Squatter sovereign., 1856-04-29


the imbodiment of the creed of the old
Republican party of jefferson; and, SUBJ
sequently, it has affirmed most strongly,
on all occasions, principles sustaining the
rights of the South and the equality of the
States. While thus acting, however, du-
ring the late struggles. so many of its
former Members left it, that it is conceded
that it would have been beaten in almost
every State in the Union, but for the assis-
tance of patriotic Wings who have march
ed to its support. Encouraged by these
accessions, standing firmly on the princi-
pies of the genuine Republican party of
the olden time, and conscious that the des-
tiny of the country depends on its action,
it is marshalling It's ranks. and is ready to
60 into battle with unusual ardor, and a
confidence worthy the great cause in which
it is engaged. Is it not entitled to the
support of all conservative and patriotic
men2
Let us, fellow-citizens, examine this
point calmly and fairly. I will first ad-
dress myself to the members of the old
Wing party. You, as such, are, of course,
not under the slightest obligation to go for
the nominee of the Know-Nothing con-
vention, because that convention denounced
both the Whig and Democratic parties as
corrupt, and proclaimed that it had " arisen
on the ruins of both, and in spite of their
opposition" But some of you may feel
reluctant, after having acted against the
Democratic party so long. to go into a
union with it. To show that this can be
done with propriety, and without any loss
of self-respect, let US recur to the past
action of our own, party in the State.
After the right to elect the Governor, was
conferred on the people, the first nominee
of the Wings was Edward B. Dudley,
who had formerly been an old Jackson
Democrat. Their next nominee for the
same office, was John M. Morehead, who
used to declare in his speeches, that he
was one of the old Jackson captains, and
that he had three times been On the jack
son ticket as elector. Surely, when the
old Whig party took up these men and
elected them, it did not suppose that they
had done wrong in going from one party
to another. The two last Senators repre-
senting the Wings, were Messrs. Man
gum and Badger. But Mr.. Mangum was
originally elected Senator by the jackson
party, and after he changed ground and
united with the Wings, he was twice re-
elected by them to the Senate. Mr..
Badger, too, was at one time chairman of
the Jackson central committee of the
State, but, after he joined the Wings, this
did not prevent their twice electing him to
the Senate. These things show that, In
the Judgment of the Whig party, a mans
changing his associations from good mo-
tives did not render him unworthy of the
highest confidence. When Mr.. Clay was
before the people of North Carolina, in
1882, he only received some five thousand
votes; yet, in 1914, he carried the State
by decided MISUNDERSTANDING that about
half of its citizens had changed their po-
sition. might multiply instances as to
both parties In all the States. It is the
highest duty of a patriot to act according
to the existing circumstances for the good
of his country.
But if some OF you should feel strong
repugnance to act with the Democratic
party, remember that when you were most
opposed to it, Martin Van Buren, was its
executive champion, Thomas H. Benton
was its congressional leader, and Francis
P. Blair, the editor of its official centra
organ. These men are now, with many
others like them, outside of the Demo
} cratic party. and hostile to it. Will yor
Join these persons in making war on the
true nsen2 This is the position of things
that the old Democratic party is divided
. now, and you must, therefore, decide
whether you will act with the free-soi
wing or the sound republicans. This il
} the real point for you to decide. VIII
you allow old prejudices to influence yo'
on so great an issue. If you were. a
; jurors, about to decide the pettlest disput'
between two of your neighbors, you woult
) be ashamed to let prejndice against one o
them, influence you In the slightest de
} gree; and when the great interests of tn
country are at stake, viii you be less fair
/ would, in the next place, address
! few words to you who are members of tn
i American or Know-N Nothing party, Twelv
, months ago, there seemed to be gulf al
imost impossible between you and thos
: with whom I am acting. In the frs
place, yours was secret political organi
: cation. which required its members oden
!. knowledge and conceal certain truth:
RI This was regarded BY Us as demoralizin