Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-07-14

10 my constituents.
Having been elected to the Legislature upon the
nomination of tho American party, it Is with much
regret that | lind IL inconsistent with my principles
of political action to support either the creed the
candidate of that party at the ensuing Presidential
election.
In doing SO mean disrcspect TO those who COM.
pose that party. consider the immediate objects of
It's organization vindieated The necessity for some
reform in the laws of naturalization and alien suf-
ifage is acknowledged The alleged hostility of the
American party to II particular religious persuasion
has been resolved into the indisputabe principle:
that no who ayows allegiance TO any law higher
than the Federal and State Constitutions each with
in It's proper jurisdiction, is fit for political trust
The obnoxious obligation of secrecy has been abo-
ished
But another important agency was expected from
the American party, TO which IL has, regret to say,
proved wholly inadequate, aud it Is this disappon-
ment which has rendered my withdrawal from its
councils in my opinion, matter of public duty.
Regarding the question of slavery as paramount to
all others before the American people satisfied that
the Wing party of the north had fused with the Free
sellers, and that the Democratic party was paralyscd
BY its own dissensions | had, with many Others
sought in the American party love Of Union, fra
terual affection, aud national pride, which should
reconcile and quiet forever the differences existing
amongst u.s.
The first national action of this party encouraged
the hope that il would realize this patriotic expect-
ton, II announced in June, 1850 that it would
niluttlh lnc existing legislation upon the subject OF
slavery as settlement of the question. Under this
declaration some thirty three members of Congress
were elected by tue American party in the Southern
States.
In February 1856, this policy changed. The
pledge 10 maintain existing legislation was substi-
tuted by creed in which not only the subject, but
the name of slavery is carefully ignored, The guar
anee for the admission OF new Slave States specif-
cnly given by the declaration of 1882 is replaced by
an article which recognizes the right of the legal
oft e vts.4rt a..
and laws, and to regulate their own domestic and
social affairs in their own mode subject only to- -
the Wilmot Proviso, -, 50 the provisions of the
Federal Constitution which last phrase, under the
Interpretation of the dominant majority in Congress-
means precisely the same thing. With this restrc-
ton the pledge of admission into the Union is
granted TO the Territorial State whenever it shall
. have the requisite population for one representa-
" tive in Congress
At the same time, aud upon the same principle Of
neutrality the American party nominated for its
didatc n gentleman of integrity and patriotism, but
1t did not require him to say whether he would, if
elected veto bill restoring the Missouri restriction
or repeating the Kansas act Those who have re-
garded the pending question too important to be left
in doubt have been informed that the nominee is
platform enough and that his past official acts at
ford a sufficient assurance of his future. Taking his
signature OF the Compromise of 1850, as the most
prominent of these acts encounter insurmounta-
bic difficulties of construction The friends of the
Kansas act contend that il is legitimate deduction
from the compromise Of 1850, but thousands who
advocated that compromise assert that the Kansas
act is tagrant violation OF that measure. II the
inference that the Kansas act resulted from the
promise is inevitable, there conld be controversy
upon the subject But there is radical difference
upon this subject therefore the position of the Ameri
can nominee upon this question is doubtful and those
| who are disposed to support him may without inn
pugning his integrity, ask his construction upon the
consistency Of the Kansas act with the Compromise
of 1850, and whether it is his purpose to maintain OF
repeal it, Until some such declaration shall be made
| the Americans of the South wholly without as
snrance against the continued agitation of a danger
| Gus question, or othayng rights deemed by them in
valuable, surrendered by the of their own repre-
sentatves.
The issue upon which parties have organized fol
the ensuing campaign is "Shall any more Slave
States be admitted into the Union?n
Foremost and most formidable in this confess
stands the Black Republican party, a dangerous com
pound of tanaticsm and political cupility. 1t i,
numerous and of powerful resources it is led by am
pitious ana sagacous men it intends to employ the
numbers of the North to snbjugate the South ant
govern the country. Its material of warfare con
sists in impcaching the title of your property de
tanning your character and combining the most des
potic and lawless influences in crusade against YOU
Its plan of warfare is to cut Off the supplies and com
municatons of slavery, to invest its citadel and t,
send IN Il flag inscribed, assault or uneonditiona
surrender"
The Democratic party has been, by force of circum
stances, placed IN direct antagonsm to this party.
stands not only pledged but committed beyond til,
power OF recantation or withdrawal to maintain you
rights MS political equals in this cont ederacy
win my opinions, neutrality would be at this i'm
por~nt CRISIS little better than treason. shall
therefore vote for the Democratic candidates Mt tn
ensuing Presidential election because that is the on
y party committed to assert the rights of the South
and because the opinions avowed by that party up
{ on the SUBJECT OF slavery represent my own
With these declarations it would not be prone
that should hold station which can no longe
employ to promote the objects ofthose who confer
red ~ have therefore transmittedto the Speaker
he House OF Delegates, by the hands of the Execu
1Ne, my resignation as member of that body. Ii
doing So may be allowed to say that | act in nc
: cordance with my own sense of proprietv and no
g upon thecomplaint or nstigltion of Others hav,
endeavored to discharge my representative dutie
> WIN naeh'y' have advocated every Legislative