American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-08
had speeches and letters from him BY The

o Southern State. He was iha owner of over
100 slaves. He loved the institutions OF the
South. But he owed deb, of gratitude to
the North. AT the South they claimed no.
thing that he would not willingly grant to
the North, the East, aud the West. He had
lett the Demoara,c party. "a voice--,he
Democratic party left youl) Yes thatsss.
(Applause.) left the higher law, men Of
that party. When he found that President
Pierce was disposed to build up the Sru,h
as the South, and the Nor,h as ,telNonh he
had concluded that the administration was
one Of nltraism. 1t was combination TO
obtain power, without care as regards the
administration Of the affairs of the country,
The speaker said that he had been shot at,
daughter Politically, he meant because
no had joined the American party He had
seen that there was no hope of promoting
domestic tranquility. or OF protecting our
foreign relations under the Administrations Of
MIR. Pierce, and he had joined this organiza-
ton in the hope that these objects might be
accomplished. With these hopes he had
entered the party, and he would do all in his
power until this hope should be realized
He accepted the nominations, hoping that
The result would justify the confidence llac.
ed in him. '' ias s-8aHA.a s1t
Here Hon. Andrew Stewart arose and in
quired, il Gen. jackson were living now,
where would he be? With what party would
he harmonize? ft9s 1a.s
Mr., Donaldson replied-with the AMERI-
| GANpart He never uttered single word
adverse TO the principles we advocate
Aye, and not only he, but Clay, and Web
s,er, if living, wonld be with us, and sane
ton the great principles embodied in the
| American platform.
He had been present during the session Of
the Convention, and when attempts had
been made to disorganize the party, he ha
been reminded of an anecdotc Of General
Jackson. On the morning OF the battle of
the 9Th Of January, a messenger came to
| General Jackson with the information lkat
the Legislature was about TO adjourn for fear
that the British would take the city. Tell
Governor Claiborne, said jackson, TO blow it
up. And so he would say with regard TO the
disoIganizers, who wanted to disband the
American party. He was no orator, but
whatever he had OF energy, talent, good will
and devotion TO American interests, should
be given to this cause, until victory perched
upon lis banners.
The speaker then retired amid tremendous
cheering.
| I pIII allie ~ a.,
low, oil Tennessee. On taking the stand in
response, he said that his speech on this oc-
casion would be, like all of his speeches,
short and sweet, like roasted maggot.-
For seventeen years he had performed the
dread full service Of editing political paper
He had ou9h, hard and long for the Wing
party, but he had seen fit 10 leave that or
ganizatiop, and cast his lot with the Ameri-
can party. why, with Willard Fillmore 10
lead, and even with Josh Giddings behind
him, we could carry our State But with
this large, patriotic, greasy Tennessean,
Pointing 10 Major Donalson) The Pierce
party will be q transCendental nothing He
should jump higher. and squall louder than
any man in Tennessee, and would open the
ball at Knoxville, on Monday next. Gap.
plause and Iaughter.) 1t had bsen under
stood as arranged that Major Donaldson would
be pnt on the ticket with Andrew Jackson
in big letters aud Donelson invisible, and
then the old line Democrats would think
that Old Hickory had come to life again.
He then proposed the party should disperse,
having done the good work.
General Pickett, of Tennessee, followed.
He eulogized Major Donaldson, spoke Of his
own efforts 10 advance the cause and pledged
the State Of Tennessee, for a Tremendous
majority for the American ticket.
Alex. r. Boteler mounted the rostrum in
answer 10 repeated calls. He supposed that
the party bad resolved itself into general
ratlfication NEE ting, to which he was agreed,
though no &C ton OF The Convention had been
! taken 10 that effect. He had occupied The
stand several times during the sessions OF
the Convention and he had spoken boldly
according TO his ideas Of right If he had
said anything harsh TO those who were con.
sstentiy in favor Of the American party and
tue Union ne regretted u. but he had no
pardon to ask of those who came into III o
Convention, in disguise, to betray its prin.
cples. He pledged Virginia for the ticket.
He thought the party could poll tho len
thousand votes for Fillmore that Wise al.
legged had elected him.
During the recent election he had been
the first man on the stump in this cause the
longest in the field, aud the last to leave the
combat. He would only say TO his breth.
rem he would go into the fight now with the
same determination, and expressed he hope
that those who had acted as enemies during
the session Of the Convention might part as
frieads. The speaker sat down amid con.
siderable applause.