American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-10-04

Wing captain, Henry Clay, was then
up before us for the Presidency. My
State was unanimous for him; we held
out as long as there was any hope, un-
til State after State gave way, and
still the chairman of her delegation vo-
ted "Clay' to the last. Applause. !
1t was the last time we could hope to
bring our gallant chieftain forward
the last opportunity we had of showing
that republics are not ungratcful; and
never gave, him up until absolute ne
cessity compelled me to do it. But
that meeting gave us another Whig
chieftain under whose banner the Wings
fought as did our soldiers at Buena
Vista.
In that Convention I looked to Mas
sachusetts to stand by North Carolina
as We stood by her in 1776. One
month after British soldiers shed A
merican blood upon American soil on
the 17th of April, 1776, the people of
the old North State proclaimed to the
world that they were free and inde-
pendent people and would no longer
submit to British domination, and Piled
ged our lives, our fortunes, and our sa-
cred honors to protect the liberties we
claimed as our right. I looked to
Massachusetts, to stand by us for the
second in command, a distinguished
son OF hers now no more. But the
choice OF that convention was again a
gainst me, and they selected that man
whose name is now proposed to u.s.
L had seen him but once before that
time, Il but once or twice since, g. then
but for fewminutes. When we went
into that campaign, the spirits of our
friends were very much subdued, when
1--WE found that our glorious old captain
had been set aside, and it took us some
time to gather up our soldiers. But in
few weeks we went into the campaign
and no Wings fought more gallantly
under the banner of Taylor and Fill,
more than the soldiers of North Caro-.
lima, and VIC triumphedin the old North
State.
But Providence in his dispensation
soon removed our head from us. and
Mlllard Fillmore occupied his place.
Every eye was upon him, and when
witnessed the position he assumed then,
saw him take the stand of an Ameri-
can statesman entertaining broad views
of government, working for the whole
Union, setting aside his old, cherished
and early prejudices, and take the con-
stitution for his guide and sole support
in defiance of the prejudices of either
section, l saw in him the right man to
rule over this great and glorious peo-
pie. no longer hcsitated in beiiev-
ing that Millard Fillmore was the man
the Wings ofthe United States should
support. He gave US one of the most
glorious administrations this govern
ment has ever been blessed with. lie
retired from the Presidential chair with
the plaudits of all good men who were
honest In the expression of their con-
victions. And how did he leave our
once distracted country? In peace
prosperity and happiness, in every re-
spect towards that great destiny which
| hope we will yet reach. He left this
country to visit foreign climes, and
what dow see? In the space Of four
short years, a country once abounding
in every thing pleasant, happy and
peaceful, with prospects brilliant as the
rising sun, has, under Democratic rule,
become involved in discord, brothers.
hands dipping in brothers blood, wo-
men and children fleeing from their
once happy homes in one section of the
country, rebellion stalking abroad at
noon day, and the great government of
the United States unable to quell an
insignificant insumection, or to give
protection to the humblest portion of
the nation. Civil discord and dismay
are spreading over the whole country.
Patriots, true patriots, are looking a.
round them to find whore they shall flee
for protection.
TO whom can they look but to him
who in 1850 Clay and Webster, and
all good and true men rallied around?
In vain they look for Clay and Web
ster--they are "gone te that bourne
from whence no traveller returns. -
But there is Millard Fillmore! (cheers)
This distracted country casts her eyes
across the waters and invites him once
more to return to her shores, and with
outstretched arms she welcomes him
back. And where is the man who has
more moral courage to march up to the
discharge Of his duty than has Millard
Fillmore. ] will stand up in his sup
port, and if / must fall, ] will fall with
my winding sheet, the glorious constcl-
latlon of thirty4one states.