Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-08-08
From the National Intelligencer

From the National Intelligeneer
To the Wings of Maryland.
In response to the communications received from
many of my brother Wings, deem it my privilege.
in this manner to counsel with all in relation to the
course which patriotism and duty would seem to in
dictate as proper in the present political crisis
No lover of his country whose judgment in unb-
ased by patty al and uncontrolled by northern or
southern fanatcism can fail to and deprecae the
pending danger to the Union.
The first duty OF every man who loves his country
and her institutions is to provide for their safely
The life OF the nation is In danger 1t must be saved;
then, and not till then will it be permissible to US to
discuss difference of opinion upon minor subjects
say that the life of the Union is in danger, be-
cause. for the irst time in history, party has
been formed composed exclusively of citizens of
section of the country, bound together by the single
bond of alliance for offensive warfare against the
other section. That the of such parry would
imper the Union has been recently demonstrated by
an address of Mr. Fillmore, and WILL il is submitted.
be apparent to all who will bestow moments
sideraon upoA the existing posture OF political af-
| fairs.
| The value of the slave property of the South is
not less than two thousand millions of Gollars-a
sum equal 10 the value of all the other property In
the United States, as shown by the last census ms
property is not only recognized but so far guaran
tied bv the constitution to impose upon the federal
government the duty of restoring to his owner the
slave who m y escape into another State OF Territory
of the United States. For years past this cons:i,n-
tional obligation has been not only rrpudated by
some of the non savehoding States; but political
parties have been organized in all with the avOwed
object of liberatng The slave, and thus not only de-
pIiving the South of this vast amount of property
but Injecting il to all the horrors which would ne
cessarily result from such contamination In al
dition 10 all ths whilst the abolitlonSts on the one
hand openly avow their opposition to the cOnStltu ton
and their desire to destroy e. vernmeIt which i'm
poses obligations repudia,ed by them, on the other
hand many Southern men. CODED by the incessant
attacks of their Northern fellow citizens upon their
feelings their property. and their constitutional rights
express the belief that The interests of the South
would be more effectuaIly projected by separation
of the slave from the non-slavehoding States and
therefore rather promote than inierpose to prevent a
result so calamtous We have hitherto disre yarded
the danger which such state of feeling and such
course of action would indicate as most imminent,
because we have assumed that such sentiments and
actions could only be attributed to small minority
of our Northern brethren. But now, when this Sec
ional evaporation has BEEN made available for the
inauguration of party calling Itself republican, I'M
der whose banner, for the fist time in the history of
| the country, this sectional opposition to Southern
rights and interest have united in nominating with
alleged probabilities OF success, purely sectional
ticket for the Presidency and Vice Presidency OF the
United States, we can no longer shut our eyes to the
reality Of The threatened danger cannot but feel
that the success of such party would be the death
knell Of The Union. The unpariotc purposes of this
sectional party are but too manifest. Many of IFS
supporters their object and purpose 10 be dis
union, and have even gone far the madness OF
their fanaticsm desecrae the flag Of country
by celebrating from its constellation the fifteen stars
which represent the slavehoding States and display
ing as their party banner that flag with but sixteen
OF It's stars remaining TO represent the non sIavehod
ing States. 1t is manifest that those who disavow
the object ignorant of the inevitable result
The Wings of Mary land, whom have the honor
to address, need proof to convince them that
lamitous consequences would flow from the success oil
this sectional party. They each and all knOa0 that
the election of Mr. Fremont, and the administration
OF the government by him upon the principles of ms
party would necessarily occasion dissolution of the
federal Union, to which they have been taught tt
look the source of national strength and of ndi
vidual prosperity and happiness
have known the Wings of my State too long,
estimate their patriotism too highly, have associated
with them too intimately to suppose it necessary fol
a moment to offer argument to them in behalf Of
their country. They appreciate fully as | could
depict the horrors OF dsunOn they will the loss
of national strength, the internal dissensons the ia
tai check TO civilization and freedom the contempt Of
the world, which would be the consequences of such
a calamity. The Wings of Maryland who have fol
lowed the lead of such patriots Clay and Webster
"will never keep sep to any other music than that
| 1t therefore only remains to inquire what course
J shall be taken to rebuke sectional tanacism and pre-.
serve our country from the dangers of its success
You are aware that this republican party, which
we all agree must be put down at all hazards is op.
posed by two other party organizations: the Ameri
can, headed by Mes>rs Fillmore and Donelson and
the democratic, led on by MeSsrs Buchanan and
| Breckenridge. You will recoect that Mr. Fillmore,
prior to his recent visit to Europe abandoned the
Wing party and became member of the former of
these organizations, which boasted that it had risen
| upon the downfall Of the Wing party, and which
| proclaimed that the corruptons of the Wing and
Democratic parties constituted the necessity Of its
existence. You bnOw that he and Andrew jackson
DoneIsen have been nominated by this party Quot by
the Wing party for the Presidency and Vice Pres-
dencJ, and you will admit that the principles of
prescription because of religious opinions and other
iepued tenes of this party, in direct anago-
n'sm with the principles OF that good old Wing party
10 which ne are Sill attached, and which has been
| abandoned by Mr.. Fillmore 1t is my object, in
referring to these facts, deny TO the American par
~, since the secession of its abolition adherents,
fair claim to nationality; 10 deny he patriotism
and virtue of Mr.. F lImore, nor his eminent uuaf
cation for the office of Chief MAGISTRATE But | DO
deduce from them the necessary conclusion that as
Wings, we owe no party allegi glance to Messrs. Fill
more and Donelson, members and nominees of the
American party. deduce the conclusion that, as
Wings, we not only at liberty but that as patr.
OTIS we are bound by every obg cation to our country
and pOserly, to throw aside, on The one hand, the
feelings of hostility which MIR Fillmore's deseron of
! our patty would be calculated to engender and on
the other hand, 10 forget for the time our former
oa'tles with the Democratic party, and to ask
selves but one queston-1Utich of the taco national
organizations offers the best guarantee of in
Crushing out OF existence this new and monstrous
sectional party, which threatens the life of your
i country l do not propose to examine the relative
claims OF the two national parties their nominees
to our support. 1t is not, in my Judgment, permiss