The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-22
LETTER or HON MoRDEcA OLIVER, OF MIS-

LETTER OF HON M0RDECAI OLIVER, OF MIS-
10 Robert H. Miller, Esq Editor Of he "Liberty Missouri
@Er Tyibtse6
In reply 10 editorial criticisms and structures on his
IN Congress this session. contained in that paper Of the
lst OF February, 1856, which Mr. o. desires should be
also considered as addressed TO bis constituents. ..
H. HorsE or REPRESENTATIVES @,
. Washington, February al, 1856 a
RonEET H MILER Esq4 Editor Of the Liberty Tribune
DEAR have read an editorial article IN the Liberty
Tribune Of tho ls instant crticsng and eonaening my
conduct in tho presen, Congress and denying that my let
ters TO Colonel Donipan and the Editor of the Missouri
Republican both Of which you kindly pubshed contain
any justification o that conduct The friendly relations
which have hitherto existed between you and me- and
which wond desire TO erpotnate the right OF every corr
suuent TO canvass the political action OF his Representatives
in Congress and To exact an account of bis stewardship
the presence of parties in the federal Legislature and
the consequent change of position of many whg mem
hersmysef includeddemand of me reply to your edi-
torial notice an explanatioa to my constituents
You nrragn me as deserer from the whig party and
base the allegation upon my refusal to cooperate wit the
know-nothing, alias American party II IS work of SUI
pererogaon 10 state that the whg party has organized
existence either in Congress in the country The whg
senators formally proclaimed the dissolution and non-exst
ence of that party in the Senate of the United Statesin
the body so long ruled and guided by the great whig
chieis-Clay and Webster When the House met three
parties unfared their bannersthe democratic the know
nothing, and the black republican. The VAg banner teas
not there Every member not pledged by his election to any
Of hege parties had to choose the banner under which
ne could DeSt D8tue constituents ana MS Wn0e
country. Am to understand you as saying insin-
uatng that the obligations assumed and the trust nc
cepted as whig representative, made II my duty to
enlist in the ranks of the know-nothng pary2 That
assumption peryades your article; but it is not only
an error, but absurdty. 1t is superGuous to say
to gentleman of your intelligence that the know
nothing party repudiates the charge of being the
whg party in any shape in any gnse The exponents
Of the knownohing doctrines and the advocates of the
knownothing party are unanimous in asserting the dsso
luton of the and the proud and lofty existence OF the
other They labor to keep the knownothng party intact
and to guard it from whig democratic contamination;
Or if they acknowledge any connection with these two
parties whose mutual ambition and alternate victories
constitute the proud and glorious history OF our country
t such connexion the saint Acknowledges with the
sinner the of baptism which divides hs
life and in which the enormiy Of the past aggrandzes the
sancy of the present" The facts which bear witness to
this truth abundant The Louisville Journal ian un-
doubted authority in such matters states that majority
of those who composed the Philadelphia conventionthe
first peudonatona convention of the know-nothng par
thad been democrats but the question has been def
ney settled by the onpotent voice OF the convention 1T
self The first clause Of the famous twelfth secuon which
the northern brethren could not swallow reads thus:
The American party having arisen upon the ruins and
BE- held n sny reposbe for the
acts or violated pledges OF either. ... u '. .. ..
Now surely it is a violent accusation to charge mhg
with apostacy because he docs not unite himself and act
with party which boasts that il has arisen on the
runs of the whg party accusing it. ia tho same conne1-
ion of obnoxious acts and violated pledges 1t DIM
cult conceive how any who had ever been true
wing could subscribe 10 the statement that the party
which led by the chiyalrc the noble Cay was guilty
of obnoxious acts and violated pledges The know
nothing party e1uts in the ruin Of the whig party boasts
of having destroyed it, ISLANDERS it in its grave and then
demands IF undsrstand your article aright the allie
glance and support of the few surviving wbgs The pow
eess patriot might be Justly accused of treason for rc
fsng allegiance 10 the conquerng invader OF his
country who had exterminaed his race as whg Tor
fusing ay to the usurpng organization which boasts Of
having the blood OF the whig party on Its head Ana
here let observe that The know-nohing platform has
not single plank-the know-nothng creed one
single artceof the stern sutf OF which ,he wing pla
form and whig principles composed Though know
nothingism has arisen the ruins of the whig party
has made of the stwart mbers which bore II and
Its varying fortunes for evenn years present
these treasures lie neglected. awaiting the band OF
mghtcr architect than Sam who built the fabric
! of know-nothingism in night Elected az whig
emphacally reject the test of knownothpgism and
even the majority of those whose sufrnges gave me
in Congress have subsequently joined the order and
adhere to it, deny their right to try me by an "a Po'0e
| law. ##s. .- -.
You also deem II criminal in have voted for Rich
ardson instead OF Fuller w..H .H 1.u.. -..
The respective claims OF both candidates for southern
support few plausible words the part Of hr. Full
ler and many brave bold acts distinguished and success
fu services the part of Mr. Richardson While tho lat
ter leading the Nebraska mon in Congress in the bat
tie which resulted in the greatest victory which the South
has yet achieved that theatre the former dsoine
ing The Honsds Nebrdsd b and stirring mp hatred and Sc
diion aqapa The constitutional rights NJ he South To go
further back he used the following words iu ls40 in de-
fnng his political position: am in favor Of free soil,
free speech free labor and FREQ men being Wotpro0o
man 10 Us hHb, ana WtTH oJ1OSed 20 btt tNFoHSi
sdcey r and that the foregoing exceptional burst
Of orntory aboltionism shall show by quoting from
his speech delivered in Allegheny city the same year.
(ls49 reported in the Pitburg Gazette then wing,
but now n roe-soil paper, and which supported Full
Ter in all his wild hunts after Office As lovers or
freedom We have duty to perform towards the South
Let do II with proper regard to our friends thorc but
let insist the edriieS practical abolition 9 slavery
The aabolton of slavery then, in hIs opinion the
ay which northern men owed to the south The eKelu
son of slavery from all the Territories by congressional
legislation (remember that he was "Wilmotproviso
up to the hub then patriotism and statesman
ship and accordingly In the House OF Representatives
the 2oth day Of last December he in to question
put him by Mr. Sage of New York, directly 10 the point
declared in favor of the restoration Of the Missouri COM
promise and of necessity In favor Of tho repeal Of tho act
organizing the Territories Of Knnsas and Nebrasks Hear
him If the Missouri Compromise he restored most
certainly should be in favor OF s rcsoraon but In Wow
of the difficulties which surround that question: and must
defeat your efforts say that opposed TO the ngita
ton Of the question: Thus II will be that To the
goth day of December, 1855 he "Wilrnotproyiso
man up TO the hub IL 10 true that at subsequent pc
Rod ha made declaration In the House which was Rgroe
strict construction Of the constitution give him all due
honor for that declaration although 1t was made aa the
eleventh hour not however II Is TO be hoped many may
suppose under the pressure and propDgs OF the southern
know-nohinga nsgated 10 do 20 from considerations OF
their own political salvation at home trust that his
conversion was sincere and when he proves his new fah
by hs works he shall have my confidence but hope
may be pardoued for Withholding that confidence until
have satisfactory evidence that his recantaton Of abol
tionism was not merely verbal recantaon. regret TO
say that he neglected furnish that evidence and lef
to give that proof the vital OCCASION On the last ball
lot for Speakertho ballot which resulted In the election
Of Bauks-Mr Fuller did not Uote, thereby aiding in