The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-07-16
LETTER OF
The Hon. Kenneth Rayner,
Declining ths nomination for The Vice Presidency.
LETTER OF

Raleigh, N. Y. June 80, 1856.
GENTLEMEN :--On reaching this place,
find awiting me your communication, dated
~ New YORK, June IL" in which you inform
me, that BY . Convention of the American
party OF tile United States" which closed its
sessions in that City on the 18th day of June,
have been unanimously nominated as
candidate for the office Of Vice President Of
the United States, with the Hon. Robert +.
Stockton, Of New Jersey, as candidate for
President"
Allow me, in the first place, gentlemen, to
express to you, and through you, to those
whose organs you are, my grateful appreci-
alton Of this testimonial of their confidence
aud rcgard--my unaffected gratitude for this
exhibition of wish to confer on me SO dis
tingushed an honor. also duly estimate
the honor of having my name associted with
that Of the gallant Stockton, in connexion
with the two first places under our govern
ment--a man, whose achievements belong to
his country's history-who, whether in facing
the foe in time Of war, or deliberating in the
council chamber in time Of peace, has ever
proven himsclfto be bold, able, conservative
and patriotic. Although those from whom
this nomination proceeded were but lew IN
numbers-yet, the honor thereby conferred,
instead Of being less, is in my estimation, the
gre ter. Consideringall thecircumstances sur
rounding them. and the difficulties by which
they were environcd, their action must be
regarded, by every just and fairminded man,
as free from every taint 0f seliishness and cor,
rupton. Those who volunteer as "a iOrl0rn
hope" are not likely to be moved BY selfish
considerations; aud in their selection Ul those
who are 10 lead them, Their choice is most
likely to fall ON men, whom they suppose TO
possess the qualities that can be relied on in
the hour of trial.
While agree, in the main, with you and
those you represent. in regard to the evils
and dangers which now beset our commun
country, yet we do not probably view the
movements of the times. from exactly the
same standpoint. While We may concur as
10 the end, we NAV differ somewhat as to the
means of rescuing our country from the dan
gers which threaten it. Antiquated as the
idea may be, with many who yet profess TO
belong 10 the American party, yet, still re-
gard the high mission Of tire American move
ment to consist of three great primary pur-
poses or objects, viz: The Inauguration OF
ain intense feeling Of American nationality,
not only in the administration OF the govern
ment, but in the feelings and associations Of
our people-the maintenance Of ourcivil and
religious freedom, against the daring en-
croachments and corruptng tendencies OF
the Church Of Rome, which has arrayed Itseli
as great political element in country,
IN alliance with a powerful party-anl the
preservation Of our national Union, against
III iactionists, Northur South, East or West.
These three elementary principles OF objects
involve consideratioashigher, Tar higher, than
any ofmpre administrative epolicy, gruwingout
of our domeslicintcresis asa nation. THEY'VE
\ FIRST transcend in Importance any thing en-
| braced in the framework. or operation hf our
| free Institutions, even. They affect mn in
! his moral aud social ~ well as ID his politi.
cal relations. Here, then, was "platiorm'
large enough and strong enough Tor every
man in the Republic to stand on, who love:
his own country, aud the people Of his owr
country, better than Other countries Or Other
people-who prefers religious liberty to the
lespotic domination Of the Romish Church
and WIN is resolved TO maintain inYi0late
the Union with its impertcctIons, rather thar
run tie hazard Of disruption.
As long as the American party adhered
\ strictly 10 these three great principles; a:
long as il was true 10 its missiUn; as long a:
il igaured all extraneOus aud minor ques.
tions; as long as il preserved its prestige o.
great popular uprising against lurcign IN,
llucncc, priestly tyranny, and assaults upor
the Union; il swept every thing before it. A
long as its members agreed TO tolerate DIT
ferrnces Of opinion, on irrelevant questions
and to act together for the general good
nothing could stay its march. The riva
parties 81 the country stood aghast at ii
mhirlwind progress. ! am not sure its in
mense strength did not originate thP cause q
its late disasters. It's friends seemed 10 thnl
it strong enough TO carry any and every thin:
and hence they endeay0rcd tuengralt upOi
il other issues Of domestic policy aud OF Sec
tiunal import. Of lis enemies, those wh'
openly assailed il with slander aud misrcpFc
sentaiion were powcrless for harm; willis
others crrpt within its folds. some 10 per,cr
il from it. principles. aud others 10 spy on
its machinery and betray u TO lis foes. An
then again the indiflercnt--tho,r who hat
no fixed opinions ot any question, but VII
will fight Cor whomsncyer viii pay thcp
best: mean the trading pnliticians--enlistei
under lis banner TO carry out selfish views
aud To that end lDisled on il, I, some extent
the machinery Of party politics.
The effect was instantly apparent. 4
soon as those ol nnr section began 10 inter
polate on ils creed their views oi anti.slNeri
an, thpse of another section, their views I
pro. .slasery--as SOON as the direction an
management Of the order was taken from ii
hands Of the honest and unprciending massc
+ with whom il had originated. aud vino al
hcrcd 10 Il Tor the sake Of il principle
alone, aud il fell under the control Of scliis
and ambitious politicians--the people of IL