Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-06-27

pre- hosore last Then there sudden combina-
{; of the abolitionists and his kn0w-nothings, and
tbor Joint attack violent and secret it was, the
democracy were cut down. and free soil know
Iolv 10 result from this, many patriotic wings with
- the last twelve months have united with the dem
rats and enabled them to carry the State elections;
ond could they have at the same time voted for
Iors of Congress, we should have had an entirely
different representation in the present House. Is it
not strange that gentleman in the position of Mr..
Reade should not know that the elections of men,
hers of Congress in the North took place two years
AGO. or in 1854, and not last year, in 1855 You
would naturally suppose that if he did not read
aDv of the newspapers when at home, he would a.
least by few months's association with the northt
en- members have ascerained at what periods their
elections come of, and thus avoided the mistakes
which he makes on the 10th page of his pamphlet
Nv colleague also assaiIs President Fierce, on the
ground that there among his appointees 10 Office
fee.soilers. The men alleged to be OF that class
hold comparatively subordinate stations and on be-
half of the President is cOnended, that in every in
stance, before any such were appointed, they were
understood to have previously abandoned their former
obnoxious views and adopted the national PRINCIPLES
of the democratic platform of the Baltimore conVen-
ton of 1852 But to test my colleagues consistency,
let US see how MIR. Fillmore stands on this question.
He is presented by Mr.. Reade for ycur sufrages
man without fault. In my canvass last summer |
had occasion to put this matter right and | repeat
what then in substance said The three members
of Mr. Fillmores cabinet from the free States were
Messrs. Webster, Corwin, and Hall. Nessrs. Corwin
and Hall, both, during their Congressional course,
showed themselves in their speeches and votes to be
not only free-soilers, or Wilmot proVlso men, but
thoroughly anti.slavery in all respects, neither of
them to my knowledge having differed with the alb
oonists any practical question Mr.. Webster
himself had repeatedly voted foc the Wimot provlso,
and on one occasion claimed the authorship of that
principle, and said that WiImot had " stolen his
thunder" In his speech of The 9TH of March, 1850,
which was regarded conciIiatory in it's tone he
said that he would not vote to put the Wlmot pro-
vsO the Mexican territory, because in that terri
tory slavery was already excluded by the existing
law, and the proViso unnecessary. in making
this statement, do not wish TO deract from the gen.
eral iberalty of Mr.. Webster's views on that occa-
sion. AS to Mr. Fillmore's appointments in the
North 10 foreign missions, and other high stations
they in every instance far as | know, made
from the ranks of the treesoiIers Wilmot proviso
men. By free-soilers, intend TO designate all those
who were in favor of Congress, by it's legislation,
excluding slavery from the territories of the United
States. A great many of these appointees of Mr..
Fillmore were, by their service in Congress personal
" known 10 me, and far as | know or beve, they
were all in that sense freesoers. IF he ever did
make an appointment in free State to any Office of
a person who had shown himself willing that the
common territories of the Union should be open to
Southern men and their slave property, as well as to
northern ones, do not know it, and have no reason
10 believe it-Nor did Mr.. Fillmore, in making these
appointments, require the individuals to renounce their
former views.
The case then between General Pierce and Mr.
Fillmore ought to be thus stated General Pierce ap
pointed a few who had been freesoiers to in
ferior Offices after they had renounced their former
views and professed conservative national sentiments,
while Mr.. Fillmore appointed from the North to all
Offices high and ow none but free soilers, without
requiring them to renounce any previous opinions.
IT, therefore, Mr.. Reade is opposed to Pierce for
the reason stated by him, he ought, if consistent, to
oppose Fillmore with ten times as much zeal. re-
gret to be compelled to go into this matter because
Mr. Fillmore, when President, in accordance with his
oath of Office showed himself willing to execute the
laws we'll for the benefit of the South the North,
and in other respects conservative In his admin
aslration. But, gentlemen, waving further notice
of Mr. Reades letter the principal points of which
have sufficiently examined, let US turn our attention
to the PRESIDENT candidates before the country
James Buchanan, the nominee of the democracy
is statesman admirably fitted for the station of chief
executive of the United States His opponents are
charging him with having held certain erroneous
opinions forty years ago, in his youth. With much
fairness it might be affirmed that Mr.. Fillmore was
aboIitlonist because, at a much later day--Viz
1838-when a candidate for Congress, he declared
himself in favor of the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia, and of other kindred anti
slavery measures. | have not used such charge
against him; not that was aware tt at he had ever
expressly retracted these opinions, but because sup
posed that his experience at Washington had induced
him TO abandon or modify those earlier views. MIR.
Buchanan express y and frankly, at early day,
aVOwed his change of opinion, and for the last thirty
years has shown by his entire life both polti.
clan and man. that he was a sound republican, and
national and liberal 10 the South In 1845 he gave
able and manly support to the annexation of Tex
as. After the acquisition of the Mexican Tesrtory,
he in concert with the entire South used his best
efforts 10 get the Missouri line extended 10 the Pacific
and after all prospect of efectng this defeated
by northern votes, he then sustained the compromise
measures of 1850, including the fugitive slave law.
Though abroad during the struggle the Kansas
and Nebraska act, yet Immediately on his return
he avowed himself in the most emphatic terms, the
friend of the measure affirming not only its consti-
utionality, but also lis justice, proprety, and
cessity. Since his nomination, he has endorsed most
thoroug hy the sound and national platform of the
democratic convention His intellectual abilities, his
moderation, prudence and conservatism a states
man, as we'll as his long experience and extensive
information and dignity, and courtesy of manner as
"a gentleman, all go to form character every way
worthy Of the high station for which he has been nom-
mated. AS 10 his colleague the ticket John C.
BreCkinrdge, intimate acquaintance for four years
during Joint congressional service, authorizes me
10 say that he is, in all respects, emnently qualified
for the Office of Vice President of the United States
Our opponents, the black republicans, have nomi,
mated Coz. J. c. Fremont for the Presidency. Col
Fremont is native of South Carolina, but a citizen
believe, of California from which State he served
for lew months as senator, elected by the demo
cratic party has subsequently abandoned that par
ty, and avowed himself free soier and opposed tc
slavery generally. To this latter circumstance his
nomination is understood to be owing Though for
merly an officer in the army, he was seldom if ever
IN battle though senator for little while, he il
understood never to have spoken or made motion ir
In So.on 1t,koo loI Ali