Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-25
Buchanan and Fillmore.

The anti-American presses at the South, in
contrasting the positions Of Messrs. Buchanan
and Fillmore on the Missouri Compromise
question, attempt to show, that Mr.. Buchanan
occupies ground more favorable to the South
on this question than Mr.. Fillmore. The Rich
mond Examiner, in an article published on
Friday last, does great injustice, rs we'll to the
American party as to Mr.. Fillmore, Though
doubtless Internationally through miscon-
struction Of the 18th clause of the American
platform, which condemns the "reopening Of
sectional agitation by the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise" in the Kansas-N ebraska
act Nevertheless, the Examiners article is
unjust towards Mr.. Fillmore, and also towards
the American party. Neither the one nor the
other holds the opinions imputed to them
The Examiner substantially imputes the
opinion to Mr.. Fillmore, and to the American
party, Gin the adoption of its PLATFORM that
they are opposed to the leading principles in
volved in the Kansas Nebraska act, we mean
the principle that the citizens of the Terrific
tories may, at the proper time, decide upon
their own domestic institutions What is the
precise doctrine of the American party, which
is endorsed by Mr.. Fillmore in his letter of &C
ceptance, may be seen by reference to the 7th
section of the American platform, which is ad-
mitted by all honorable opponents of American
doctrines, to contain the true principles of State
sovereignty and State equality in unmistakable
language. Nor will any honest man attempt
to contrast this section with the Kansas-Ne-
braska act, and maintain the superiority of the
latter over the former.
We are yet to find in single one of our ex-
changes, of which probably one-half are anti
American, any contrast drawn between them,
We had hoped that, amongst all our bold and
daring antagonists, at least one man could be
found, who would have the courage TO come
out boldly and attempt to maintain the Justice
and propriety Of allowing aliens fresh from the
prisons and poor-houses of Europe, to cote and
hold office in the Territories before they were
naturalized J But, though they have been re-
peatedly challenged to do this, they dare not
meet this issue before an intelligent people,
But to the point. 1t is substantially alleged
that Mr.. Fillmore was opposed to the repeal of
I
the Missouri Compromise that the Amer
lean platform expresses opposition to its repeal.
This allegation is. founded upon the express
sion in the 18th section of the platform above
quoted, and upon Mr.. Fillmorc's endorsement
of the leading principles Of the platform.
There is no soundness nor fairness in the allie
cation. The Compromise measures of 1850
had rendered the Missouri act Of 1920 mo
peratics, and had settled the question, BY
legislation, that the Territories might be adj
naitted as States, Nth or soitaout slacevy, a,
their contributions might propde. This is
? point, about which there cannot exist two
opinions amongst sensible men. The Missouri
Compromise act was not By name referred to
in the measures ofls5o,-the provisions OF that
act however, were virtually si,speryeded, the
legislation Of 1850 was in conflict with the pro-
visions Of the act Of 1920, and it was therefore
dead letter
This was the yieg OF the subject entertained