The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-04-11
WHY THE DEMOCRATS AND OLD
LINE wHIGs OUGHT TO SUPPORT
Mr. FILLMORE.

| WHY lhE DEMOLhAIO ANU OLD
LINE wHIGs OUGHT TO SUPPORT
| Mr.. FILLMORE.
1 [Frsm the Nashville Banner.l
| They, Democrats and Old Line Wings
profess adherence to the platform adopted by
their National Conventions in 1852. Well
both those platforms, so far as they relate to
the subject of slavery, are the same in sub.
stance with the platform upon which Mr.
Fillmore placed himself in 1850, and which is
incorporated in his annual message TO Con.
gress in 1851. Here It is.
/ Mr.. FnLmoRE's PLATFORM
As laid down in his message to Congress
in 1851:
at was hardly to have been expected that
! the series of measures passed at vour last
session, with the view Of healing the section-
al differences which have sprung from the
slavery and territorial questions, should at
once have realized their l,cneficent purpose.
| All mutual concession in the nature Of a
compromise, must necessarily be unwelcome
to men Of extreme opinions. And though
without such concessions our Constitution
could not have been formed, and cannot be
permanently sustained, yet we have seen
them made the subject Of bitter controversy
Fin both sections Of the Republic. It required
many months of discussion and deliberation
to Secure the concurrence of majority Of
Congress in their favor. Il would be strange
| If they had been received with immediate ap.
probation by people and States, prejudeed
and heated bytne exciting controversies of
their representatives. believe those mea-
sures to have been required by the circum-
stances and condition Of the country. be.
lieve they were necessary to allay asperities
and animosities that were rapidly alternating
one section of the country from another and
destroying those fraternal sentiments which
are the strongest supports of tho Constitution.
They were adopted in the spirit of concilia.
tion, and for the purpose of Cancellation.
believe that great majority of our fellow
citizens sympataize in that spirit, and that
purpose, and in the main approve, and are
prepared, In all respects, to sustain these en-
actments. tcannot doubt that the American
people, bound together by kindred blood and
common traditions, still cherish paramount
regard for the Union Of their fathers; and that
they are ready to rebuke any attempt to vio-
late its integrity, to disturb the compromises
on which it is based, or to resist the laws
which have been enacted under its authority.
"The series Of measures to which have
alluded are regarded by me MS a settlement in
principle and substance--a final settlement of
The da, gerous and erciting subjects sohich they
embrace. Most Of these subjects, indeed are
beyond your reach, as the legislation which
disposed of them was in its character, final,
and irrevocable. II may be presumed from
the opposition which they all encountered,
that none of those measures were free from
imperfections, but In their mutual dependence
and connection, they formed a system of CON-
promise, the most conciliatory and best for
the entire country, that could be obtained
from conflicting sectional interests and
opinians. -.---..-----.
"For this reason, recommend your adher-
ence to the adjustment established by those
measures, until time and experience shall de-
monstrate the necessity of further Legislation
to guard against evasion or abuse.
"By that adjustment we have been rescued
from the wide and boundess agitation that
surrounded us, and have a firm, distinct, and
legal ground to rest upon. And the occasion,
/ trust, will justify me in exhorting my coun-
trymen to rally upon and maintain that
ground as the best, if not the only means, of
restoring peace and quiet to the country,
and maintaining involate the integrity of the
Union"
Now, see
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATOON OF 1852.
"That Congress has no power under the
Constitution to interfere with or control the
domestic institutions of the several States,
and that such States are the sole and proper
judges Of everything appertaining to their
own affairs, not prohibited by the Constitu.
ton; that all efforts made to induce Congress
to interfere with questions of slavery or to
take incipient steps in relation thereto, are
calculated to lead to the most alarming and
dangerous consequences; and that all such
efforts have an inevitable tendency to diminish
the happiness Of the people and endanger the
stability and permanency Of the Union, and
ought no: to be cOuntenanced by any friend
of our political institutions"
"'rhat the foregoing proposition covers and
was intended to embrace the whole subject of
the slavery agitation in Congress; and, there
fore, the Democratic party of the Union
standing upon the National Platform what
patforln!] will abide by and adhere to the
faithful execution of the acts known as the
compromise measures settled by the last Con-
gress, the act for the reclaiming of fugityes
from service included; which act, being de-
signed to carry out an express provision of
the Constitution, cannot with fidelity thereto,
be repealed or so changed as to destroy or
impair its efficiency.
Resolued, That we will resist all attempts
at renewing, in Congress or out Of it, the
slavery agitation under whatever shape and
color The attempt may be made"
Next, read
THE wHTG PLATFORM OF 1859.
"That the series of measures commonly
known as the Compromise, including the fu-
gitive slave law, a-e acquiesced In by the
Wing party of the United States, as n settle
ment, in principle and substance--a inal set
tlement-of the dangerous and exciting ques-
tons which they embrace; and so far as tho
fugitive slave law is concerned, we will main.
tain the same, and insist on its strict enforce
ment, until time aud experience shall demon.
strate the necessity Of further legislation to
guard agains. evasion or abuse, not impairing
its present efficiency; and we deprecate all
further agitation Of slavery questions as dan
gerous to our peace, and will discountenance
all eforts at the renewal or continuance of
such agitation, in Congress or out OF it. what.
ever, wherever, or however the attempt may
be made; and we will maintain this system MS
essential to the nationality Of the Wing party
and integrity Of the Union.
Thus it will be seen that so far as the sub
e kntl ths,