Daily American organ., 1856-04-04
WHOLE NO. 43s.
Ratification Meeting.

An immense assemblage of the citizens OF
Bedford county, Virginia, ratified the AmeIi-
can nominations on Monday of last week, IN
which occasion the Hon. William L. Goggin
made an eloquent speech, from which we ex
tract the following. Mr.. Goggin said
He thought he saw the strongest indications in
that large assemblsge of Americans-Whigs and
Democrats-that the nominations of Millard Fill
more for President and Andrew Jackson Doneson
for Vice President would be most cordially re-
sponded to by the whole meeting. He did not SEQ
indeed, how it could be otherwise. Who Das and
who is Millard Fillmore9 All said he was honest
faithful, and capable all said he had been true TO
the trust reposed in him; all admitted that he bad
| in the administration Of the government, fully
| maintained our respectability as a nation at home
| and abroad. Wherever our flag had ioated ON
the ocean, In all our complicated relations with
other countries, in all our difficulties at home the
eye of him who stood at the helm was directed to
tie Constitution of his country the polar star by
which he guided the ship that so nobly weathered
the storm. Though, of course, not in every place
at every time, his was the master spirit that con-
trolled, directed, and administered the national
concerns of this great, growing and prosperous
Republic, extending, not from Maine to Georgia"
but from the ST. Johns to the standardization
the Atlantic to the Pacifc--from ocean to ocean
That man. without majority in the two houses
OF Congress to sustain him, but feeble in point OF
political influence in decided minority in the
legislative branch of the government, should have
so deported himself in the chief executive Office as
to receive, as he justly merited, the appreciation
of all, was without precedent in the history of the
country.
So well did Mr. Fillmore discharge his duty--his
achoie duty, that even his political opponents were
forced to exclaim with one of old, we end no
fault in. this man." So well did he satisfy the
South, that men of the South--nen of distinction
men of character and high official station, cried
out, "Well done, good and faithful servant"-and
these were the men who now denied him. and
would politically "crucify him" as one who per-
verteth the people,"
Could this be the spirit that actuated tho great
masses of the people! Could this be the spirit OF
genuine Democracy Ifit we're, Democracy was
not now what it was when its great Apostle taught
it first in the Temple Of Freedom. The qualifca-
ton for Office with Thomas jefferson was, is tho
candidate or the incumbent honest--is he capable?
But the test now, with many, was is he of US is
he NTH US /? or is he ga GalliIeaH ?" III So away
with him.
Now, said Mr.. g. know the Democracy OF Bed
ford and must say, that believe the great body
of that party in this county arc actnated by honest
impulses-they mean to do right--they desire to
see justice done to even political opponent. /
have many reasons, said he, for go believing for
in all the heat of the highest party times, the
OF that party have placed me under obligations for
many acts OF personal courtesy and kindness on
their part am, said he, no candidate now for
Office, and never expect to hn ash 70. nysaIf
no political favors this occasion, ask for no
office at the hands of the people. i have been
placed on the retired list--how that effected
need not say--you know as well as myself; and,
as friend, now in my eye, once said OF a young
lawyer who had been badly beaten when candi-
date for the Legislature in an adjoining county
having subdued his political aspirations, he had
resumed the practice of the law" 1t is well, said
Mr.. G., perhaps, that this is my case--for am
here, to-day, to reason with you--to commune with
my felow-citzens upon subject-in regard to
the choice of public servant, of more vital inn
portaDce to us all, than the subject Of Congress
sional election g8
The occasion now presented, affords us an op-
portunity to frdternize-to unite in the choice of
a model President--one whom We can Judge, not
by his professions, but by his acts not by his flu
ture, but bis past life "By their fruits ye shall
know them," is the rule of the Holy Book itself,
Will you be tried by this? If So viii you not test
the fitness of your public servants by the same
rules Now, said Mr. G., if you concede all that
have said TO be true, and certainly, think you
WILL shall not have, at the Presidential election
the gratifying spectacle exhibited to US, o. men Of
all parties going to the polls show, by one united
voice. that the good people of Bedford cam upon
proper occasion, rise above all party considera-
tions in the exercise Of one of the privileges of
freemen. say this to Outside Whigs like myself
and to Democrats, many of whom see, do me
the honor of listening with attention to my
marks. But, again, consistency, it seems, said Mr..
g., should cause you to mete out to others that
which you have twice asked for yourselves. 1t
would be recollected that Mr.. Mason was twice
elected to the Senate of the United States because
forsootb, as was urged by some, he was the mem
Der who had introduced and successfully carried
through the Fugitive Slave law. If not twice,
certainly once was he elected, and that very re-
Gently, upon this ground united with other merits
| which be doubtless had.
Well, if this be So let ask, will you not be
equally just to Mr. Fillmore, who approved the
law? he could have vetoed the bill--he could
have arrested the measure by at-eh- ef- h:-
Did he do it? Did be stop to inquire whether it
would affect his political prospects thereafterG Did
he forget that President in the discharge of his
duty, should know no North--no South Did he
look at that dark cloud which, in the future, would
be likely to discharge its tempestuous, turbd, and
whitening force upon his head? No Looking to
the Constitution he would and does to his Bible,
he there saw his duty, his whole duty to bis fellow
| man and to bis country. II Mr.. Mason, living in
slave State--the owner of slaves himsef--is en-
titled to the merit of having been instrumental in
| passing a law to protect bis own property, how
| much more let me ask, is a man entitled to credit
/ for giving force and efficacy to such an act who
| lives in a free State where slavery cannot exist,
| whose education, whose associations, and whose
geographical position would naturally lead him to
conclusions the very opposite of those of Mr.. Ma
| son. or any other Southern man
| But was this all? Did Mr.. Fillmore nothing
more Did he permit that law to remain dead let
ter upon the statute book No--amid the rawlings
! of hnatcal boltionists-amoDgst the mighty
hosts of Black Republicans--he sent his Marshals
to execute the law, and they did execute it IN
| Pennsylvania, in Massachusetts, and wheresover