The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-02
From The National Inteli gsneeT.
LETTER FROM SENATOR PEARCE, OF MARYLAND,
ON THE POLITICS OF THE DAY.
WAsnINeroN, July 9l, lab0.


WASHINGTON, July 81, 1856.
MY DEAR SIR: You ask what part mean to take in the
coming presidential election and what think should be
done by old wings who have been attached to any
other party and who do not desire to enter into po
litical connexions.
am well aware OF the embarrassments TO such persons
which attend choice among the candidates for the presi
dency now before the country In my own case this e-
barrassment is sensbly felt My nclnatons point one
way of the duty arising from the present dangerous
condition of domestic politics leads me another way.
My past relations political and personal with Mr. Fill
more the confidence have always eposed in his integr
y and ability, the wisdom of his administration and tho
conviction entertain that he is just national and
free from sectional prejudice would induce TO prefer
him to his competitors Neither do object the sent-
ment of American nationality, properly limited and
strained. Indeed think that present system has
made American citizenship too cheap. But did not APP
prove the mysterious system under which the American
party of which he is the representative, organ
lied the oahs administered to members upon initiation
and the discipline of the order by which secrecy and ODE
dience secured How far all this has been dispensed
with do not know The original plan of their organic
zation could not but condemn, as do the adoption
of any principle which founds rule of political excu-
sion upon diversity of religious faith However modi
fed in these respects their plan may be- is not
necessary for me to inquire. The northern wing of
the party came into it. as think, with purposes very
different from those entertained by the res They adopt
ed it cloak TO schemes which all of in Maryland
condemn and detest The necessary affiliations of that
wing of the party with the anti-slavery and
accordingly find the mask thrown off by the most
of them and the development Of their plans in such
the personal---very. bill of Massachusetts,
which nullifes law of Congress- violates the constu-
tona guarantee for the recovery of fugitive slaves and
creates the iercet and most dangerous dscord between
the North and the South Their members of Congress
have for the part been consolidated with the PERM
cious party mscaed republicans, and many of the dele
gates their presidential convention have deserted to that
motley alliance whose triumph would be the saddest
calamity that befel Union. The comparatively
small portion of the American party which remained after
this transfer to the antslavery men, and which has NOM
mated Mr. Fillmore, is without power to elect him,
with tho assistance of southern wings or national
northern wings. These, however great their personal
respect for and confidence in Mr. Fillmore, under
party obligations to give him their support seeing
that he has become member and accepted the nomination
of party which repudiates the whgs and while they
would be willing In contest with their old opponents to
stand by all their political opinions to the last they find
ample reason in the present condition of parties in the po
cal anarchy which prevails, and in the fear of
tiona and ansavery triumph leading to Interior
quences of the worst sort TO consider whether it is not
their duty sacrifice all personal feeling and party preju
dice for the sake of the Union and to sustain the
schemes of the mad agtaors who rule the republican
party.
The contest 1t seems to me- lies between Mr. Buchanan
and Mr. Fremont. Mr. Filmore's friends, indeed claim
great reaction in his favor but have taken much pains
ascertain what his strength is in the free States and
far have not been able to satisfy myself that he carry
o single of them. His wise and patriotic conduct
while President which recommended him strongly TO
the wings Of the South regarded by the majority the
North fatal objection TO him. II Is not moderation
and Cancellation they DESIRE they think, of their
leaders said that the time for compromises has passed
They want in the President instrument punish the
South for what they fancy pretend to be the aggesson
of the saye power" upon the North. Mr. Fillmore is too
national for this purpose, and be must indeed be credu
ous sangune In the extreme who suppoes that the poll
iticians who have misguided and named the northern
majority will abandon their designs, and renounce the
spos for which they hunger and thirst just at the
nent when, for the first time they confident of the
Of the and the enjoyment of the other Mr.
Fmores strength lies in the whig States of the South
If all the southern States should give him their votes he
would fail in the election without such assistance from the
free States 1t would be vain 10 look for The choice
then is between Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Fremont and what
Maryland wing believing as do can hesitae7
am not unjust to charge all the northern men
who join in the support Of Mr. Fremont with being abo
tonists. There are men among them whom | hold in
much respect while deplorng the error Of judgment into
which they have fallen but the most active and nfuen-
tal Of their leaders who from perverted udg-
ment named passion, Or what is worse from deber
ate calculation have determined TO build up sectional
party reckless of Its peril to the Union once so Justly
valued but estimated far less at the North than al
the South Mr.. Greeley IL at this moment more potep-
tal with his party than any other Of Its members lie
has the benefit Of Mr.. Giddingss cooperation Cover
nor Chase, Mr. Seward, and Mr.. Wilson are active and
influential leaders Their presses teen with the 6ercest
abuse Of southern men and southern institutions, with
the grossest pcrversons Of the TRUTH wckedy made to
nHsme the northern mind. Their orators denounce us
equally and do not hesitate say that thcy intend
desire not only TO restore Kansas the operation Of
the Missouri restriction but to repeal the fugitiyesave
BILL abolish slavery In the District Of Columbia to in.
terdct the Interstate slave trade as 10 prevent the
from migrating with his domestcs from one slave
State TO another to prevent forever hereafter the admis-
sion of any State which toerates domestic servtude
and hem in and confne slavery within It's present lin
its thus continually increasing the political power of
their section until shall be too weak to resist their
future efforts to impair the value Of peculiar proper
ty and finally to destroy it. We do not indeed find all
these objects laid down in the platform of their party
and there associated with them whose desiqns
by extend so far, and who, II they knew the
probable consequences Of their success would recoil
from the evil associations into which they have fallen
But then more moderate men are not the MASTER
spirits In this league Of agitation and will be poweress
to stop the mischievous which think certain
10 follow the success of the combination which they are
now aiding The Of the press In their interest the
speeches Of many members Of Congress and Of the
r.t. IL.