Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-10-10
From the Louisville Journal.
A Patriotic Letter from Gov. More
head,

mead
We publish below q letter of Governor
MoEehead in reply to one written to him by
committee Of the American party, requesting
him to meet and address the people of Ken
lucky upon the present alarming condition OF
public affairs. Our excellent Governor Is I'M
willing to set aside the custom, which has for
years been adhered to by the Executives OF our
State, TO abstain from anyiactive participation
in party contests. In expressing this deterInl-
nation, he refers to the almost desperate condi
ton of the country, and candidly, forcibly, and
truthfully declares that from patient inves"
tigatiou of the relative prospects of parties, he
is well convinced that, to avert the disastrous
results almost inevitably consequent upon the
election of Fremont, it is the duty of all South
ern men and true patriots to give their sup
port to Mr.. Fillmore. He expresses decided
opinion, based upon careful investigation, that
Buchanan cannot and that Fillmore can be
elected, and that by supporting Buchanan, the
South cannot prevent the success OF Fremont
bnt that his defeat may almost certainly be Sc
cured if the South will give unanimous sup
port to Mr.. Fillmore.
Gov. Morehead is Justly held in high esteem
by the masses of our citizens, and his opinions,
thus frankly given, are entitled to their respect
full and serious consideration. His great poll
tical experience, his sound and reliable JadI-
ment, and the acknowledged wisdom OF his
counsels commend this patriotic letter with
much force to the earnest attention of the
people of Kentucky aud of the South
FRANKFoRT, KY. Sept. 80, 1856.
T. II. Hunt, j. Barbse, Jesse Bell, and Others,
Committee.
GENTLEMEN Il have received your letter
requesting me to meet and address the people
of this State upon the present alarming conGl,
ton of public affairs, and have given to it all
the consideration to which it is justly entitled
from its highly respectable source.
You are aware that it has been the invaria-
BILE custom in kentucky for her Executive to
ATTAIN from active participation in party cons
flicts, and feel constrained by high sense
of duty to conform to the time-hOnOred GUS
tom.
When entering upon the discharge of the
dnties Of nv office, became the Governor of
the whole State, and my highest ambition has
been to discharge every public duty imposed
upon me with impartiality, honesty, and hdeli-
ty. A partisan canvass in the pending Presl-
Dental election, in the opinion of many good
men, might weaken that general confidence
which all should feel in the performance of the
Executive duties imposed upon me. 1t you
should regret the decision to which | have
come, l am sure that you will appreciate the
motive which has influenced me to make it.
agree with you that the condition of pub
lie affairs is alarming, and | cannot but feel
deep and absorbing interest in the result OF the
Presidential election which is soon to take place.
For the first time in our history purely sec
tional candidate is presented, and every sec
tional prejudice arrayed to elevate him to the
highest office in the gift of free people. am
not insensible to the consequences which would
result from his election. They are appalling to
the heart of patriot. Row can lie be defeat
ed, is the anxious inquiry of every national
and Union loving man. Mr.. Buchanan'S claims
have been urged upon an assumption, winch
has been most industriously incucated that he
alone could be elected by union OF the South
ppon him in connection with tue vote he would
obtain in the North, and, with platform stu
diouslY offensive to an overwhelming majority
of the people of Kentucky, they are asked upon
this hypothesis only to yield up their cherish
ed principles and give him their support. So
far from this being the case, have anxlously
and studiously sought for reliable information
from every source within my power, and
especially during the recent visit | made to the
North. and have not been able to come to
the conclusion that he can certainly obtain the
vote of one single Northern State. The cleo
ton in his own State of Pennsylvania, which
is to take place on the 14th of October, if | ain
correctly informed, will manifest an over
whelming majority against him, unless some
combination is made for the friends of Mr..
Fillmore to unite with him in that State. But
if he obtained Pennsylvania alone, and all the
South, he would still not have votes enough
to elect him. What other Northern States
are there where he has even the hope OF a
vote? On the other hand, believe, from in
formation on which | confidently rely, that
Mr.. Fillmore can and will obtain the vote of
New York. This vote deducted from the 176
votes in the Northern States would of itself
defeat Mr.. Fremont and elect Mr.. Fillmore, if
the votes of the South can be cast upon him.
The South may defeat Mr.. Fremont by voting
for Mr. Fillmore, but do not perceive how it
can possibly be done by voting for Mr.. Buch-
anan. The elections in October, unless l am
altogether deceived, will place this beyond any
reasonable contingency. Why, then, should
any man in Kentucky, who prefers the election
of Mr.. Fillmore, hesitate to vote for him?
inclose you letter from Louisiana, from a
gentleman on whose calculations place the
utmost reliance, speaking in the most confident
tone of Mr.. Flmore's obtaining the vote of
that State. No doubt is entertained of Ten
nessee ana Maryland, ana II we 90 our du'y
in Kentucky, We can swell our usual majority
by thousands. No man of any party can
doubt the honesty, fidelity, or capacity of Mill
lard Fillmore. He has been tried and found
equal to the crisis which at the time mace
good men tremble for the fate of the country.
was in Congress during the tendency of the
compromise measures of 1850, and, in common
with every other Union man there, can bear
testimony to bis exalted patriotism and un
finching firmness. He is the only man before
the people at the present alarming crisis to
which you allude, who can breast the storm
and bid its mutterings cease; and for one
cannot hesitate 10 give him my cordial sup
port.
Respectfully you ODD serv't,
CHARLES S MOREHEAD.