Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-10-03

most con hlent mode OF responding to
the inquiry, l address myself to you
through he medium of the public press.
The Ayhigs (of whom l am one) be-
ing without organization and a candidate
of their party, are under the necessity Of
choosing, each for himself, among the
nominees of the organized political par
ties now struggling for the ascendancy.
e9pe of these parties, miscalled republi-
can, is altogether sectional in its consti-
tuents, organization and candidates; ag-
gressive in spirit and destructive in pur-
pose. The democratic and American
parties (however Objectionable in other
rcspects) are national in their organiza-
ton and principles. Their nominees for
the Presidency, Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.
Fillmore, are both men of integrity and
ability, possessing experience, patriotism
and craftsmanship; attached to the
Union and faithful to the Constitution,
either might be relied on for a safe and
conservative administration, preserving
and securing to the States their just
rights, guaranteed by the Constitution.
In this contest / cannot doubt that
every national, conservative wing is pre-
pared to give cheerful, active and ear
nest support to either Mr.. Buchanan or
Mr.. Fillmore, against the nominee OF
the so-called republican party. He may
certainly do so without abandoning the
cherished principles, Or the time-honor-
ed name of his own party Or adopting
those of any other. In the present as
pect of public affairs and parties, he can
not remain Indifferent or inactive, with
out manifest dereliction of duty. He
must elect between the candidates of the
democratic and American parties, and
in my judgement it is his duty to prefer
those who are most likely to combine
sufficient strength to overcome the aboli-
ton force, and secure majority of the
electoral votes. He should not hesitate
to yield his personal preference and party
prejudices, in order to avert what he
must regard as great public calamity
the triumph of Fremont and his sectional
and disunion principles, or what would,
under existing circumstances, be scarcely
less perilous to the tranquility of the
Union, and the stability oe our institu-
tons, the transfer of the election to the
House of Representatives
Entertaining these opinions, | have en-
deavored to ascertain for my own gui-
dance, the relative strength of the sew
eral parties and the prospects of then
respective candidates, and am satisfied
that the contest is between Mr.. Buch-
anan and Mr. Fremont-that Mr.. Fill
more cannot possibly obtain the electoral
votes Of more than three States, and il
is by no means certain that he can carry
a single one. If, unfortunately, there
should be no choice by the people, and
the contest be transferred to the House OF
Representatives Ga result that some Of
the supporters Of Mr.. Fillmore earnestly
hope for, and diligently strive to pro-
duce) his prospects would not be i'm
proved The contest would remain as
before, between Mr.. Buchanan and Mr..
Fremont, and would terminate in the
choice Of one Of them, or no election.
But our sad experience on two mem
orable occasions-th in more tran
quill times and a happier state Of the re-
public admonishes us that in the pre-
sent condition of the public mind and Of
political parties, it would be eminently
perilous to our institutions to refer the
Presidential election to the existing
House of Representatives. The contest
can and ought to be decided by the cleo
toral colleges, and because / believe that
Mr.. Buchanan is the only national can
didate who can combine sufficient strength
to secure that result, and overcome the
dangerous sectional organization repre-