Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-13
RFAD AMI CIRCULATE.

READ AMI GthGUhA1h
zgr,mets from speech of Hon. JOHN W. CHRIS
NIIEI.D. an old lire Whig and distinguished laso-
yer Of Naryiand, de1iOered at tSon'erseS' A0.' 10"
..Mr, G. said he would briefly assign some OF the
reasons which had brought him to the determine
ton to support Buchanan and Breckinridge.
! He conid not support Mr.. Fillmore. ne was
supporter of mis- administration ne Thought le one
of the puress and best which had tfanspi,eo IN nus
time and If it could be restored as ne thought II
was he would prefer it over all others. He had,
too been ar ardent adnrer Of Mr.. Fillmore person
ally, and ifhe could regard him now as he formerly
had he would perhaps prefer him for the high Of
fee which he once filled, over all others But ne
had changed aThe painful conclusion had been
forcedlupon him that Mr.. Fillmore was not now
what heihad been. He had become member OF o
secret political organization, dangerous in Its ten
dency destructive of the freedom OF political opln-
ion, and at war with the theory OF mans capacity
for self-government-an organization proscrPtve
in its character aud ntolerant OF religious freedom,
which enforced its csuitical policy by oaths not au-
thorized by law and demoralizng in their tendency.
He is. as we are informed 81 member in good STAN
ding of Council No. IT." in western New York.
If this be so, as few.wil doubt it is sad truth
Its discovery crmsoned his cheek with shame In
allowing himself to be placed in this position, Mr.
Fillmore has been unjust to himself and reckless OF
his own fame But this is not all he has unwhigged
himself; he has become member OF an organiza-
ton which boasts Of having risen upon the RUNS,
and in spite of the opposition, of the whlg party,
and proc!aims in its well-considered confession OF
faith that it is not responsible for the obnoxious er
rors and violated pledges of that party. He con-
sorts with Andrew Jackson Donelson, the defamer
of his administration and the reviler of the wing
party-a democrat of the stamp most odious to
wings; and he now demands of us, as wings, our
support of this extraordinary and anomalous asso-
citation. At this moment he is carrying the banner
of those who conspired for the destruction OF the
whig party. With these facts before him, he could
not recognize Mr.. Fillmore whig; he had dis
robed himself of that title he is alien from the
fold, and had not shadow of claim, based on old
party associations, to the support OF the few who
still remain constant to the ancient faith.
But if he were willing, in consideration of his SER
vices to overlook these serious objections to Mr..
Fillmore, he could not support him without also
supporting Mr.. Donelson. The two arc indissoiuby
blended and he would not vote for Mr.. Donelson
He had not single qualification to recommend him
for the high place for which he is nominated; ana
to old wings, he is perhaps the most Objectionable
man who could be named. For his own part he
was not willing vote for any man for Vice Presl-
dent whom he would be unwilling to trust as Presi-
dent He had not forgotten the blasted fruits OF the
wing triumph of 1910. Who would be willing to
see Mr.. Donelson President? No one, ne would ven
ture to say; and yet if the Fillmore ticket prevails,
he may and probably will, be. Twice have the
wings carried the presidential election, and on both
occasions scarcely had the shout Of triumph ceased
to rc-echo before they were called upon to mourn
the death of their President What right have we
to calculate upon exemption from like calamity in
the next presidential term? What guarantee have
we that Mr. Fillmore will not also be taken and if
he should be, who is not appalled, at the idea OF the
duties of that high station devolving on Mr. Donel-
son? Who does not tremble at the thought of in
trusting him with the whole power of this govern
ment; Of placing in his hands its army and its ma
Wy; of committing to his management its foreign
policy ofleaving to his charge the settlement OF the
perilous questions of domestic policy which at this
moment rudey agitating the Union OF these
States, and threatening dissolution? He could not
vote for Mr.. Donelson; and if any one should twlt
him for supporting Mr.. Buchanan because he is a
democrat, Mr.. G. would just remind him that Mr..
Donelson, Also is a democrat with the stain OF
know nothingism and incapacity superaddcd.
But if he waived these considerations, there were
other reasons, still more conclusive which obliged
him at this crisis to give his support to Mr. Buch-
anan. The contest in which we are engaged, un-
happily, is contest between the North and the
South-between abolitionism and freesoilism on
the sde and the preservation of southern rights
and the Union on the other. This was the real is
sue, and he might say the only issue now to be de-
cided-and one of more overwhelming Importance
was never presented to the American people. On
the one side find the republicans, led on by Mr..
Fremont, sustaining the ultra northern view. The
objects of this party are unmistakable; they are
humiliating to the South, and destructive Of her
constitutional rights and material interests. The re-
publicans deny to her her just share of political
power; negative those constitutional guarantees
which were intended for her protection and without
which she would never have entered the Union
And is there no danger that they may triumph p
Already have they obtained control of nearly every
State legislature north of Mason and Dixons line;
they have majority in the House of Representa-
tves, which elects the President in of the fail
ure of the people to elect; and to preside the
deliberations of that body, they have elected Mr..
Banks, who boldly avows, that sooner than aboli-
ton and reesoil measures SHOULD fail, he would 'let
the Union sde." The people of the free States,
burning with fanatcism, inflated by these successes,
and needless Unconstitutional restraints and of conse
quences madly rushing into the republican ranks
with unanimityhitherto without example, itmay
feared thateven the united energies ofallso
ern and the ofevery section be
too feeble to resist their overwhelming power. The
Union rembes under the blows of this sectional
stre God grant that the fearful catastrophe of its
dissolution may be avertedl The election of Free
mont would be its death-knell. If his supporters
are strong enough to elect him. they are also strong
enough to consummate their designs of sectional ag
grandzemcnt and southern humiliation and in spite
Of the constitution, they will assume the power of
congress to legsate over slavery in the Territories
OF the United States they will exclude the South
from its just rights in the national domain, abolish
slavery IN the District Of Columbia repeal the fug-
tive-save bill, and refuse to admit new States into
the Union unless they repudiate slavery. That
these measures would follow the election of FIRE.
mont ne had no doubt; and when thew did. the
Union would, and ought to be, dissolved. These
measures and each of them negative important
provisions of the constitution inserted for the secu
rty OF the South, and fperssted in arejust grounds
of separation.
five concede Mr.. Fiimore's entire nationality,
and that II elected his energies would be devoted
in good faith to preserve the Union, and ouel all
sectional discord, what assurance have we that he
can be elected? Does any one believe that he car