Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-09-19
Fellow Citizens of Montgomery.

Fellow Citizens of Montgomery!
We are now engaged in the most mo-
mentous political contest known in the
annals of our country; a contest in which
are involved, in our opinion, at least, the
destinies of this now glorious Union
Our common country is menaced by
peril of the most enormous character-a
peril which no language can exaggerate,
which none can clearly and adequately
express. 1t is the immediate and entire
subversion Of the Constitution, under
which our noble fathers gathered into
one family, under the protection of one
splendid form of government, all the
millions who live upon the Atlantic coast,
in the valley of the Mississippi, and up
on the Pacifc's distant shore--those who
listen to the thunders of Niagara, and
those who behold the Father of Waters
discharge his mighty volume into the
Gulf of Mexico. 1t is for you, men of
Montgomery, now to choose your parts
whether you will arise to the proven
ton of this outrage, or be led off to con-
siderations beneath the dignity of this
crisis.
Three parties are in the field, the
KnOw-nothing, the Black Republican,
and the Democratic. The first of these
has nominated Mr.. FILLMORE, for the
Presidency. 1t gives us no pleasure to
criticise the public career of Mr.. Fill
more. But, it is our duty to say that,
while he was member of Congress,
whenever the question of slavery was
before that body, he acted with Giddings
and Slade and that class of politicians
No vote of Mr.. Fillmore's during his
whole Congressional career can be found
recorded in favor of the South. But it
is said that after he succeeded to the
Presidency his administration was ma
t;onal. How was that? How was his
Cabinet selected? Among national men
at the North? Every man who was Sc
lccted from the Northern States had adj
yocated the Wilmot Proviso and the ex-
clusion of the South from every foot Of
our national domain.
We are told that he signed the COM
promise measures of 1850. That is true.
The South gained nothing by those mea-
sures but the Fugitive Slave Law, and
to that Mr.. Fillmore was opposed. But,
as his Attorney General pronounced it
constitutional, he, as a Wing President.
could not object to signing it, because
the wing party were opposed to the ex-
ercise of the veto power except for con-
stitutional objections. What then has
Mr.. Fillmore done for the South ? We
challenge his friends to point to one
measure of his administration tending to
promote the interests and protect the
rights of the southern people.
Refer to the history of the party by
which he has been nominated, and see
its practical effects upon the country
Look to the House of Representatives
It elected to that body from the North
ern States ninety members, eighty-four
of whom are now zealously cooperating
with the Black Republican party. 1t
elected in the North ten Abolition Gov
ernors, and that, too, over sound, con-
sentative, national Democrats. Wilson,
Of Massachusetts, John p. Hale, the
head and front of the Abolition party,
Durkee, Harlan, and Trumbull, were
all elected to the Senate by Know-noth-
ing votes. Whenever that party has
succeeded in the Northern States. when
ever its banner Aoated in triumph at the
North, it was triumph of the enemies
Of the South.
This party held two National Conven-
tons, but failed to adopt platform, on
which the Know-nothings could agree.
On the latter occasion the Southern del
egates bolted the platform, and Northern
delegates bolted the candidate. This
party has from its origin been divided
against itself; the members agree upon
nothing essential. Yet struts forward,
in an hour Of emergency like the present,
to insist that the Democratic party, with |
fifty years of public service, should stand
aside and give it place. Was anything
ever SO prepostcrous?
Bat, even admitting that in a crisis
like this Mr.. Fillmore could be safely
entrusted with the administration Of
the government, what prospect has
he of an election? In many of the
Northern States an electoral ticket will
ma be in the field for him. What South,