Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-10-24
For the Journal
James Buchanan snd
:, Willard Fillmore.

'1 SovER Co., Aug. 81, 1856. .
En- n...so.s AVE watched with soicitous
c,ssan, P-esd, OF conservative principles in the
~. 80 .ential canvass and feel as if the patri-
VI. e1. of all honorable men should be exert.
eo W - ert the awful crisis which we are now fast
appT Jaching and which hangs the political des
" lies of nation, like the sword of Damocles,
ready to sever the golden chain of Union, and
drench this land in fraternal blood. Viewing
the issues through the medium of impartiality,
and behoIding the mammoth bubble of disunion pre-
pared to burst upon already discordant peo-
pie, and rend them into thousand uncongenal frag-
ments |, therefore, come forward from retirement,
as one fondly attached 10 the union of these States,
the noblest emblem of republican form of govern
ment that the world has ever SEEM to warn my ftl-
low citizens of the Punc devotion of the Know
Nothing party and its candidates to the perpetuiy
and stability OF this God-hke edifce.
| We live in Union of sovereign States, held togeth.
er by compact which guarantees equal rights, equal
privileges, and free institutions to every portion
of our broad Republic. This is the golden legacy
that fathers have given US as our peculiar inher
tance to preserve unit ained and untarnished in its
original purity. and to transmit it posterity the
most glorious production of their mighty minds.
What greater donation could they leave u.s. or what
more could they desire 1t is not my desire to
ate (even if were able) any unnatural alarm in
your midst for the preservation of that decayng pal
adium f; my object is higher and more exalted one
but candor and trankness compels to tell you that
point-one which mperls the peace and harmony
of our country and threatens to throw 10 the winds
of the earth the buwarks of the Constitution.
Why do we hear the summons to arms throughout
the confines of the Union by sages and ardent pa ri.
ots7 Is there nothing in this Surely I, young
though be, have read Alright the signs of the
times Can it be that there is no meaning in this
enthusiastically wild excitement which pervades the
ranks of the union loving Democracy, with which it
is my fortune to act? Where is the man who does
not feel the salutary Importance Of the coming cri
sis! desire to assail party. apart from its prin.
cipes; though will examine them, exhibit them TO
you in all their native vileness and deformy, com
ment upon them, and draw an inference as to what
may be proper to be done To you who have kept
the step to Democratic music in many hard Tough
feld-you who have seen our banner wave vctori-
ously from end of the republic to the other while
under its broad folds you repused the cohorts of ire
son and fanaclsm " hich making attacks upon
the citadel of the Constitution, and virtually invading
the divine sanctuary of christiantyit is to you that
! would address cheering word just at this moment
There never was time in the political history of
this country when forbearance, discretion and
patriotism needed than at the present juncture
Doubtless upon the triumph of the Democratic par.
ty depends the triumph of the Constitution If we
do not organize energeucally and thoroughly every.
human foresight can divine with what cargo the flu.
ture may be ladened. | will not allow myself
though to conemp late the prostration of our party
in the present contest Neverthe ess, let US make
" assurance doubly suren There can be nothing
wrong in it. We have in the field a worthy,
in every respect TO be standard bearer in the cri
sis, and one with regard to whose private and poli
cal history, might justly exclaim, as Antony did
of Brutus, when he said -