Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-06-28

i
to believe that the democracy VIII be able to carry
majority of che northern States. As they at this
time all stand on kond principles It Us therefore
even as matter of mere policy, Independently OF
what isright in ITSELF our duty to act with them.
RntmX colleague says that they have as party only
/ one-third of the members of Congress, and are,
| therefore, too feeble to help you, &C. The menu
bers of the present Congress from the North were
elected year before last Then there was sudden
| combination of the abotionists and his Know NO
things and by their joint attack, violent and secret
as it was, the democracy were cut down, and tree
soil know nothing Congress elected. But seeing the
mischief likely to result from this, many patriotic
wings within the last twelve months have united
with the democrats, and enabled them to carry the
State elections aud could they have at the same
time voted for members of Congress, We should
have had entirely different representation IN tue
| present House. Is it not strange that gentleman
in the position of Mr. Reade should not know that
the elections of members of Congress in the North
took place two years ago, grin 1904, and not iast
year, ia 1866? You would naturally suppose that
even if he did not read any ofthe newspapers when
| at home he would at least, by few months asso-
citation with the northern members, have ascertain
ed at what periods their elections come off, and thus
| avoided the mistakes which he makes on the 10th
page of his pamphlet.
Nv colleague also assails President Pierce, the
ground that there are among his appointees to Of
fec ireesoilers. The men alleged to be of that
class hold comparatively subordinate stations; and
on behalf of the President it is contended that IN
every instance, before any such were appointed,
they were understood to have previously abandon
ed their former obnoxious views, and adopted the
national principles of the democratic platform OF the
Baltimore convention of 1852. But to test my col.
leagues consistency, let US see how Mr.. Fillmore
stands on this question. He is presented by Mr..
Reade for your sufrages as man without fault. In
my canvass last summer had occasion to put this
matter right, and repeat what then in substance
no of Mr. rahin
from the free States Messrs. Webster, Corwin,
and Hall. Messrs: Corwn and Hall, both, during
their Congressional course, showed themselves in
their speeches and votes to be not only frcesoers
or Wimot proviso men, but thoroughly anti-savery
in all respects, neither of them to my knowledge,
having differed with the aboltionists any practi
cal question. Mr. Webster himself had repeatedly
voted for the Wilmot proviso, and on one occasion
claimed the authorship of that principle and said
that Wilmot had "stoen his thunder" In his speech
of the 18th of March, 1850, which was regarded as
conciliatory in it's tone he said that he would not
vote to put the Wilmot provso on the Mexican ter
rtory, because in that territory slavery was already
excluded by the existing Jaw, and the proviso was
unnecessary. In making this statement, l do not
wish to detract from the general lberality of Mr.
Webster's views on that occasion. AS to Mr.. Fill.
more's appointments in the North to foreign mis-
sions and other hig Oh stations, they were in every
instance, as far as know, made from the ranks of
the freesoilcrs Wilmot proviso men. By freesoil
ers intend to designate all those who we're in ia
vor of Congress- oy its legislation excluding slavery
from the territory of the United States. A great
many of these appontees of Mr.. Fillmore WERE by
their service in Congress, personally known to me,
and as far as know or believe, they were in that
sense freesolers. If he ever did make an appoint.
ment in free State to any Office Of person who
had shown himself willing that the common terrific
ries of the Union should be open to southern men
and their slave property, we'll as to Northern
7 do hav ho-
lieve it. Nor did Mr.. Fillmore in making these ap-
ponments require the individuals to renounce their
former views.
The case, then, between General Pierce, and Mr.
Fillmore ought to be thus stated: General Pierce
appointed few men who had been free-soilers to
inferior Offices, after they had renounced their FORM
er views and protested conservative national sent;-
ments, while Mr.. Fillmore appointed from the North
to all Offices, high and low, none but free-soilers,
without requiring them to renounce any previous
opinions.
If, therefore, Mr.. Reade is opposed to Pierce for
the reason stated by him. he ought if consistent to
oppose Fillmore with ten times much zeal. l re-
greet to be compelled to 60 into this matter because
Mr.. Fillmore when President, in accordance with
his oath of Office, showed himself willing to execute
the laws as well for the benefit of the South as the
North and was in other respects conservative in
his administration. But, gentlemen, waving fur
ther notice of Mr.. Reades letter. the principal points
of which have sufficiently examined, let us turn
our attention to the presidential candidates now be-
fore the country.
James Buchanan, the nominee of the democracy,
is statesman admirably fitted for the station of
chief executive of the United States. His oppo-
nents are charging him with having held certain
erroneous opinions forty year ago. in his YOUTH
With as much fairness it might be affirmed that Mr.
Fillmore an abolitionst, because, at much Ia
ter day-viz: lS38-whcn candidate for Congress,
he declared himself in favor of the abolition Of sla.
inf no cf of loc1 lie
drcd anti-slavery measures. have not used such
a charge against him not that was aware that he
had eyer expressly retracted these opinions, but be-
cause supposed that his experience at Washington
had induced him to abandon or modify those ear
lier views. Mr. Buchanan expressly and frankly,
at an early day, avowed his change of opinion and
for the last thirty years has shown by his entire fe
both as politician and man, that he was sound
republican, and national, and liberal to the South
In 1s45 he gave an able and manly support to the
of Texas. After the acquisition of the
Mexican territory he, in concert with the entire
South, used his best efforts to get the Missouri line
extended to the Pacific; and after all prospect of
effecting this defeated by northern votes, he
then sustained the compromise measures of 1850,
including the fugitive-slave law Though abroad dur
ing the struggle on the Kansas and Nebraska act.
yet Immediately on his return, he avowed himself,
in the most emphatic terms, the friend of the mea.
sure; affirming not only its constitutionality, but
also its justice, proprety, and necessity Since his
he has endorsed most thoroughly the
sound and national platform of the democratic con.
Vention. His intellectual abilities, his mode alton,
prudence, and conservatism statesman, as we'll
Is his long experience, and extensive information,
and dignity, and courtesy of manner as q gentle
man, all 60 to form character every way worthy |
Of the high station for which he has been nominated
to his colleague on the ticket John c. Brecken
ridge, an intimate acquaintance for four years. dur
ing our joint congressional service, authorizes me to
say that he is in all respects eminently qualified