Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-14
MIR. WILLARD FILLMORE's LETTER
OF ACCEPTANCE.

l.
We give below the letter of acceptance, from
Mr.. Fillmore, of the nomination of the Phila-
delphia convention in February last
There can be no other evidence required of
the unsophisticated view taken by Mr. Fillmore
of American politics than that.h should say
Of the Know-nothing party:
at alone, in my opinion, Of all the political
| agencies now existing, is possessed of the
power to silence this violent and disastrous
agitation, (slavery,) and to restore harmony by
its own example of moderation and forbear-
ance."
Have his correspondents left him under this
delusion2 Is he ignorant that at the very mo-
ment when his letter is published that the
largest section of the Knownothing party has
not only repudiated his nomination, but has in
Dictated a preference for a most decided agita.
tor? Does Mr.. Fillmore regard the Americans
as pouring oil and balm in the wounds of the
Republic when they are widening those
wounds, tearing off the bandages with which
the compromise had bound them, and stimu-
lating fatal termination
To us who have watched the progress of civil
strife, events have seemed to succeed each
other with startling rapidity but to one who
has spent the greater part Of the past year in
foreign countries, the contrast between the
comparative peace which reigned at his depar.
ture and the almost universal strife that now
prevails, must be incredible. Perhaps amongst
0thor nbfarto in ahrnaI NJ
might have been willing to avoid a contest
upon the absorbing question. He might have
thought that when this contest approached a
climax, the interposition Of conservative man
like himself might calm the storm. But he will
find there is no time for neutrality, there is no
demand for non-combatants. He who comes
into this campaign without an opinion, will be
sent to the rear as bringing no strength to the
cause which he has espoused. We can well
anticipate the purpose with which this distin-
guished neutral will learn the state Of things
upon his return. Accepting as he does the
doughface platform Of Philadelphia, he will
find many Of the old line Wings estrayed
by their objections TO bis positions and asso.
ciates; taking his stand under the banner Of
the conservative Americans who have NOM
mated him, he will find the most powerful sec
ton Of the American party enlisted against him.
Thinking that in difference to his absence
and past services he will not be required to ex-
press any opinion upon the slavery question,
he will find the Southern men unwilling to
support him without the guarantee Of a decla
ration, whilst the free-soilers will reject him
for the same reason. Under these circum-
stances we cannot well imagine more forlorn
hope Of success than that upon which Mr..
Fillmore and his friends repose, and if they
have desire to render good 10 the country,
and honor to him, they will persuade him to
decline the nomination, and hasten to promote
the election Of JAMES BUCHANAN, as affording
the only chance Ito silence this violent and
disastrous agitation, and TO bestow harmony
by it's own example Of moderation and forbear.
ance"
1t must, however, be subject Of very sincere
consolation TO the admirers OF Mr.. Fillmore.
and the country at large, that he is determined,
IN case OF his election to the Presidency, to re.
store the Government to that simplicity and
purity" which so pre-eminently characterized il
under his former rule. The simplicity of that
bisected Wing ascendency of former years was
most strikingly exempli6ed in the manners.
habits, walks, and conversations, Of both the
great chiefs-who figured alternately at the