The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-09-20

$500.
the patriotism and genuine national feeling OF
the Southern wing, no doubt is meant to be
msinuatcd- are above suspicion. Their
mistake, / think. lies in reposing unmeritcd
confidence in their northern confederates, upon
whose faithful cooperation depends the claim
of the party to nationality. Their candidate.
is Mr. Fillmore, a most worthy man--an able
statesman, who in the legislative and executive
department has done the country good ser
vice and made his name honorable.
We are pointed by southern adhercnts to
his administration, and we are told that, by
his nomination, the party has given the South
n higher and better guaranty than their repn-
dated 10Th section. To great extent this
guaranty is good and is cordially accepted,
but does it 70 far enough? OF Mr. Fillmore's
loyalty to the Constitution and to the rights
of all people oycrshadowcd by it, as he inter
prets them there can be no doubt--nonc at
all. But since he went into retirement there
has been further legislation on the slavery
question; the Kansas and Nebraska act repeal
ing in express terms the Missouri restriction,
which had before been virtually abrogated by
the territorial acts of 1850 has been passed.
This is the alleged cause of the present agita
ton in the non.Saye gliding States We Of
the South maintain that this repeating clause
is in strict accordance with the Compromise
of 1850, and we then claimed the removal of
the Missouri restriction, as one of the benefits
derived under it, Yet. since his nomination,
Mr.. Fillmore has publicly denounced this re-
peal. Now we cannot afford in kindness to
any man, or set of men, to blink this question,
so full Of peril to the South and to the Union.
Whatever may be said of squattcr sovereignty,
or Of sanctionlng alien voting, or of other pro-
vision, Of this Kansas Nebraska active can
not surrender the clause which repeats the
Missouri restriction Yield that, and You
Weld muc!, that is valuable in the Compro-
mise of 1850, which we are all solcmnly plcdg-
ed to maintain Yet again, it is precisely this
clause Of the act which Mr. Fillmore has de-
nonnccd 1t is quite possible that, notwitl-
standing this dcnunciation upon the ground OF
expectancy, he may, upon higher considcra-
/ tous, oppose himself to the restoration of the
Missouri restriction have once been told,
when presenting this view, that his nominl-
ton by the American party OF Georgia and
their platform in which high ground is taken
ON this point, had been together laid before
him, and that in his acceptance OF the nomi-
nation he must and would declare his assent
to the platform But has he done so? You
will search for it in vain there. lie audcS
20 his candidacy under the Philadelphia nom
nation, expresses himself gratiiicd that the
Georgia Americans have concurrcd in it, and
for his principles refers to his past admins
trntion. will say IL candor that have been
told also that there is in existence satistacto-
81
on this point but have not seen it. Why
not give it to the public, why not let every
man read and Judge for himself! No public
man, no candidate for high Office, can right
fully ask the suilragcs of the people, save upon
the faith Of his pnbiic acts and declarations,
, nor has Mr. Fillmore asked them, otherwise.
In the absence then of any published evidence
on this point, close the discussion Of it with
three simple questions, the answers to which
may furnish to southern men n rnlc of action
in this emergency First, does or does not
the emphatic condemnation of II Legislative act
Justify the expectation that he who so con.
dcmns, will concur in and opprore its repeal
Secondly, has or has not Mr. Fillmore public
ly and emphatcally condemned the abroga,
tion by act Of Congress of the Missouri reStrc.
tom Thirdly, if he be content 10 stand there,
before southern voters, where ought they To
stand in the idcs Of November?
But there is Il third contestant in the field,
the ancient iron ribbed Democracy. There il
stands, armed and equipped cap pie with i'm
posing mien, but with nnnumbercd sins upon
its hoary head. Prominent among these, in
my humble opinion is that of having brought
= our present troubles upon us, by inordinatc
Indulgence Of its lust for territorial acquisition
glazed over by the tallacions prctension OF
extending the area of frcedom"-thc dema,
gogue's hobby and the iillibusters apology
That will be II dark day for the country, when
conservative old line Wings identify themselves
with this party. In their paImiest days they
could only partially check, not arrest the
downward tendency of its misrule Their mis-
sion is still and ever to combat its errors and
; counterfeit its Objectionable policy.
But with all its faults, that party now stands
forth, alone in its reliable nationalty-alone
in its unqualified pledge to maintain the pres
ent status of congressional legislation on the
+ slavery question. For the redemption of this
pledge their orators at the hustings and their
editors through the press are now faithfully
1a had