Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-03-29

Twelve months ago it seemed to be formidable in its
organization and numbers. When assembled in con-
venton; however, last June, it is well known that,
on the adoption Of its platform condemning further
slavery agitation, the delegates of twelve northern
States wherein its strength chiefly lay seeded from
the party In the recent convention Of last month,
however these same delegations came back and sue
ceeded, by large majority, in repealing and strlk-
ing out the identical section which they had object
ed to- and Obliged southern members, in their turn,
to leave the convention. 1t then nominated Fillmore
and Doneson for the first and second offices of the
government. MIR. Fillmore, it is conceded, has no
strength in the north This is in part owing to the fact
that helm accordance with q plain constitutional
provision, placed his signature to the fugive-slave
act. and subsequently, in obedience to his official
oath, endeavored to carry it out. He has been SO
generally repudiated. that have not heard the first
individual express the opinion that he can get sim
gle electoral vote in free State. In the South he
has stood on much better ground but his position
on the pending questions is unknown, and he is es.
sentially weakened by being the nominee of the
know nothings, should he accept. In fact il he be
member of the order, seems to be established,
he would, if elected, be bound by his oath to carry
out the wishes Of the grand council, in which the
North has the control. Waving, however, these
objections, there is another which is controlling
Even If Mr.. Fillmore should carry the several south
ern States claimed for him. he could not thereby
succeed. The only effect of dividing the southern
vote would be, to throw the election into the House
of Representatives. The recent election of Speaker
by that body shows what would be the result of q
presidential contest If the so.caed national know
nothings had voted for our candidate, Gov Aiken,
he would have been certainly elected. Even if he
had received on the last ballot the five votes of that
party which he did get on the day previous he would
have beaten his competitor, Mr.. Banks, an avowed
know nothing-not to speak Of thee others, two of
whom were from slave States who might have been
cnunted on. Should the presidential election de-
vove on the House, there will either be election
at ALL or the black republicans must succeed. 1t
seems quite probable therefore, that the northern
delegates in the know nothing convention permitted
Mr.. Fillmore to lac nominated 10 effect this result
As they were able to repeal the old platform, they
evidently had strength enough to have defeated him,
and it seems probable that they got out Of the way,
or connvcd at his nomination, to give the black re-
publican candidate double chance. that il he
should fail before the people, he might succeed in
the House. As votes therefore, given for Mr. Fill
more, under such circumstances wonld merely he
thrown away is not probable that even in the South
he will carry a single State.
The great antagonist therefore, of the anti-slavc-
~ party must be the nominee Of the democracy
That party has been essentially modified within the
last few years In its convention of 1852, it adop-
ted for the first time recognition of the resolutions
Of the Virginia legislature Of 1898, the imbodnent
Of the creed of the old republican party Of Jeffer-
son and subsequently,, it has affirmed most strong
v,
of the South and the equality of the States. While
thus acting. however, during the late struggles SO
MANY Of its former members left it that it is conced
cd that it would have been beaten in almost every
State in the Union but tor the assistance Of patriotic
wings who have marched to it's support. Encourag-
ed by these acccssions, standing firmly the prin
ciples of the genuine republican party of the olden
time, and conscious that the destiny Of the country
depends on its action, it is marshalling its ranks,
and is ready to go into battle with unusual ardor,
and confidence worthy the great in which it
is engaged. Is it not entitled to the support of all
conservative and patriotic men? r.4a, 8
Let us, feow-citizens, examine this point calmly
and fairly will first address myself to the mem.
bers Of the old whig party. You, as such, are, of
course, not under the slightest obligation to go for
the nominee Of the know nothing convention, be-.
cause that convention denounced both the whig and
democratic parties as corrupt and proclaimed that
it had arisen on the ruins of both" and in 'spte
of their opposition" But some Of you may feel re-
luctant, after having acted against the democratic
party SO long, to go into union with it. To show
that this can be done with proprcty and without any
loss of scfrespect let recur to the past action of
our own party in the State After the right to elect
the governor was conferred 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 NJ More
head who used to declare in his speeches that he
was one Of the old jackson captains and that he had
Surely, when the old wing 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 senator's representing the wings were
Messrs Mangum and Badger. But Mr.. Mangum
was originally elected senator by the Jackson par
ty, and after he changed ground and united with
the wings, he was twice reelected 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
e1,o
that, in the Judgment Of the wing party, mans
changing his associations from good motives did not
render him unworthy of the highest confidence
When Mr.. Clay was before the people Of North Ca
rolina in 1882 he only received some five thousand
votes; yet in lS44 he carried the State by decided
MISUNDERSTANDING that about half of its citizens
had changed their position might multiply instan-
ces as to both parties in all the States. 1t is the
highest duty of patriot to act according to the
listing circumstances for the good of his country.
But if some of you should feel strong repug-
nance to act with the democratic party, remcm-
Der that, when you were most opposed to it, Martin
Van Buren, was its executive champion Thomas II.
Benton was its congressional leader, and Francis p
Blair the editor of its official central organ These
men are now, with many others like them, outside
Of the democratic party and hostile to it. Will you
Join these persons in making war on the true men
This is the position of things; that the old Demo-
cratic party is divided now, and you must, there
fore, decide whether you will act with the free
soil wing the sound republicans This is the
real point for you to decide. Will you allow
old prejudices to influence you on SO great an
issue? If you were, as jurors, about to decide the
pettiest dispute between two of your ne:ghbors,
you would be ashamed to let prejudice against one
of them influence you in the slightest degree; and
when the great interests of the country at stake
will you be less fair2 ---.sss .r.t5a-
would, in the next place, address few words
to you who are members of the American or know
nothing party. Twelve months ago there seemed
to be g1lf almost impossible between you and