The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-23
Letter OF Geo. I'D. Gray, ESQ
OF VIRGINIA
TO THE FILLMORE AND DoNELsoN
CLUB OF CULPEPPER.
To WIN. A. HoUCK, Esq.


GENTLEMEN At the first meeting of
you did me the honor to elect me your Pre-
sident, much against my own wishes. [
then stated as you will remember, both be-
fore and after my election, that reserved
to myself the right to vote for Mr.. Buchan-
an should | hereafter be convinced in my
own mind that Mr.. Fillmore had no chance
for an election, and that the contest for the
Presidency of the United States was be-
tween Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Fremont
That contingency has happened. | am
now thoroughly convinced that there is not
a shadow of chance for Fillmore's election
by the people.
This is conceded indeed by his warmest
friends, but it is contended by some of them
that he will get States enough to prevent
any election by the people, and thus throw
the chance of President upon the House of
Representatives-an event greatly to be
deplored at all times, but more especially so
now, when it is remembered that the cleo
ton IS made by the same House that elect
ed N. p. Banks, of Massachusetts, their
Speaker. They then argue that Mr.. Fill
more has the best chance of an election by
this House of REPRESENTATIVES. Let us see
how they arrive at this wonderful conclu-
sion. 1t takes sixteen States to make an
election. Mr.. Fillmore has only three in
Congress--Delaware, Maryland and Ken
lucky. The contest is between the Demo-
cratic and Black Republican parties, and
of course [ cannot hesitate in my choice
between them. Nor is this the only or the
strongest reason why cannot vote for Mr..
Fillmore. This is amply sufficient; but
did this not exist, there is another much
stronger and more powerful reason than
this for the determination to which | have
come. after long and serious reflection The
contest in which we are engaged is purely
a sectional one. The Slavery question is
the only issue, and the most prominent fea-
ture of this is the Kansas Nebraska Bill.
The Democratic party, always the soundest
on the question of Slavery, have in their
pledged to its support. The Black Repub-
lican party in their platform denounce it,
and demand its repeal The American Con-
vention which met in Philadelphia in Feb
ruary last, adopted no platform, but the
National Council which met at the same
time, repealed the famous 18th section,
which is the only resolution ever adopted
by the party, with any pretensions to sound
ness on the Slavery question, and resolved
to ignore that question entirely, and it did
adopt platform in which they too denoun-
ced the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
and the passage of the Kansas bill Mr.
Fillmore endorses this platform, and in one
of his speeches made since his return from
Europe, has condemned in tlo strongest
language the repeal of this Compromise and
the passage of this bill. The whole Amer
lean party at the North cry out with one
voice and with one tongue, down with the
Kansas Nebraska Bill, and thus echo the
e
Only two of Mr.. Fillmore's Northern friends
in Congress voted against the recent bill
restoring the Missouri Compromise. In
Indiana there is an open, avowed and COM
plete union between the two parties. They
have formed the same electoral ticket---in |
the language of the leading Fillmore paper,
1.-The cause of one is the cause of the other.
Know n othingism and Black Republican
ism are indissOlubly joined together in holy
wedlock." No longer throughout the en-
tire North, is the old watchword of the
American party heard Americans must
rule America" This is not now in all their
thoughts, and I don't believe it ever was,
but for the purpose of deception and fraud
Their real principle is, the North ought to
rule America. "Oh We Pharisees, hypo-
critics, there is no faithfulness in your
mouths, your inward part is very wicked
ness, your throat is an open sepulchre you
flatter with your tongue and you outwardly |
appear righteous unto men, but within We |
are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" But
this is not all, nor is it the worst of it; not
withstanding all this, I might have voted |
for Mr.. Fillmore, trusting to his patriotism |
and conservatism to rebuke and check this |
sectional spirit. had the American party at |
the South stood firmly by the Kansas bill, |
endorsed its principles and insisted upon |
their support. Alas TO their shame be it |
said, they have loved Caesar more than |
Rome, and their party better than their |
They have deserted the South in |
the hour of her danger and united with her |
foes.
Like Balak of old, who sent message |
unto BALKAN, to come and curse the Israel |
ties for him, that he might drive them out