Washington telegraph., 1856-08-20
Mr. Fillmore's Position as Regards the
Missouri Compromise, its Restoration,
the Extension of Slavery, &c.

t0C 41ASCxAo4OA VI
We shall advert to the subject under
very briefly. 1t would re-
auire that we should devote all of our
available space to the examination of
the questions which we are about to con-
slider, did we attempt to refute the thou
sand and one baseless fabrications and
wilful Misrepresentation of the enemies
of our cause. But knowing that our
readers desire nothing more nor less than
the truth, and that they will be satisfied
Herewith, We wish to state Mr.. FILL
MoRE's position as regards the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, and shall there
fore adopt his own words as the most re-
liable exposition thereof. On his arrival
at Rochester on his route to Buffalo, Mr.
FILLMORE spoke as follows concerning
the repeal OF the Missouri Compromise =
"This repeat seems to have been a
Pandora's box, out of which have issued
all the political evils that now affiict the
country, scarcely l.aving hope behind,
and many, perceive. are ready to attrib-
ute all these to our Southern brethren
But is this just! No, no. 1t must be
borne in mind that this measure origina-
ted with Northern Senator, and was
sustained and sanctioned by Northern
President | do not recollect that ever a
petition from q Southern State solicited
this repeal; and how could Southern men,-
bers of Congress refuse boon thus of
fered by the North to the South ? 1t
could only be done by sacrificing them
selves upon the altar of their country for
their countrys good and this is certainly
expecting too much from political men in
times like these. The blame, therefore,
1t appears to me, with all due Difference.
is chiefly chargeable to those who origina-
ted this measure and, however we may
deplore the act, it affords no Just ground
for controversy with our Southern breth-
ren-certainly none by which they should
be deprived OF their political rights
Mr. FILLMORE, it viii be seen, depre-
Gated the repeal of this Compromise, at
the time of its disturbance, upon princi-
piles which should commend him but the
more perfectly, to the admiration of every
patriot and lover of the peace of his cOun-
try The repeal having been effected
however, he does not, nor does the party
whose principles he represents, look to, OF
propose the restoration of this measure.-
And herein and thus far, the American
party, and the really national wing of tn,
Democratic party, occupy similar ground
There is no issue between these two bod
les as regards the .jinal nature of tho
Kansas Legislation We know that reck-
less and unscrupulous partizans in the
BUCHANAN ranks, will contend that We
are incorrect in the position we assume
and like the devil in the German legend
they will continue to deny the truth Of
our assertion in spite of self-evident proof:
of its truth But this is neither her,
nor there; we addrtss ourselves to th,
honest and intelligent, and pay very lit
tie heed to the carpings of those whose
duty and business it is, to find fault, cavi
and dispute.
just here, however-up to this point W,
find the American Party and the Nationa
Democrats agreeing perfectly, there be
gins line of demarcation, broad and deep
which separates the parties.
In our last week issue we had occasion
to refer at length to the position occupie,
by the BUCHANAN party We wish nov
to state the manner iu which it is pro
posed the principles of the American
party, as represented by Mr. FILLMORE
shall operate upon territory hereafter t,
be converted into, and annexed to tn,
Union as sovereign States, with referenc,
to the question of slavery.
We refer our readers to the seventh
section of the February Platform as con
tanning the policy of the American part,
in regard to this point, of such vita
and paramount importance to the South
We here present it to our readers:
9Th. The recognition of the right of th.
native born and naturalizcd citizens of The
United States, permanently residing in any
Territory thereof. to frame their conStitu
ton and laws, and 10 regulate their dumes
tic and social affairs in their own mode. sub
ject only to the provisinus of the Fedora
Constitution, with the privilege of admission
into the Union when they have the reaui.
site population for one Representative in
Congress Prouided al,cays, that non,
but 'thOSe who are citizens of the United
States. under the constitution and law,
thereof aud who have a fixed residence in
any such Territory. ought TO participate il
the formation of the Constitution, or in
the enactment of laws for said Territory OF
State
The provisions of this section, repudia-
ting as they do the monstrous and alb.
horrent doctrines of Squatter Sovereignty
and alien suffrage, are of such nature
as fully and completely to secure the har-
mOnlOuS development of all the resources