Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-08-16
The duty Of tie South III the present
Crisis.

We believe all admit without distinc'
ton Of party, that tho contest now 60
ing on for p~olitica! supremacy, lies be
tween FREMONT on the n hand and
FILLMORE or HucllANAN on the other
The struggle is no longer between two
great national parties rs heretofore, but
between s%ectionaIism and nalIona'ism-
in ether words. between tanatlclsm OF the
North and the conservatism of the whole
country.
The causes that have produced these
results, so pregnant with fearful consc-
quenccs, it is not our purpose now to
discuss, it being sufficient for the present
that the fact is not disputed. In such
a contest, i, is clearly evident that the
North has nothing to lose, while the
South has everything-her dearest rights
her very existence even, depending upon
the issue. What then, is her duty in
such a crisis? The answer is very plain.
She should, as one man, unite in sup>
port 0: the safest and most available Of
the two candidates opposed to Fremont
and Black RepubIieanism. Thus far
there can be no difference Of oppinion !;
but at this joint a divergence takes place,
the friends Of Mr.. FILLMORE and Mr..
B~uCHASAN, each contendiny that their
own ~favo:ite candidate is the safest and
most available man for the emergency.
Hence, it becomes us to investigate dis
passionately yet thoroughly, the merits
and chances Of success Of these two can
Iidates in order tina: we may decide cor
rectly, whom we should support.
We have already referred, at length,
to Nj. BucnASAS's political record, and
concIusively proven we think, that there
is nothing in his past history, to show
that he has been personally politically,
or in any other way, friendly to the
South. 1t is true be has never allowed
his ~prejudices u animosilies to lead him
into open and undisguised warfare
against the rights Of the South, as such
a course would be likely 10 defeat his
aspirations for presidential honors, never.
thc!ess his opposition to slavery extern
sion has been firm and persistent, And
here We would be willing to let Mr.. b.
cnASAS's claims upon the South, rest,
were it not for the fact, that his friends,
Ignoring his past history, base those
claims, in a great measure, upon that
Sam Patch leap which, placed him up
on the Cincinnati Platform, and sundrv
other small leaps Of the Bull Frog species
which placed him-nowhere. Admitting
say they, that Mr.. BucnASAS's course,
hitherto, has been a little devious, he is
all right now-he stands fairly and
.squarely upon the Democratic platform
Which guarantees to the fullest extent
protection to Southern rights. Well
for the sake Of argument, let US grant
that this Cincinnati platform contains a
full guarantee of the rights Of the South
what then? Has a mere endorse
'nent Of that platform any binding force?
None, whatever. All experience shows,
that these platforms ara nothing but
clap-traps to gull the dear people-use
full perhaps during a canvass, but Of no
earthly use after an election. Why just
look at the Baltimore Democratic plat.
form. Did that precious instrument:
though most cordially subscribed to, by
Mr.. Pierce, bind him after his elevation
ia the Presidency !! We find in that
document, that the Democratic party
were absolutely and Internationally op-
posed to the agitation Of slavery in any
form. Mr.. Pierce said, "that's my hand
exactly-no more agitation Of the slaves
~ question" Very good. This was be-
fore the election. But how was it after
wards9 Why the first thing the Democ.
racy did, was TO give the lie direct to
their Baltimore pledges and Mr.. Pierce
swore to that lie, by aiding and lending
his signature to the kansas.N Nebraska