distinguished Nirgiuian
We insert with much pleasure, and call special
attention of all to it, but particularly all Ma
tionai Southern Know NothingS MIR Bur
well was in the June Convention of 1858. and
is he outh0r of the "'cbraiH Ten wc,iOR
During the last summer he edited the Ameri
can Organ, at Washington city, and gave
that paper all the character it ever has had.
which it has lost since. He is quite loss TO
the Know Nothing party in Virginia A.
the spring election last year, he was chosen
Senator from Bedford county, which position
he voluntarily resigns back to his former pnl,ti.
cal associates. Read his startling political
letter:
To ma Constituents:
Having been elected 10 the Legislature up
on the nomination Of the American party, it
is with much regret that find ii inconsistent
with my principle of political action to sup.
port either the creed or the candidate Of that
party at the ensuing Presidential election.
ln doing so mean no dsreSpect to those
who compose the party. consider the im-
mediate objects of its organization indicated.
The necessity for some reform in the laws Of
naturalization and alien suffrage is acknowl-
edged; the alleged hostility of the American
party to particular religious persuasion has
been resolved into the indiSputabIe principle
no one who avows allegiance to any Inw high
er than the Federal and State Constitutions.
each within its proper jurisdiction, is fit for
political trust The obnoxious obligation of
secrecy has been abolished
But another important agency was expect
ed from the American party, to which it has,
regret to say, proved wholly inadequate
and 1t is this disappointment which has rem
dercd my withdrawal from its councils, in my
opinion, matter Of public duty.
Regarding the question of slavery ms para
mount to all Others before the American peo.
pie; satisfied that the Wing party of the North
had fused with the Free Sellers, and that the
Democratic party was paralyzcd by its own
dlSsenslons, had, with many others, sought
III the American party a love of Union, fra
terhal affection, and a national pride, which
should reconcile and quiet forever the differ
cnccs existing amongst us.
The first national action of this party en-
conraged the hope that it would realize this
patriotic expectation. 1t announced in June,
1900, that it would maintain the existing leg
lslatlon upon the subject of slavery as IL settle
mcnt OF the question. Under this declaration
some thirty-three members of Congress were
elected by the American party in the Southern
States
In February, 1856, this policy was changed
The pledge to maintain existing legislation
was substituted by creed in which not only
tine subject but the name of slavery" is care
fully ignored. The guarantee for the admis-
sion OF new slave States, specifically given by
the declaration of 1855, is replaced by an ar
l .ei wi'ch recognizes the right of the legal
clllzens OF Territory "to frame their Consti-
tuition and laws and to regulate their own
domestic and social affairs in their own mode,
subject only to"-the Wilmot proviso, or to
the provisions of the Federal Constitution, !"
which last phrase, under the Interpretation of
the dominant majority in Congress, means pre-
clsey the same thing. With this restriction
the privilege OF admission into the Union is
granted to the Territorial State when it shall