The Placer herald., 1856-08-23
The Effect of Know Nothingism in the
Presidential Canvass,

PRESIDENTIAL Canvass.
The honest conservative citizen should en-
deavor under existing circumstances, to ally
himself with that party which partakes of
his own patriotic sentiments, and presents
itself before the country, with a reasonable
hope of success The practical man will
adopt a practical mode of expressing his
wishes in politics. as we'll as in the ordinary
business of life. If he cannot carry out his
ideas Of matters in all their minuta, he will
nevertheless adhere to the leading points
he regards as of paramount Importance
these he will never desert. And in the pres
ent crisis one may reasonably resign a cher
ished doctrinal point relating to the internal
policy of our country, for the reason that by
acting differently one may not have in the
future, common country to legislate for
If the enemies of the Union shall succeed
what will become of your measures Of inter-
nal policy? What then will any one
care whether the tariff is fixed upon an ad
ralorum or specific standard! the Sub-Treasu-
ry or National Bank? Of what Importance
will it be to discuss the manner of disposing
of the public lands, or the proceeds of the
sales of the same! When we shall no Ion
ger have a national existence, but become
discovered, discordant and beligerant States,
who then will talk of the laws regarding the
naturalization of men of foreign birth. No,
we must preserve the national harmony in
tact, or all else is lost. We must do this
by giving our support to the party most
national and certain of success-that party
most certainly is the Democratic
The American party is at this time gather
ing in their stragling scouts and rallyng all
their forces in this State The leaders of this
party do not calculate to obtain the electoral
vote of over four States of the Union.-
They declare themselves Union men, and
denounce the Republicans as disunionists.
They freely concede that the Democratic
party is a Union party, and yet with this
chance of discreditable defeat they persist in
keeping in the field. Assuming that they
are good Union men, is it not palpable that
every vote they place in the ballot-box for
Mr.. Fillmore, is just so many votes taken
from the support of Mr.. Buchanan? And is
it not equally certain that under existing
circumstances every vote withdrawn from
the support of Buchanan, lessons the cer
tainty of the success Of Union President?
"He that is not for me is against me- is a
saying that has passed into proverb, and if
we are mindful of its force my, lool- s-s
Tire eaders of the American party to vote for
any one else than the candidates of the
Democracy, should the election be thrown
into the House. We have already seen them
90 over to assist Banks, the Republican
Speaker of the lower House of Congress,
and this notwithstanding his openly express
sed treason to the Union.
We also see that George Law the rival
Of Mr.. Fillmore, in the nominating conven-
ton, endorses Fremont, the Black Republican
candidate for President, and asserts that he
is better representative Of Americanism
than Fillmore. We willingly accord to the
mass Of the Know-Nothing party desire to
see the great American Confederacy preserv-
ed, but we ask them in all sincerity, how this
is to be done by adhesion to so frail hope
as Mr.. Fillmore can give Of success9 We
submit to them whether with all the evil
dences Of deserton to profession, which the
past twelve months has exhibited on the
part of the leaders of their party, what re-
lance is to be placed upon their promises?
Your organization was stronger last year
than this-you cannot doubt it-and your
orators were then declaring themselves the
saviours of the Union. Since the elections of
1855, your party has split up, bolted, divided,
and but a remnant now remains. Will you
continue with these leaders, merely for the
sake of wageing factious opposition, that
upon the fruits of this little power these
leaders may trade for place?
If the election should be taken into Con-
gress each State will have but one vote for
President. Now of what other possible use
can these four votes be to your party leaders
than to traffic on9 And if they will stoop
to such base means, are they not as likely to
trade with Republicans as with Democrats?
Such men care but little for principle, and
by adhereing to this remnant of your party
you practically advance the interests of those
who are in fact your bitterest foes-the Re
pubicans. Men of the American organiza-
ton, be practical in this hour of your coun-
trv's peril-be indeed Americans-superior