The true Democrat., 1856-08-26
Letter from Hon A. G. Watkins on
 the Presidential Question.

attend mass meetings of the citizens of Nnv, Jersey on the 18th and 14th of August at Newton and MorrStown respectively, has been received. It would afford me much pleasure to be present at those places, and to discuss without reserve the issues involved in the na uonal contest which is now eliciting so mucb interest throughout the county My official duties, however, which you are aware increase greatly as the session approaches it's close on the 18th Instant, will prevent me from accept Ing your tiatterlng invitation. Be assured that would most cheeriully make any sacrifice con- Slstent with my duties and obligations to my constituents, if could thereby contribute any, thlng, Tn the present gloomy and portentous as pcct ol affairs, to the preservation of the con- sttutlon and the safety and perpetuity of the mon. He must be indifferent to both of these results, and wholly regardless of the dire con- sequences to follow, ill a certain contingency, who has failed to appreciate the fact that the most important criSs IS now upon us that has existed slnce the close of the revolution.
 Sir, am not of those with whom have had the honor to be associated who act from hastv impulse or rash indiscretion. But have watch- ed, with vigilance that has known no cessa- vernmeh rS42ress of political events in the go- of 49-5O, aud.I have mmhljpg of the Congress
 
 or safe alternative left to that portion of the whg party which has preserved it's nationality, its conservatism, and consistency, but to iden- tIfy itself with the democratic partvin in the cleo tion of James Buchanan and John c. Breckin ridge. expressed my determination on the 9th of May last, before the meeting of the Gin cnnati conyenton to support the nominees of that convention Ill a certain contingeucy The events which nave since transpired with the three contendn9 parties for supremacy in the country have come fully up to my then antici- patlonS, and have confirmed all my predictions
 Were to undertake to give all the reasons and considerations of principle, policy, and scfety, that have consprcd to bring me, con- trary to my former party associations and at tachmentS, to the conclusions of this letter, it would extend my reply greatly beyond my in tenton or inclination. trust, however, thdt will be pardoncd for enumeratins as briefly as l may the most prominent and weightv of the reasons that have determined me to support the democratic party Tn the future; and, also to state briefly why l could not as a national whig, or national American, Qf you please, } support MT. Fillmore for President
 The most honest convictions of my iudg- ment and the most patriotic impulses of my heart admonish me that the greatest errors of my life were, that l was two years ago induced to adopt the so-caled American party, and that l did not then declare for the democratic party and policy of the country. l had prior to that experienced enough in legislative association here In the most trying tests upon the strength of the Union and adherence to the constitution, to satisfy any rational mind bent upon the pre- servation of both, that the party organization with which was then associated did not en- body the elements indispensable to the great achievements of self-government under a su- 1 preme law and written constitution Sir, had witnessed enough to show that union and combination of conservatism and nationality adequate to the constitutional march of repub- lican destiny, and in strict conformity with the equality of all the States of the confederlcv, were to be found in theory in the democratic creed and practically in the democratic party But sir, such are the preudices of education, such the pride of consistency, and so irresistible the force of party association, that was induc- ed to give to the then already disorganzed and distracted elements of once great and formi- dable party, to which was greatly attached the experiment of a reformation by means of a truly unique combination of political and rei- glous elements and influences which could not but be disastrous ill their results and ultimate
 
 1 will not tax either you or your patriotic and conservative constituency with the reading in detail the serious apprehensons that weigh he'd my feelings and opinions when the American party was being inaugurated in Tennessee.- But those with whom then conferred, many of whom are now members of that party, will do me the justice to acknowledge that 1 then pressed great doubts that the boasted con- servatism and nationality that preceded thead
 vent of its organization as a party would ulti matey be absorbed in northern fanaticism and abolitonsm. l regret to say, as unreasonable as these apprehensions were to the honest, pa trlotc, and unsophstcated Tennesseean, they have been literally verified. owe you an apo
 ogy for the personal allusions connecting me politically with these historic facts, which an confident will be accepted by generous public Q when it is known that 1, in defense of the con stitution, unimpaired and of the Union unbro ken, and for the just equality of States ano 2 citizenship, and for the great inherent and in Q alienable right of a free people to selfgovern
 meat, combated in the last canvass a religious
 fanaticism and political agrarianism and reck lessness without parallel in southern history h No, sir, 1t was not for the triumph of pro-sla ' very over anti-slavery, that 1 was induced tc , subject myself to the islanders and vituperatioI of venal and prosttuted press in my mme
 diate vicinity, but it was for the preservation o
 the constitution as 1t is written, and as it is in
 terpreted by the fathers and founders of the re l public, foreohadowing the principles of the Kan
 sas and Nebraska bill, which guaranty the righ of the citizens of every portion of the confe
 deracy legally and constitutionally to goverl V themselves, giving to each and every one of tn l States, north and south, just and equal parti : cipation in common property under the agi of the federal constitution, and repeating al
 unconstitutional and invidious, an unjust ant
 uneoual discrimination in the benefits of a com mon terrtory-to wit: the repeal of the Ms
 sonri restriction should have little right t. : boast of reputation for fairness in politics if could not divest myself of sectlonalism ant local bias upon all questions of common inter