The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-02
WHICH SHALL WITHDRAW!


WHICH SHALL WITHDRAW?
There is quite struggle going on between
the respective friends of Buchanan and Fill
more, as to the relative political strength of
those gentlemen in the free States. Each con-
cedes that Fremont is the only formidable an
tagonist in the field, while they mutually dis
parage tho strength of each other. 1t is said,
that when the Athenians returned from a GER
tain battle, their friends asked them who fought
most valiantly; and each respondent claimed
the honor for himself, while each conceded that
Themistocles was second to him. This gene
raj testimony in behalf of Themistocles very
naturally led his countrymen to assign him the
first honor. The similar expression of opinion,
as to the strength of Fremont, by his opponents
of all shades of opinion, cannot fail to con-
vince unbiased men that he is the favorite of
the people. We will not undertake to say
which of his opponents, supposing one of them
to withdraw, would be most formidable as the
champion of Slavery. But one thing is certain,
viz: this very rivalship proves that neither OF
them represents the prevalent sentiment of the
North against Slavery extension. Mr.. Fill
more's friends insist that the withdrawal of Mr..
Buchanan would insure the success of Fill
more-that the whole South would vote for him
without a dissenting voice, while he will run
better in the North than Buchanan. The
friends of Buchanan contend that the withdraw
al of Fillmore will secure their success. This
is an admission, on both sides, that their can
didates are popular with the Pro-Slavery party.
Is not this fact, this boast, enough to satisfy
every opponent of Slavery extension, that Blu
chanan and Fillmore are equally opposed to
their interests? Take Fillmore, for instance
he pretends to regret the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise; and on that ground, Northern
Know Nothings, who affect opposition to Slave
ry extension, cleave to him. But do they not
know that Mr.. Fillmore is committed against
a restoration of that Compromise? Is he not
pledged to acquiesce, and is there not reason
to believe that he would veto bill for the res
toration of the Slavery-restricting clause
Would the South support him, if he were doubt
full on this point? But, say his Northern
friends, he favors Freedom in Kansas. Let
them prove it, and he cannot carry Southern
State. Let them prove it, and he would scarce
ly run better in the slave States than Fremont
He has never said that he will favor the estab-
lishmsnt of Freedom in Kansas, and a six
horse team cannot extract such a declaration
from him. Will the freemen of Pennsylvania
vote for a man whose sympathies are doubtful
on that pointf The truth is, that Mr.. Fillmore
and his friends are endesvoring to humbug the
people. They are endeavoring to slip into
power without principles. His Know Nothing
friends abandoned their 18th section, and adopt
ed nothing in its place while his Wing friends
who nominated him at Baltimore few days
ago, avowed no principles of any sort-good or
bad-native or foreign. Somebody, then,
would be cheated, if it were possible to elect
Mr.. Fillmore-either the South or the North,
the Know Nothings or the Old Line Wings.
Of Mr.. Buchanan, there is this to be said for
him, at least, that we know exactly where to
find him; he stands squarely on the platform
of Slavery extension, and relies upon the SenaA
and the Pro-Slavery party of the North to elect
him. He and bis friends make no false and
hypocritical appeals to the friends of Freedom.
They are out and out against Freedom and free
soil. They wish to make Kansas slave State,
and they don't deny it. They boast that they
repealed the Missouri restriction, in order to
carry Slavery into Kansas, and to make anoth-
er slave State, "to preserve the balance of
power" They also avow their determination
to annex Cuba, by purchase or by war, in order
to strengthen the institution of Slavery, and to
strengthen the Slave Power in the Federal
Government. These are detestable principles,
but we like the pluck which prompts the frank
avowal of them. 1t is far better than the
sneaking attempt of the Fillmoreites to defeat
an election by the people, by lodging the real
issue. They hope to carry one State, or, at
most, two; and on this small capital they ex-
pect to intrigue in the House of Representa-
tives, with Democrats or Republicans, for the
Presidency. They care not a farthing who
trades with them; they will divide the spoil
with either the Pro-Slavery or the Anti. Slavery
party. Hence it is that they so tenaciously
preserve their two faces, and call it " National.
ity." Much as they hate the foreign party"
as they designate the sham Democracy, they
are willing to receive their support in the cleo
ton of Fillmore by the House Of Representa-
tives, on condition of turning Kansas over to
Slavery; and we understand that their first
offer is to be made to the Buchananites. Fail.
ing in this, they will turn to the Republican
side, with fair promises in behalf of "bleedinp
Kansas"
But any one, who will reflect moment upon
the Cabinet which Mr.. Fillmore would be con.
strained by bis antecedents" and his pledges
to form, can see that there could be no hope
for Freedom in Kansas under his auspices, no
matter which party elects him. His Cabinet
would be composed of such materials as com.
pose his party in the free States. The Brookses.
Havens, and the Walks, of New Y ork the Brooms
and Fullers of Pennsylvania, the Scott Harri
SONS of Ohio, are among his leading Northern
supporters all notorious for their cheerful
obedience to any demand which the slave inter-
est resolutely and persistently makes. Most
if not all of them who are in Congress voted
last winter in favor of the ultra Southern doc
trine of Calhoun, that neither Congress nor the
people inhabiting Territory have the right to
exclude Slavery-that shareholders are to be
left free to carry their slaves into all the Terri
tories of the Union, as long as they remain
under a Territorial Government doc.
trine, if acted upon, would at once convert them
all into slave Territories. The Southern sup.
porters of Mr.. Fillmore, with the exception Of