Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-25

Oh the uOcITine Vi non-luIeTscubtOu, anu pa
triotically using all the influence of bis Off
cial position in calming tie tumult and
discord which convulsed the country, and at
last gloriouSly succeeding in restoring peace
and quiet. His Presidential messages, his
private letters and his public acts, are all
in direct conflict with the sappoStion that
he would for a moment give countenance
to a proposition to repeal the Kansas act,
and restore the Missouri Compromise. He
has offered the most indubitable evidence,
by his sworn approval, that the doctrine Of
the act, the great principle which underlies
it, is his deliberate opinion, and though in
conformity to his stern and unbending anti
agitation sentiment, he may have deprecat-
ed the repeal measure as inexpedient and
iaiudicious, yet for the same reason, and in
obedience to the same conservative Senti-
ment, he would now, in the language of
the twelfth section, abide by and maintain
the existing legislation His leading desire
and object, as it is that of every true patri-
OF, is to put an end to the agitation of the
question. He regards agitation as a worse
evil even than injudcious legislation.
We call upon our neighbor to judge Mr.
Fillmore by his acts, and not by the specu-
lationS of his friends, however great the in
timacy they may claim. We pledge him
to a sacred and faithful maintenance of the
Kansas act, and rely upon his own publica-
tons and his acts which belong to history,
as the evidence of his intentions. His adj
ministration is the pledge he gives, and we
all know, that when, in 1858, he sealed the
book of his poitial life for the time, and
deposited it with the historian, the univer-
sal response from friend and foe was
Amen. You hare done aceH. The whole
country was rejoiced that he had succeeded
in effecting a compromise which received
the endorsement of the patriotic of all par
ties. and had banshed agitation from the
public counSels, and written 'IfnGEty"
upon the door which closed after it, We
say then that it is a violent presumption that
such man should be suspected of desiring
to agitate the slavery question by restor-
alton of the Missouri Compromise, and does
him gross injustice. The evidence which y
relied upon to support this outrageous sup
IL, ho mi Of
syllable is offered from Mr.. Fillmore him
self, or by his authority-the spirit and tone
of all his actions touching The question is
entirely forgotten, and few miserable
shreds and patches of speculation are col
lected and presented in justification of these
prejudical doubts and charges.
The Union and American dwellS too
upon the non-cOmmttalism Of Mr.. Fill
more'S letter We never read a similar
document more pointed and unambiguous
The letter endorses the great leading prin-
cipleS" of the platform of last February.
Let us see for a moment what these are
In the first place are the distinctive tenets
of Americanism which are well known,
and which the Union and american of Sun
day devoteS special article to prove that
he does endorse fully; and then comes the
sections relating to the slavery question
containing another great leading princi-
pie" viz: the nOn-intervention principle of
the Nebraska bill 1t is embodied in the
following words, being sections 9th and
18th of the platform:
9Th. The unqualified recognition and main
tenance Of the reserved rights of the several
States, and the cultivation of harmony and
traternal good will between the citizens Of the
several States, and TO this end, non-interier-
ence by Congress with questions appertainng
solely TO the individual States, and non-inter-
vention by each State with the affairs of any
other State.
9TH. The recognition of the right of the
native born and naturalized citizens of the
United States permanently residing in any ter
ritOry thereof, to frame their constitution and
laws, and to regulate their domestic and social
affairs 10 their ow mode, subject only TO the
provisions of the Federal Constitution, with
the right of admission into the Union when
ever they have the requisite population for one
representative in Congress; PrOcided, dlloays,
that none but those who are citizens of the
United States, under the Constitution and laws
thereof, and who have fixed residence in any
such Territory, ought TO participate in the
formation of the Constitution, or in the en-
actment of laws for said Territory or State.
We need not state that these contain a
pointed and positive recognition Of the
rights of the Southern States, and clearly
set forth the non-intervention principle
first enunciated in the territorial bills OF
Utah and New Mexico, and justified, de-
Tended aud officially ratified by Mr. Fill
more in 1850 The two sections contain
in simple and ineligible language as much
sound Virginia and Kentucky resolutions
of '9S doctrine as can be found anywhere
in the same space Listen how they speak
of "the unqualified recognition and main
tenance of the reserved rights Of the sew
eral States" "the non-interference by Con
gress with questions appertaining solely to
the individual States" ard "nOn-interven-
ton by each State with the affairs of any
other State" the recognition of the right
of the true native born bona fde citizens Of
the territories ITO frame their constitution
and laws, and to regulate their domestic
and social affairs in their own mode, sub
ject only to the provisions of the Federal
Constitution, with the right of admission
into the Union whenever they have the re-