The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-04-19


nothings arc supporting Mr. Fillmore with zeal be-
cause Of their alleged confidence in his soundncss on
he slavery question" As It Is now presented the few
northern knownothings who support him are doing
80 upon the avowed understanding that he sympathi
xes thoroughly with the abolition opponents Of the
Kansas bill. The first branch Of this proposition is
10 VIGOROUSLY true that 1t Is not necessary to adduce
proof to sustain IL. In addition to the evidence we
have heretofore given In support Of the latter branch
Of the proposition, we refer to the remarks Of
Mr.. Esmcs, = delegate from Massachusetts, to the
convention, made at a know-nothing
ratification cooncil after his return HON.
Hcsaid that "he could do more r the cause Of freedom,
and r tie millions Of sares BY standing By Mdrd FIJI
more md Andrer j. Doneison than BY boiling; and, be-
- much means as his purse would allow In carrying
forward these nominations to a triumphant success.
fLoua npplausc.1 The only thing for the American
party Of Massachusetts, to do was to come out nobly
and frankly, and sustain the nominees.
He believed that IT the council ratified the nomina-
springfield platform, flor he believed that Miard
fillmore ras az good anti-stary any republican
rho eoAd be presented) they would carry the State by
twenty thousand majority
The question comes up, naturally, how southern
who make extravaganza pretcnsons to
nationality, can reconcile their professions with tn
support Of Mr.. Fillmore! The answer on which They
rely for justification Ii, that Mr. Fillmore course.
whilst President, on the compromise measnrr4 of
1850, furnishes satisfactory guarantee Of soundne-
on the pending issue. II i to this position that w
wish to direct the dspassionate attention Of truly
national know-nothings.
II Is freely conceded that Mr. Fillmores conduct in
Ia
trotc, and deserving Of the more commentator be-
1t was reversal Of oil his antcccdents on see
tional questions down to that time. His record whilst
In Congress, and rs candidate, had been that of
consistent and Jealous abolitionists In approving
the compromise measures he cut himself loose from
his former associations, and took his position with
national men. 1t is well known that he forfeited the
support Of his former friends and become favorite
with that branch of the wing party which had not
become abolitionized. He was sacrificed and over.
slaughed at the succeeding national whig convention
for this act Of nationality. The abolitionzed wing
Of the wing party had the strength and they nominat
cd Gen. Scott over his head This result became the
subject of general discussion in the South in the can
vass of 1882 and the of his sacrifice was relied
by oil the democratic papers and speakers to prove
the unsoundness of Gen. Scott's position. In this
way Mr. Fillmore became to be regarded at the South
somewhat in the light Of a martyr, and hence the
cause Of his popularity In that section and hence his
nomination by the southern ut the late
Philadelphia convention.
Bnt does N follow that because Mr.. Fillmore APP
proved the compromise measures Of 1850 he ought to
be presumed to approve the principle of the Kansas
bill Gen. Pierce was triumphanty elected Prcs-
den upon the compromise measures of $780, but
thousands OF those who supported him that issue
are now his bttcrest opponents because of his known
exeit0ns In the passage OF the Kansas BILL Who
knows that Mr. Fillmore does not regard the Kansas
blwith the like hostility? 1t Is certain that the
northern know-nothngs who support him are opposed
to that measure and satisfied that he is opposed
to 1t. Mr.. Fillmore himself has taken no part in
politics since his retirement from the presidency and
has been absent for months In Europe entirely gno-
rant of his nomination. The least that can be said
Is that 1t Is question Of uncertainty what his posi-
tioL is on the issue now before the country.
II that point Of view, it il surprising that leading
southern know-nothing, who were recently so hard to
be satisfied as to Colonel Richardson's nationality
when candidate for Speaker, should now be the
jealous advocates Of candidate for the presidency
whose position they are only able to guess at from
the fact that OCCASION in all his political life
he surrendered his aboltionism and practsed nation
atty These gentlemen such stickers for sound
Kansas principles that they not willing to vote
for Speaker Of the House Of Representatives unless
he would declare that the Missouri Compromise was
unconstitutional, but they are willing to vote for
President of the United States without even nquir
ing how he stands that question. II is enough fol
them to know that he approved the compromis,
measure of 1850!
The truth of the matter is, that the southern know
nothings, iu changing their name, have retained
some of the bad habits of the old wing party. Tina
party was 80 often overthrown by the democrats
when led by Clay and Webster, upon issues inyoly
ing great principles that it dsspaired of success
cept by resorting to dishonest exredents amonss
these was that of looking to the availability of the
candidates, without any regard to their principle.
but always making clamorous pretensoas TO pc
cles of sublimated patriotism which fara b 4 III ri
with materials for popular defamation Il Ra- III
sin which finally proved fatal to the s4ie nartg
The know-nothings have succeeded leitgnnt ~ !
the same expedient, and they are now trylHg I5
cacy in the nomination of Mr.. Film tse gbarHmr
ofsucccss depends upon the popul#itn 5t BIZ u8m
as connected with the compromse measures Of 1856
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