Daily American organ., 1856-09-08


the above extract from Mr.. Fillmore's Roches-
ter speech furnishes the ground of his opinion
but he is cautious enough to admit that he
cannot undertake TO say what Mr.. Fillmore
would do"
Mr.. Ketchum further admits, in speaking of
Mr.. Fillmore, as follows:
"He has accepted the nomination of the Ameri-
can party. have never been a member OF any
party but the Wing party. When he received the
nomination he was In Europe, where he had peen
many months previously. The platform OF the
principles of that party accompanied the letter In
forming him of his nomination, and requesting his
acceptance of the same He replied to that letter
| while in Europe. He must, ! admit, be regarded
as giving his general approval Of the platform upon
which his friends nominated him. Now, gentle
men, l ask you to publish that platform, or any
clause or paragraph of it in which, by fair con-
struction, Mr.. Fillmore has repudated any of his
antecedents upon the subject of the extension OF
| slavery"
The youth Of the Richmond Enquirer, after
publishing the above, concludes his article thus
"This letter is notable for four things. lst. 1t
shows upon what grounds Mr.. Fillmore is support
by the most conservative OF his Northern friends
They all Indignantly repudiate the idea that he
would consent to the extension of slavery. They
claim that he has always opposed the acquisition
| Of slave territory. I'd. The letter is remarkable
for the declaration that Mr.. Fillmore does not
ject his antecedents' The assertion precise and
emphatic that Mr.. Fillmore a6idss by his antece-
dents; that Is, the antecedents which convict him
of antagonism to the extension of slavery The
| supporters of Fillmore in this State pretend that
he has abjured his anti-savery faith and has made
/ stonement to the South for his hostility to its
| interests But the friend of his bosom proclaims
that he abides by has antecedents. Sd. The letter
is remarkable again in this: it adduces Mr.. Fill
| mores denunciation Of the repeal of the Missouri
restriction in proof of his unchanged and unchang-
ing convictions against the extension of slavery
4th. Finally, the above letter proves that Mr.. Fill
more accepts the now-Nothing platform of Phil
adelphia with the distinct understanding that it
commits him against the repeal of the Missouri re-
strction and the extension of slavery. This letter
is one Of the most significant developments of the
canvass. 1t will afford text for further comment
in this paper. Meanwhile let Democratic speakers
file it among their documents
The caption to the article on which we pro-
pose to make few comments declares, that
"Fllmore abides by his antededents"
Fillmore "is opposed to the extension of sla-
very" aud that Mr.. Ketchums letter is "im-
portant testimony from responsible man."
The youth of the Enquirer, after citing his
proofs, sums up his case in the manner above
stated. We need not repeat his conclusions,
but we ask our readers to follow us whilst we
advert to them. But first word for Mr..
Ketchum. He does not speak by authority
for Mr.. Fillmore; on the contrary, he says, he
"cannot undertake to say what he would do I"
His opinion then, amounts to nothing. But
u i. Al. I1.Ir
cepting the nomination, gave his general ap-
proval to the platform upon which his friends
nominated him." and Mr.. Ketchum then asks
the publication of " that clause OF paragraph
of the platform in which, by fair construc-
ton, Mr.. Fillmore has repudiated any of his
antecedents upon the subject of the extension
of slavery"
Mr.. Ketchum may support Mr.. Fillmore
upon whatever basis he chooses, but he will not
succeed in showing, either that Mr.; Fillmores
opposition to the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, as proclaimed in his Rochester speech,
furnishes the slightest proof of his "opposi-
ton to the extension of slavery" or that Mr.
Fillmore, when judged by his official acts, and
"abiding by has antecedents," would, as Pres
ident resist the admission of future slave
States
If the perceptive faculties Of the youth of
the Enquirer, had not been suddenly arrested
when he had found aU he desired to see, he
would have looked for and ascertained what
Mr.. Fillmore's antecedents would require
him to do, in the future. But let us proceed
Mr.. Filmore's opposition to the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise, is founded first in the
fact, that its repeal was breach of faith, and
secondly that "all the evils which afflict the
country have resulted from it." Mr.. Fillmore
noUhere opposes the repeal of that compromise
on the ground that it will result in the erten-
sion Of slGoery-it viii not probably so re-
suit, but on the contrary, it will be far more
likely to result in ercluding slave States from
the Union, south of the Missouri Compromise
line The same idea expressed by Mr.. Fillmore
in his Rochester speech, is contained in the
18th section of the American PLATFORM op-
position to the reopeniag Of sectional agita-
tion," and not opposition to the admission of
future slave States.
If "opposition to the reopening Of section
al agitation by the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise" means opposition to the admis.
sion of slave States, how comes it that the 7th
section Of the American platform in the fol-
lowing language, was adoptedp to wit:
"7th. The recognition of the right of the native
born and naturazed citizens of the United States,
permanently residing in any Territory thereof to
frame their constitution and laws and to regulate
their domestic and social affairs in their own mode
subject only to the provisions of the Federal Con-