Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-16
LETTER FROM SENATOR PEARCE,
OF MARYLAND, ON THE POLITICS
OF THE DAY.
WASHINGTON, july 81. 1856.

WASHINGTON, july 81, 1856.
Ny DEAR SIR: You ask what part mean
10 take in the coming Presidential election
and what think should be done by old Wings
who have never been attached to any other
party, and who do not desire to enter into new
political connections.
| am well aware OF the ADVERTISEMENTS to
such persons which attend choice among the
candidates for the Presidency now before the
country. In my own case this embarrassment
is sensbly felt. My inclinations point one way,
a se..se Of the duty arising from the present
dangerous condition OF domestic politics leads
me another way.
Ny past relations, political and personal
with Mr.. Fillmore. the confidence | have AL
ways reposed in his integrity and ability, the
wisdom OF his Administration, and the convic
ton | entertain that he is Just national man
and free from sectional prejudice, would in
duce me to prefer him TO his competitors
Neither do object to the sentiment of Amer.
can nationality properly limited and restrain
ed. Indeed | think that our present system
has made American citizenship too cheap
But | did not approve the mysterious system
under which the American party, of which be
is now the representative, was organized; the
oaths administered to members upon initiation
and the discipline Of the order, by which Sc
cresy and obedience were secured. How far
all this has been dispensed with | do not know.
The original plan of their organization could
not but condemn, as do the adoption of any
principle which POUNDS rule Of political ex-
clusion upon diversity Of religious faith
However modified in these respects their plan
may now be, it is not necessary for me to in
quire. The Northern wing of the party came
into 1t, as | think, with purposes very different
from those entertained by the rest They
adopted it as cloak to schemes which all Of
US IN Maryland condemn and detest. The ne
cessary affiliations of that wing Of the party
were with the anti-slavery men and accord
Fly we find the mask now thrown off by the
most Of them, and see the development Of their
plans in such a measure as the personal lib
erty bill of Massachusetts, which utilities a
law of Congress, violates the constitutional
guarantee for the recovery of fugitives slaves,
and creates the iercest and most dangerous
discord between the North and the South.
Their members of Congress have for the most
part been consolidated with the pernieious
party miscalled Republican, and many Of the
delegates to their Presidential Convention have
deserted to that motley alliance, whose triumph
would be the saddest calamity that ever befel
Of the American party which remained after
this transfer to the anti-slavery men, and which
has nominated Mr.. Fillmore, is without power
to elect him, even with the assistance of South
ern Wings or National Northern Wings.
These, however great their personal respect
for and confidence in Mr.. Fillmore, are under
no party obligations now to give him their
support seeing that lie has become member
and accepted the nomination Of party which
repudiates the Wings, and, while they would
be willing in contest with their old oppo.
nents to stand by all their political opinions to
the last, they find ample reason in the present
condition OF parties, in the political anarchy
which prevails, and in the fear Of sectional
and anti-slayery triumph, leading to ulterior
consequences Of the worst sort, to consider
whether It IS not their duty to sacrifice all per
sonal feeling and party prejudice for the sake
OF the Union, and TO sustain the nominations
Of the Democrats as the only means Of defeat.
ing the schemes Of the mad agitators who rule
the Republican party.
The contest, il seems to me, lies between
Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Fremont Mr.. Fill
more's friends indeed claim great reaction in
his favor; but ] have taken much pains 10
ascertain what his strength is in the free
States, and so far | have not been able to
satisfy myself that he can carry single one Of
them. His wise and patriotic conduct while
President, which recommended him SO strongly
to the Wings of the South, is regarded by the
majority at the North as a fatal objection 10
him. 1t is not moderation and cancellation
they desire they think, as one Of their leaders
said, that the time for compromises has passed
They want, in the President, an instrument 70
punish the South for what they fancy or pre-.
tend to be the aggressions Of the " slave
power" upon the North Mr.. Fillmore Is toe
national for this purpose, and he must indeed
be credulous or sanguine in the extreme who
supposes that the politicians who have mis-
guided and inflamed the Nor fern maiority
will abandon their des ~ renounce the
spoils for which they hung ... thirst, Just a
the moment when, for the .irst time, they ar,
confident Of the success of the one and tn,
enjoyment ofthe other. Mr.. Fillmores strength
lies in the Wing States Of the South. If al
the Southern States should give him their
votes, he would fail in the election without
such assistance from the free States as Il would
be vain to look for. The choice, then, is be-
tween Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Fremont, and
what Maryland Wing believing as / do, can
hesitate
4 am not so unjust as TO charge All the
Northern men who join IN the support of Mr..
Fremont with being Abolitionists There are
men among them whom | hold in much re-.
spect while deploring the error Of Judgment
into which they have fallen but the most ac.
tive and influential Of their leaders are men
who, from perverted judgment or inhamed
passion, or, what is worse, from deliberate
calculation, have determined to build up sec
tional party, reckless Of its peril TO the Union
once SO Justly valaed, but now estimated far
less at the North than at the South. Mr.
Greedy is at this moment more potential with
his party than any other of its members. He
has the benefit of Mr.. Giddings's cooperation.
Governor Chase, Mr.. Seward, and Mr.. Wilson
are active and influential leaders Their