Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-10-03

of entire naction in the present political canvass,
from which | hoped that no circumstances would
make it my duty to depart. But, have received
various letters from personal and political friends be-
sides yours so urgent the subject that have felt
il my duty to reply to them. The answer which
make to Yourselves will suffice for all others
The condition of our country at this time finds no
parallel in lis former history. By the consent OF all
persons it is admitted that danger half so serious
ever threatened is internal peace its political in
stitutions. For The first time mi ghty effort is being
made 10 combine the free States in solid union
against the slave States, and by force OF numbers
under the forms of the Constitution TO deprive them
of their equal rights to the common property, 10
abolish slavery at the capital, and in every thing es
senta to their dignity and welfare to PROSTATE them
before their oppressors. In this effort the most pow
erful motives OF action are united IN Jealous CO. oPe
ration Eloquence and sagacity, false philanthropy
and mistaken peiy, ambition, hypocrisy and fraud
aided and stimulated by foreign and domestic carl
tall are actively engaged to accomplish our rum
Eminent statesmen from all the great political parties
have forgotten their ordinary differences IN pursuing
a common enmity to the South In the mean time,
elections have taken place in three of the non-save
holding States two of them heretofore distinguished
not ONLY Nv tolerance but beraiy towards the Mouth
Tn all of them abolition sentiments have not only
triumpbod but have swept away all show OF oppo
sitiou The danger, therefore, is imminent that Mr..
Fremont will carry every free State, and will come
to the Presidency BY the votes OF the tree States
given explicitly in hostility the institutions of the
South. If an enemy were invading our country, and
threatening desOlatIOn upon our heldS and homes,
this sensible danger would give harmony to our
feelings moderation and prudence to our counsels.
and unity to our efforts, until the foe was repealed
and the danger over. The state of things is like this
only in part The invasion of foreign foe might
bring with it severer disasters, but it would be
porary and our country and its institutions, might
hope would survive it. But, we may be on the
of revolution which will overthrow our existing
government-break up the Union of the States and
involve us in the crime and Wrechedness of civil
war In this state of things confess have no SYM
pathy with the party chickering's, the elimination and
recrimnation and all the forms Of political warfare
which distracts Southern society. The sole
question with me has been, how is the threatening
evil to be obviated! In its consideration have en-
deavored 10 regard the subject with as much calm
ness as was able, without reference TO my own pre-
possessions and party attachments. If had regar-
ded these should have supported Mr.. Fillmore as
cordially as the warmest friend who advc Gates
his election. have no fault TO find with the party
under whose auspices he has been nominated. For
his personals character entertain the highest respect
and believe that he would give fair and i'm
partial administration, but, the Union of the South
believe absolutely indispensable TO the defeat of
Mr. Fremont, and that union, if affected at all. can
only be made in the person of Mr. Buchanan. TAX,
ing things we find them, the prepossessions of a
large majority of the southern people are Democratic,
and nineteen twentieths Of those in the South who
are opposed to Mr.. Buchanan, agree with the fol-
lowing resolution of the Democratic platform:
, Resoired, That we recognize the right of the
people of all the Territories including Kansas and
Nebraska acting through the fairly expressed will
of majority Of actual residents and whenever the
number of their inhabitants justihes it, to form a
constitution with or without slavery, and be admit
ted into the Union upon terms of perfect equality
= with the other States"
What objections there may be to other doctrines
avowed in this platform, this resolution enunciates
principle which very Southern man feels to be lust
and constitutional and the only one on the grea
ubect to which it REFERS in which the Union is safe
This is | conceive, the great Observation-Disclosures
presented in the present canvass and in comparison
with it every other sinks into insignificance Sup
pose it TO be adobted fixed principle in on
: poitics-can we imagine any question which wo4lC
dissolve or endanger the Union If it is oYerborne
and defeated at this time is it probable that any othe
opportunity occur by which it can be incorpora
, ted into the creed OF great and national party
e Then, why cannot those who agree in this cadina
e iple-When ii lsJeopardlzed bya combination
{ appealing to sectional passions and sectional pow
er,-act together for onceif possible settle the diff
ticulty-and resume hereafter their party relations
t and their preferences AS | before remarked
the South is Democratic by large majority: ant
and justice would seem to require that 10 &C
complish common end, the minority should yield tt
@ the ma ority.
In the non-saveholdng States, such is the su
peror zeal and energy of our adversaries, that the
election is extremely Doubtful There, as here. I'm
ion men are divided on issues comparatively inmate
rial and these conflicts in the face of ardent anC
united opposition, endanger the success of OIL
4 cause. have however, not doubted but the chances
are in favor of Mr.. Buchanan over Mr.. Fillmore e
ven IN that region. Mr.. Fillmore may carry New
# York 1t is the only free State in which active anC
v hopeful efforts made for him. AS to the resnl
in it, nothing can be known approaching certainty
and the fairest minded men admit that the Free Soil
ers have equal chances with the Americans-whilt
all agree that the cooperation of the friends o. Mr.
If Fillmore and Mr.. Buchanan could give the vote o
that great Stale in behalf of the Union. 1t is not
MED but that Mr.. Buchanan has prospect of carry
ing Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey anC
California not less favourable than that of Mr. Fill
more in New York. To meet the crisis, | advocate
e a united South. We hGge. too long for safety
i permitted matters of minor Importance to disrac
S and divide us-and in contests IN which little ha
been at stake, we have been nsensible to dangers
1 intestimable magnitude.
| have not permitted myself 10 be influenced b,
t the allegation often made that difficulties hav
f originated in the policy of the Democratic party
The legislation organizing the Territories of Kansa
and Nebraska, is the object of this reproach and
is not my purpose to discuss it. One thing is certain
that on It's adoption there extraordinary unan
unity Of opinion among Southern men of all parties
$ and no Southern man is willing to avow himself il
favor of the restoration of the Missouri line. Blu
J. three Southern Senators and five or six members
- the House of Representatives voted in opposition tt
III and several of the latter defeated before hei
constituents at subsequent elections This legislation
e therefore, was acceptable generally to Southern
statesmen and to the Southern people 1t may hav
oeen wise or nnwlse but it is now fixed in our urls
Is prudence-and the question u.s. as conceive as to it
y disturbance IN future. And on this point we ar
e as nearly unanimous as can be expected, any sub
ID ject which admits of discussion.
" Nor do think fair n hat 81 ,1o n