The Placer herald., 1856-11-01
HON, D, 0. SHATTUCK'S LETTER

ClNClNNA1l CON EN- lON.
SAN Francisco, OCTOBER IS, 1856.
To Democratic State Central Committee,
Gentlemen:
have to day received through Mr.. Mix,
your Corresponding Secretary, an invitation
to address my fellow citizens of the counties
of Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and
Monterey on the important and exciting top
les of the present Presidential campaign
l thank you kindly for the honor intended,
and in other circumstances would be happy
to accept the invitation, but you are aware
that | hold judicial Office, which would
seem of itself to render it inappropriate for
me to mingle generally in the strife Of de-
bate. Add to this, that the actual duties
of that Office require all my time, and all
my energies, and you have a reason which
forbids my travelling and speaking as invited
to do. Situated as | am, in ordinary Presi
dental elections | should content myself
with throwing silent vote, and think my
duty performed, but as the present canvass
has assumed sectional form most danger
ous, in my judgement, to the peace and
prosperity of our country, | have thought it
the duty of every citizen who loves his whole
sative stand but to oct, and use all his infu-
ence in any, and every honorable way, to
prevent, if possible the madness of section
al zeal, from performing its madest act In
the performance of what conceived my du.
tv, my first thought after found that six
teen of our Northern States had determined
to force sectional candidates and a sectional
platform upon our county, was to accertam
irrespective of old party issue and party
prejudices where | as conservative nation
al man, could do the most good.
The whig party with which had long ac-
ted-always believing it eminently con-
servatve and nationa-was so broken up
as to destroy all hope of success in presenting
candidate of its own. The American par
ty have acted with and believed in its for
NATION in this State, (though possessed then
of some features that | could not approve,l
that it would accomplish good. hoped for
time that its obligations would bind the
North to the South, in stronger bond of
union than had been known before. But
when | saw more than a year ago, in their
Convention at Philadelphia, that the adop
ton of a national platform caused most of
brethern and adopt sectional platform, |
despired Of saving our country through that
party, and ceased to act with it; for however
numerous and powerful they may have been
in any particular portion Of the country,
vet knew that unless they could exist in
force at the North, as well as the South,
sectionasm could not be rebuked by them,
or they continue national party, however
national the platform Of a majority of them
might be- Since that time, have ceased to
hope for national good through them, and
though they had better dgband. They,
however, have thought differently, and have
presented a candidate to whom, personally,
and politically, have no objection. think
him highly conversatiye, national and pat
riotic thought he made rather a noble
President, and in other circumstances, and
had he an organized party in the north and
northwestern States, of any considerable
force, should take pleasure in sustaining
him. But in my Judgement if anything
can equal the political madness and folly of
portion of the people of all the free States
to force sectional issue upon us, it is found
in the act Of conservative people, national,
patriotic people, Yhen an issue SO dangerous
is thrust upon them, to run two national
conservative men against it. The Democrats
had party it the North, as we'll as at the
South. The Americans had nothing to rely
on north Of New York, and scarcely any
thing in the free States of the West; and for
them to run a candidate in such crcum-
stances, and at such time, thought, and
still! think, most suicidal to the government.
| believed that the times required every
true patriot to unite readily, and heartily,
upon the strongest national candidate, and
rebuke the spirit that tends to disunion, by
electing him by an overwhelming majority.
| therefore early announced my intention to
support the Democratic candidate. | had
hoped all Americans would do likewise.
still hope that Mr. Fillmore has patriotism
enough to withdraw from the canvass, and
use all his influence fer Buchanan. lie is
patriotic statesman, and worthy of support
at any time, and by any people, ard in this
most important crisis in our affairs, it i'll be-
comes good, union-loving citizens, because Of
all prejudices, or petty tferences, or the
pride Of party, or the spoils of local affairs
to stab their country by divisions. To pre-
vent this, | tried to prevent the Americans in
this State from running candidate of their
own, and strike with the Democracy a united
blow for our common country. l hope they
viii yet do SO.
Having said this much in explanation of
my action, and the course intend to pur-
sue, and as cannot 90 forth and speak, with
your permission will glance at the history
of the times, and the course of this sectional
flame that threatens to consume our country
and destroy its peace.
have not been politician: I have not
kept myself fully posted upon political affairs
but have seen with sorrow, aud for the first
time in my life, considerable portion of the
North arrayed against the South, to force
upon them a sectional platform and a sec