Washington sentinel., 1856-03-22
From ths Richmond, (Va.) Examiner.
Very Important and Able Letter ON the
Presidential Que stiOu.


From ths Richmond, (Va.) Examiner.
Very Important and Able Letter ON the
Presidential Question.
The following letter, from a very distin-
guished and eminent citizen Of Pennsylvania,
entirely disconnected with politics, has been
addressed to Southern friend N Congress. It
merits the very serious and respectful consider
alton of Southern men:
PHILADELPHIA, March IL, 1856.
My dear sir: / am deeply impressed with
the conviction that everything depends on the
nomination of Mr.. Buchanan at Cincinnati.
This opinion is not produced by friendship for
him, nor State pride; but by facts which
think would force me to the same conclusion If
| were his enemy, and living elsewhere.
The very few friends of General Pierce who
are willing to risk the party with his nomina-
tion, (I speak of those whom know put it on
the ground that any body can be elected That
is mistake. devoutly believe that we can
not carry an electoral ticket. pledged to him in
Pennsylvania.
Last year we had no State officer to elect
except Canal Commissioner. The Demo
Gratis nominated an unexceptionable man. and
the poll showed that he had fewer votes than
the united votes Of other candidates 1t is
true, we have great advantages in the moral
dignity OF our position. We have been gain
ing rapidly in public confidence by our pru
dence and justice, while the opposition has
been proving to every thinking mans satisfac-
tion that its measures are dangerous and its
men incapable. But the battle is not always
to those who are strong in this way. IF our
enemies unite they will give us a hard fight.
1t IS not safe to rely on their divisions They
'oiH unite if Pierce be nominated. The expert
ence OF last year proves it. They seemed then
to be as hopelessly broken up as they ever will
be or can be. The "Whigs," the "Know-no-
things" "Native Americans proper and
Republicans all had candidates to whom
they we're publicly and solemnly pledged. But
a few days before the election something in
spired them with the hope of winning victory
IT they could make junction 1t was done,
and they might have accomplished all they
hoped if it had been done little earlier.
What should prevent them from uniting?--
They have no sincere political faith to keep
them apart. Know-nothingism and Black
Republicanism, with nearly all the politicians
who profess to believe in them, are adopted as
a mere means of advancing their personal for
tunes. On the contrary they have much in
commons common want of public principle
"a common disregard Of constitutional obli-
gations--a common hatred of better men than
the places and profits which they could gain
by our defeat. Now, suppose you offer to such
men as these Offices worth thirty millions per-
annum, on the sole condition that they throw
their votes for the same electoral ticket, how
could you expect them to resist the temptation?
The nomination of any man whose strength is
less than that of the strongest, would be offer
ing this enormous brbe for coalition against
us. But if the Cincinnati Convention do right
they will have no motive for coalescing, be-
cause, coition or no coalition, they are doomed
to defeat, and they know it.
The Democracy would hear of Buchanans
nomination with JOY and gladness. Our friends
under his lead would advance to the charge
with the steady and alert steps Of men who
know that-th day is their own. The announce
ment OF another name would be received with
an apathy, from which, fear, the party could
not be aroused by any amount Of effort. : No
thing would delight our adversaries more than
to see US in the field with General Pierce at
our head.
have referred in all this to our own State.
But | suppose / may take it for granted that
the public feeling of Pennsylvania is, what it
always has been, a fair index Of what the Union
thinks. am sure that Ohio and New Jersey
will be affected much in the same way am
almost certain that the vote Of New York de-
pends on the same points.
Are we not approaching one Of those great
crises when it would be treason to spare an
atom of our power? / speak as unto wise
man who knows how to answer this question
for himself. If the votes of PENNSYLVANIA,
New York, New Jersey and Ohio, should be
cast for free soiler, it would certainly return
him to the House--to that House which bal.
loted nine weeks for Speaker and then elected
one who is willing to 'let the Union slide"
And would it not slide down to perdition if
sectional contest for the first office of the gov
ernmet were to arise there and result in a sec
tional triumph? ! have great confidence in
the Providence which takes care Of the United
States and little children, but we must not
trfe with our trust for all that.
1t is not safe to believe that the coalition
which anticipate will take any candidate but
free soiler-that is he will give pledges,
public or private, to that party.
! am, most truly, yours, &c.
nes- voice from Missouri-Move on the