The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-23

a combination-appealng to sectional pas
sions and sectional power,-act together for
once-if possible settle the dificulty-and
resume hereafter their party relations and
their preferences! As | before remarked
the South is Democratic by a large MAORI
ty; and reason and justice would seem to
require, that to accomplish a common end,
the minority should yield to the majority.
In the nOn-slaveholding States, such is
the superior zeal and energy of our adver-
saries, that the election is extremely doubt
pful. There, as here, Union men are divided
on issues comparatively immateriai; and
| these conflicts, in the face of an ardent and
united opposition, endanger the success of
| our cause. | have, however, not doubted
! but the chances are in favor of Mr.. Buch-
| anan, over Mr.. Fillmore, even in that re-
/ gion. Mr.. Fillmore may carry New York.
| 1t is the only free state in which active and
! hopeful efforts are made for him. As to the
result in if. nothing can be known approach
| ing certainty: and the faiFest minded men
admit that the Free Sellers have equal
| chances with the Americans-whiiea ell agree
| that the cooperation of the friends of Mr..
| Fillmore and Mr.. Buchanan could give the
vote of that great State in behalfOf the Union.
| 1t is not denied but that Mr.. Buchanan has a
| prospect of carrying Pennsylvania, Illinois,
| Indiana, New Jersey and California, not
! less favourable than that of Mr.. Fillmore in
! New York. To meet the crisis, | advocate
united South. We have, too long for our
safety, permitted matters of minor impOr-
| lance to distract and divide us-and in con-
! tests in which little has been at stake, we
have been insensible to dangers of inesti-
mable magnitude.
| | have not permitted myself to be in
! fuenced by the allegation often made,
| that our difficulties have originated i'll the
| policy of the Democratic party. The
legislation organizing the Territories of
/ Kansas and Nebraska, is the object of this
reproach; and it is not my purpose to dis
cuss it. One thing is certain, that on its
| adoption there was an extraordinary unani-
nifty of opinion among Southern men of ali
parties; and no Southern man is willing to
avow himself in favor of Tue restoration of
the Missouri line. But three Southern Sena-
tors and five or six members of the House of
Representatives voted in opposition to it !;
and several of the latter were defeated be-
fore their constituents at subsequet elections.
This legislation, therefore, was acceptable
generally to southern statesmen and to the
southern people. 1t may have been wise or
unwise, but it is now fixed in our jurispru-
dence-and the question is, as | conceive,
as to its disturbance in future. And on
this point we are as nearly unanimous as
can be expected, ON any subject which adj
mits of discussion.
Nor do | think it fair to say that the
election of Mr.. Buchanan would not give
us quiet, and thus save the Union. This
will, | admit, entirely depend on circum-
stances. If, for instance, Kansas, under his
administration, should apply for admission
as a slave State, it would meet with violent
opposition from the free States, and agita-
ton, through all the channels of fanaticism.
and political violence, would again be re-
newed. But, would not the same thing &C.
cur under Fillmore! Does any sane man
suppose that if on any measure of legisla-
ton the South should insist on her Just
rights, under any President whatever, that
excitement and agitation would not exist?
;, in ho
quieted, and only one, and that is by sub
mission to all the acquisitions which may be
made by the free States, on every subject
peculiarly affecting cur vital interests.
Nor can | perceive the force of the spe-
cious objection that Mr. Buchanan is Sec
tional candidate; and therefore, that he
would not be the proper person for the add
justment of our present difficulties This
is the argument adopted by the freesoilers
adopted to justify their open and avowed
sectionaliSm, and to mitigate the force of
the objection to their proceedings, as likely
to dissolve the Union. If the principle in
regard to the domestic institutions of the
Territories, which | have before referred to,
be in conformity to the constitution, how
can he be sectional, who represents it?-
Is not Mr.. Buchanan candidate in every
State of the Union: Was he not nomi-
mated by delegates from every district in our
wide confederacy! And tho it may be with
very doubtful fortunes are not his claims
pressed in every county and village of the
Union! Can this be said of any other can
didate And is not his claim to broad
and comprehensive nationality" complete
and unquestionable!
If this Union is to be destroyed, it will
be by an injurious and oppressive policy to-
wards the South, by the national govern
ment Should Mr. Buchanan be elected in
this contest, no such policy can receive his
The causes of disunion will