Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-30
Fi)Imoee against Buchanan.

our country are approaching ihoiheu'o"S @i'
sis The present political campaign surpasses
in importance and in solemn interest all that
have occurred in our history. It's an occas ION
which calls in an unusual degree for serio
Thought and high-minded independence on the
mart of the people We cannot contemplate II
rs an ordinary contest to be determined oy the
common articles of party leaders. The spirit vi
rho coct-nit OF the course should have no place
~ s,cb q drama. ON the issue of which the cause
Of union. freedom, and humanity depends. IL DC
comes every patriotic citizen, under whatever
hammer he NAV have been enrolled, to remember
that he has country to save as we'll as a parry
20 obev. Our only hope is in the patriotic
masses upon whose minds and hearts the claims
of their country have stronger hold than lne
nreipdices of faction or the promptings OF amol-
ton To the honest millions who are open 10
conviction, and are resolved to follow truth
wherever it NAV lead, the friends of the Union
are now making, perhaps their last appeal
re any OF our readers who differ from us IN
on;n;on. are conscious of being governed by tins
reasonable and patriotic spirit, we beg them lor
,,oment 10 consider with us as honest IN
ouirers after truth, some few OF the leading lea-
lures of the present controversy. Look al one
or two great land marks in the field OF debate
and then. with an eye single to your country
rood determine upon your future course. DIS
cord If YOU possibly can, ali considerations OF
mere party triumph, and deal with the question
oh. ~
n, sober, discreet, and independent men shouid
ALWAYS deal with practical questions OF solemn
interest.
How stands the case1 Three candidates and
three parties are ia the field For one canoiaa'e
and party we have no language to express our
adherence. They are entirely out OF the ques-
ton. They neither ask nor expect q southern
vote Both of the nominees are northern men
chosen and proclaimed on sectional issue
Their nomination under the circumstances was
deliberately designed to be On insult and chai-
lenge to the whole Southern portion OF the con-
federacy. Away with them, we say, 10 the
common infamy of the Judases, Pilates, anu
heroes of the old, and tho Arnold'S ana burrS
of the new world
But there are two other northern candidates
before the country, with southern names asso-
ciated with them for the Vice Presidency. one
Of these is presented to the southern public as
pledged to principles peculiarly favorable 10 our
section of the union the other disavows any
sectional views, and asks our suffrages purely
on the ground of q liberal and conservative ma
tionalitv. In other words, the southern frlends
of Mr.. Buchanan urge his election on account
of his alleged preference for system OF potcy
in which the South is peculiarly Interested
Now let rs considered one important prelimina-
~ question. Should the northern sectional par
ty. with Fremont OF its head, be counteracted
by southern sectional party, or by party ana
a president truly rationale On this point there
will be but one opinion. Veal agree that SOUND
nationality is the essential antidote to the uisor
panizing movement of the freesoil party
Which then is the most national nomination,
that of Mr.. Buchanan, or that OF Mr.. Fillmore
Which of these gentlemen now STANDS before
the oh0le country with the stronger CLAIMS &c
its unanimous support2 We do not ask when
IL most entitled to southern confidence, although
we do not dread such q comparison; but which
of them could and should command the largest
general vote throughout the entire contederacy
Now if the policy to which Mr.. Buchanan Il
pledred, issuch as his southern friends wouldrep
resent il. is it not evident that he must look tc
q southern sectional vote for his elecuonf
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was, as
tbev would contend, q sort of b0RVs to the south
ern States, how can he expect to be supported
by the northern members Of the cOnfederacy &
Ii he and his friends of the Southern Democrat
ic press are houest in their declarations, then Is
the Democratic party seetionatzed beyond rem
edy. and he can only be elected by southern
sectional vote. But if these professions are false
and. like his friend Martin Van Buren,, he is smil-
ing with two faces at opposite sections OF the
country, it is equally evident that the South is
in danger of being betrayed, as it has been be-
fore, by party treachery, into the hands of its
enemies, We fear the latter is true. Mr..
Buchanan is as silent as the grave, and gives no
sign as to his personal views on agtated question
Tisfriends at tho north since his nomiaton are ur-
ging his claims as the friend of freesoi, while his
southern advocates insist that Observation-Disclosures
of southern rights. The Van Burens of New
York, and the Nullifiers Of South Carolina, are
equally confiding. He remains q silent spectator
of the rival factions that tlatter him, Who
knows to which of them he secretly leansl a
cloud of awful doubt hangs over his cause which
future history alone can dissipate. If the south
ern partisan is right, the South is in danger OF
being secti0naliged. If the Van Burens are right
she is in danger of being lost Honest and patri-
otto reader, whoever you may be, whether Ameri-
can, Wing, or Democrat, in your party affilia-
tons, look upon these facts, pause and consider
these alternatives, and then decide for yourself,
whether or not Mr.. Buchanan is the truly NO.
tioaaz man the present crisis demands.
And now what shall we say of of the only re-
manning candidate for the Presidency-Mr. Fill
more2 We are in no darkness in regard TO
him. He wears . window in his breast. If not
one of the worst, he is one of the purest of men.
With equal canGor and decision Of character, he
denounces the sectional and aggressive spirit
Wherever fuculleSteu nlNu u DOAuUcSS ana
rnanliness, which almost embodies the spirit of
Henry Clay in his person, he proclaims his de-
yotion to the Union, and his determination, if
elected, to allow no sectional spirit or measure
10 impair the harmony of his administration
He IS the living representative OF old Wing prin-
cjples with the addition of moderate, conser-
votiye Anericansm He is the only one ffhe
candidates who is entirely free from sectional
D,.;,c L;s SsWoeI;prton- III ~