davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-01-24
affair5 pf tbe Aution.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Concluded.
NAVY.

The report Of the Secretary OF the
Navy, herewith submitted, exhibits
in full the naval operations of the
past wear, together with the present
condition of the service, and it makes
suggestions of further legislation, to
which your attention is invited.
The cons truction of the six steam
frigates, for which appropriations were
made by the last Congress, has pro-
ceeded In the most satisfactory man.
ner. and with such expedition as to
warrant the belief that they will be
ready for service early in the coming
spring. Important as this addition
TO our naval force is, it still remains
Inadequate to the contingent exigen-
cies of the protection OF the extensive
sea coast and vast commercial inter-
ests of the United States. In view
of this fact, and of the acknowledged
wisdom of the policy of a gradual sys-
tematic increase of the Navy, an ap-
nropriation is recommended for the
construction of six steam sloops-oi-
war.
In regard to the steps taken in
execution of the act of Congress to
promote the efficiency of the Navy.
it is unnecessary for me to say mole
than to express entire concurrence
in the observations on that subject
presented by the Secretary in his re-
port.
PoST-oFFICE.
1t will be perceived, BY the report
of the postmaster General, that th'
gross expenditure of the Department
for the last fiscal year was nine mil
lion nine hundred and sixty-eigh
thousand three hundred and forty-tw,
dollars, and the gross receipts sever
millions three hundred and iorty-tw'
thousand enc hundred and thirty-si1
dollars, making an excess OF expen
diture over receipts of two million ST.
hundred and twenty-six thousand tw'
hundred and six dollars; aud that tn
cost Of mail transportation durin!
that year, was six hundred and sew
euty-four thousand nine hundred AM
ffty-two dollars greater than the pre-
yious year. Much of the heavy ex
penditures, to which Treasury !
thus subjected, is to be ascrlOed :
the quantity of printed matter con
veyed by the mails, either franked, 0
liable to no postage by law, or I
very low rates of postage compare
with that charged on letters; and I
the great cost Of mail service on rall
roads aud by ocean steamers. In
suggestions Of the Postmaster-Ger
eral ON the subject deserve the COL
sideration of Congress.
INTERIOR.
The report of the Secretary of th
Interior will engage your attention
as we'll for the useful suggestions
contains, as for the interests and IN
portance Of the subjects to 9hie
they refer.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01

The Frankfort (Ky.) Commonwealth in
republishing the Letter of Gen. Leslie
Combs says
Now this letter is most significant; not
merely on account of its statements, but on
account of the peculiar position which the
writer has heretofore held in the present con-
test. Gen. Combs, as everybody knows, is an
old line wing. When he left Kentucky few
weeks ago he was Gas we are informed) under
the impression that Mr.. Buchanan's chance for
an election was better than Mr.. Fillmore's; and
while he preferred Mr.. Fillmore, he was con-
sdering whether he ought not to go for b.
chanan as the surest means of defeating FIRE.
mont. With these views, and this proposes
sion upon bis mind, he goes to New York; and
there be is soon convinced upon 'Cery reliable
anyornaGti0n,' that the contestin the great en-
pire State, which casts thirty-five electoral
votes, is not between Buchanan and Fremont,
but between Fillmore and Fremont; that "Bu-
ehanan has no chance" in that State; and that
even the democrats are giving him up and d.
vidiDg themselves between the other csndi-
dates-the hards, or national democrats, going
for Fillmore, and the softs, or freesoil demo-
Gratis, for Fremont.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01
MIR. FILLmORE,s CHANCES.

The Washington correspondent of the Philadel-
phia Inquirer, an Old Line Wing paper, writes con.
corning the Presidential prospects as follows:
Permit me to say few words on politics and
the Presidency. Buchanan's friends are getting
much discouraged at the advices from the South,
where he is evidently declining very generally and
very fast. What he loses Of course Fillmore
gains; not only because the latter is highly popular
in that section but also because all who leave Buch
anan, Wings or Democrats, have no one else to 60
to but Fillmore for Fremont will probably not run
a ticket or nominate electors in any portion of the
South.
Mr. Filmore's prospects are daily and rapidly
improving and if the old line Wings will only
come out en- nlaSse for him his election is certain
Those of Maryland have already done so, and so
will those OF Virginia at their Convention at Rich
mond on the 10th inst. l have letter from a
very distinguished and leading politician Of Virgil
MIA, which says the Wings generally are moving
for him. and he feels confident of Virginia going in
his favor. Such action will be promptly followed
by the Wings in other States
The old line Wings hold the balance OF power in
at least twelve States. With three tickets in the
field is there any doubt that their votes in favor Of
Fillmore would not carry New York? And ask
you if they could not, by unity of action, in like
manner carry Pennsylvania-and also, could not
both Massachusetts, and New Jersey be carried for
him 10 the same way:
OF the Southern States, he WILL even as matters
now stand, carry Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, aud Louisiana, aud
probably Virginia, certainly the latter, with a cor
dial support from the Wings. If Mr. Buchanan
continues to retrograde at the South, and loses his
prestige there that general impression prevails
that be cannot succeed, Mr.. Fillmore will sweep
every Southern State; and then with New York, or
with twenty mine votes elsewhere in the free States
be will be elected.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01

There has been time when the Union
and Anserican professed to believe, and re-
peated in every possible shape, the charge
of bargain, intrigue and corruption against
Messrs. Clay and Adams. We wish to
know, as that paper now supports the au-
thor of that charge, whether its present
conductors believe it to be true? Gen.
jackson says in his letter to Maj. Lewis of
Feb. 18th, 1S45, that he was "sure" that
Buchanan "about that time (l825) did
believe there was perfect understanding
between Adams and Clay about the Pres
idency and Secretary of State" Will the
Union and american say that it believes
there was an understanding between Clay
and Adams? We desire an early answer
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01

CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CAsEs.-The Gen.
trail Georgian says:-When Mr.. Fillmore
was run for the Vice-Presidency in IS4S,
he received the full wing vote of the State
of Georgia, and some thousands of demo-
cratic votes, giving him majority over his
competitor, Notwithstanding his record on
the subject of slavery was of such black
character prior to that time, according to
the democratic prints of the present day.
By Providential act he assembled to the
Presidential chair, and from that day to
this he has shown as fair sheet on the
slavery question as any public man in the
whole country. Not an act in all his off,
cial or private life since then can be point
ed out, showing him in the least degree
sectional or favoring the North against the
South. Having made the tour of the
Southwestern Slave States, he announced
on the steps of the State House door in
Montgomery, Ala, that the anti-slarerv pre-
jHdiocs Of has early education had been obliter-
ated By ochdt he had seen IN the South of The
happy condition Of tie Stare Notwithstanding
all this, however, there are men, old wings,
who voted for Mr.. Fillmore in lS48, but
went over to the democracy in the Toombs
and Stephens stampede, who now denounce
him as freesoiler on account of his early
slavery record.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01
The Canvass in Montgomery.

CLARKsvILLE, July 2e, 1856.
EDITORS OF THE PATRIoT:-The members of the
Fillmore and Donelson Club held their usual meets
ing at this place on last Thursday night, at the
Court House, and most enthusiastic meeting it was.
The house was crowded to overlooking, and the
audience was addressed, for about two hours and
a half by JOHN F. House, Esq, in one of the hap
piest and most overwhelming strains of forensic
eloquence to which l ever had the pleasure of
listening. This effort alone, without the assistance
of the many other fine speeches that Mr.. House
has made, would be sufficient to place HMM very
high position as political speaker. He was re.
pestedly cheered throughout, and when he con-
Guided, there burst from the assembled crowd one
loud and prolonged reclamation of enthusiasm
that made the very welkin ring. The Montgomery
boys are made OF the right sort Of metal, and you
may rest assured that they are going to poll q
largely increased uOte for Fillmore and Donelson.
If the Davidson boys don't stir themselves up we
will 'lsy il on" them badly in the coming con.
test, that they will be ashamed of themselves. /
have not time to 60 into an extended notice OF
Mr.. Houses speech. Suffice it to say that be
handled without gloves" Gen. Pierces admins
ration, in regard to his vasciating course on the
slavery question and the NebraskasKansas bill,
showing that the democratic partys pretensions to
soundness upon that question were altogether un-
founded, and that far from being the strongest,
they were, in fact, in consequence of the conduct
of the administration in these matters, the weakest
party in the nation. His review Of Mr.. Buchansn's
slavery record-of his connection with the false
and infamous charge of 'bsrgain, intrigue and core
ruption"-of the operation of the Nebraska and
Kansas agitation Though he approved Of the prin-
ciple Of ''non.intervention") in bringing about
civil war and all the evils which resulted from that
measure--of the odious doctrine Of squstter SOW.
ereignty which il contained--of the different con
structions put upon the NebraskwKansas feature
Of the democratic platform, North and South OF
Mason and Dixon's fine--that il was regarded as \
measure OF freedom at the North, and pro-slAvery
measure at the South, was most convincing aud
overw helning. de concluded by contrasting Mr..
Buchsnan's silence and refusal to questions
With Mr.. Fillmores undisguised trankness and can
dor upon the questions vital 10 our interest, in
philippe whose mingled satire and irony was
most whitening. But when be came TO bis euogy
on Aillard Fillmore and Andrew J. Donelson, the
crowd seemed to get beside themselves. There
was deafening roar Of applause that shook the
Court House 10 is very foundations, and made the
Sag NIGHTS trembe 10 their shoes. Il was q day
that will long be remembered In Clarksville.
Trsly yours. FIDUS
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01
ZONES, johnson and Pava,t,

Three prominent democratic Tennessee
politicians, have declared Squatter Sever
eighty constitutional and right and proper,
and defended it as orthodox democratic
doctrine. JAMES BUCHANAN, the democratic
candidate for the Presidency has asserted
it clearly and positively, and Martin Van
Buren,, ex-democratic President, and ex-
free-soil candidate for President, has de-
clared that he supports Buchanan because
Buchanan supports Squatter Sovereignty,
and vet the Nashville Union and American,
the valorous knight who tilted so gallant
ly against "the false and fatal theory,
'the courtezan," the ugly idol wrought by
mems hands," and spoke of it as "inoOmPati
bic toith the constitution" and "Od'OHS anc
ugiust 10 the South" murmurs never WORD
against them. Has Il changed us rielos
Has the luscious "courtesan" seduced
into her embrace? Has the ugly idol
smoothed its repulsive front, and brough
our neighbors to its feet?
If not, why does it not check the pro-
gress Of the false and fatal theoryW Il
is spreading fearfuly and rapidly, and in
fusing its poison through the whole demo
cratic system Instant reliefis demanded,
or a bloated and livid carcass will be all
that is left Of ia mass sinking in the
nostrils,-to be trundled away, and buried
deeper than did ever plummet sound"
But, seriously, why have our neighbOrs
sat in silence, and heard these distinguished
democrats advance such dangerous views
without febuking themY Had Southern
Americans taken such position how eagerly
would it have attacked them, with what
ferceness, with what remorselessness would
IL have hacked them ION the rAwp We
call upon it to wake up the thunders Of il
wrath, and hurl them at false doctrin'
whether advanced by friend or foe. If il
dare not do it, then let surrender its char
-cter as an Independent Journal, and put on
the collar Of party.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01

p6- The Union and American says that
we are fOnder of quoting Van Buren, and
Benton on Buchanan, than those sterling
patriots President Pierce and General
Cass" Then you don't think that Van
Buren, and Benton, the most able and dis.
tinguished Northern supporters in the Bu-
chanan ranks are sterling patriots"
The reason for quoting Van Buren, and
Benton is obvious to any one not frighten-
ed out Of his senses at the prospect of de-
feat. Van Buren,, Benton, BuchaDan and
the democratic party are accOmpliees in a
plot against Southern rights and institn-
tons. We are using the evidence Of two
of the culprits, to convict the remainder.
And we are succeeding. No fslon In the
dock ever had clearer or stronger case
made out against him.
Indeed, so indubitable Is his guilt, that
from the tone Of bis defenders they seem
almost ready to allow judgment against
him by default.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01

The N. Y. Herald of the 18th uIt., SAYS:
The INDEPENDEET DEMOCRATS AT Syracuse.
We published yesterday the proceedings of
the old line Jackson democrats in their late
State Convention at Syracuse. They make
short and clean work of the business in hand.
They stand upon the old fashioned principles
of Jefferson, jackson, Thompkins and Silas
Wright-they declare their uncompromising
hostility to the extension of savery-theg
protest against packed conyentions-tbey re-
pudste the Cincinnati candidate as the heir
apparent of the Pierce dynasty-they declare
themselves for Fremont and Dayton, on the
ground that the election of Buchanan will
make Kansas slave State, while the election
of Fremont will secure it to freedom and free
labor
And who are these democrats that thus
boldly defy the Cincinnati politicians, and who
cast away with such contempt the pettifocging
letter of the sage of Lndenwald, and the Oily
Cannon speeches of Prince JOhn2 Who are
they2 They are the cream of the old democrat.
&c party Of this c0Banl0nceGLth-the gerry cream
Of it, Some of them were leaders in the
church when orr modern democratic chief
tains-such as Pierce, Douglas and TOombs-
were lawyers apprentices, and some of them
were democrats when Mr.. Buchanan was
federalist. And they represent body of men
that will astonish the Cincinnati compoupders
in November. The vote in this State for
Martin Van Buren, in 1848, upon the general
issue of hostility to the extension of slavery,
was 100000, and very likely upwards of fifty
thousand OF these voters are now with FIRE.
mont.
We should not be surprised it. on the day of
the election, the full measure OF one hundred
thousand of the Van Buren, vote of '48 were
to be cast for Fremont. We think twenty
thousand liberal margin for the family influ-
ence of Van Buren,, under existing circumstan-
ces. The distinguished head of the family
has overshot the mark, and like the Queen of
Louis Philippe with the Count of Paris, he
comes in too late. He has by this time dis
covered his mistake. He has imagined here
tofore that he appropriated those one hundred
and twenty Thousand men for his own selfish
purposes in 184S, when in fact they were only
using him. They were not aveLgiDg Martin
Van Buren-they were defending principle
in that Buffalo movement.
Thus we have another striking illustration
of the great fact that the prestige of the dem
ocratic party is gOne-that the name has lost
its Gharm-that the party is broken up-that
old democrats By thousands arc becoming indie
pendent euen Of democratic conventions, and that
all around Us there has been, is now, and will
be apopular revolution atwork, demolishing all
the old claptrap platforms, humbugs and
lodges of scheming politicians, until general
reform is effected, and an out and.out recOns
structiOn of parties, principles, measures and
men in government affairs. The Cincinna ii
cOntrivance will do no good to Mr.. Buchanan
in the Empire State. New York has gone by
the board
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01
Cheaflnr around the Heal d.


The fact, that BENTON and VAN buren,
every tissue Of whose bodies is putrid witt
freesoilism, are jealous and earnest sup
porters of Buchanan, should arrest the at
tention of the Southern people. Is it reas
enable to suppose that these two men who
for the last eight or nine years, have beer
numbered amongst the acknowledged lead
ers of the freesoil party, would at this pc
culiar juncture, considered SO propitious fol
the success of their schemes, support mar
for the Presidency, unless they knew that
he favored, and in his heart entertained
their own sentiments? 1t is against proba
bility, and common sense, to think so for q
moment.
Benton and Van Buren, have had pecu
cuIiar opportunities of knowing Buchanan
thoroughly, and they do knOo0 him. They
hobnobbed with him for years as democratic
Senators. They knew him intimately, in
his private, as well as his public opinions
If they did not know he was with then
heartily, they would not and could not con
sistently support him. That they do so, is
enough to arouse Southern attention to
the real views of this second "NortAerm man
with Southern principles Van Buren,
No. g.
The following paragraph from the New
York Erening Post, formerly Freesoil Dem,
ocrat, now Black Republican, of July II,
looks little like there was cheating around
the board. Says the Post:
''Certain of the friends of Buchanan in this
quarter are attempting to procure support for
him by means which are not allowed to come
to the knowledge of his Southern supporters.
They gre the strongest assurances that Mr.. BI-
chGnGga, If fortunate enough to be elected, toiLl
so ddnasntster the Ldsos as TO giUe the real inhd6-
itants Of the territories an opportunity Of e.
GLIDING sLdUery Uhile yet an the territorial con-
ditiOn. 1t is eUen said that Mr. Buchanan has
soritten a letter TO that efect-G letter strongly
intimGting that he IS Nth the North and
against the South on this guestiOn-a letter
which is shown in confidence to people whose
political course is undecided, and with the ex-
press stipulation that nothing concerning it is
to get into the newspapers 1--WE shall cheat
the South yet," say these managers of Blu
chanan's cause for the free States. "Woit till
buchanan as elected, and see hon he wiU disap-
point the Virginia and South Carolina poLiti.
clans"
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01

s@p Referring to the fact that Van
Buren, supports Buchanan purely on &C.
count of the Squatter Sovereigntyism in
his letter of acceptance, and to Van Bu-
ren'S labored and conclusive argument
showing that this is the meaning of the
Wheatland letter, the Union and american
of yesterday says
evan Buren, believes that it is constitution
al for a territorial legislature to establish or
prohibit slavery. He understands Mr.. Buch-
anan as endorsing whatever is constitutional,
and that therefore he endorses his theory up
on the subject"
Men of the acknowledged intelligence of
our neighborS should be ashamed to put
forth an argument SO utterly weak and pue-
rifle. Van Buren, understands that Buch-
anan's views are constitutional, and he, as
a matter of course, knows that his own are !;
he gives certain construction to disput-
ed constitutional point, and he takes it for
granted that Buchanan comedies with him,
because he understands that Buchanan'S
views are constitutional.
And this forsOoth, is the process by which
Van Buren, has learned that Buchanan is a
squatter sovereignty advocate. Our neigh.
bors would have their readers believe that
Van Buren, did not read Buchanan'S letter,
wherein he gives his views on the point, to
ascertain whether Buchanan agreed with
him but reaches his conclusions by syllog-
ism. Oh crackey, try it again.
Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-01
FRIDAY, AUGUST /, 1855.
The Issue Joined.


The Patriot says that many Southern presses o.
the Democratic party, have declined supporting
Mr. Buchanan account Of that clause in his letter
Of acceptance which says, that the people Of Ter
Titory hike those OF State should determine their
domestic institutions for themselves. We take II
for granted that our neighbors intended TO be I'M
derstood as in earnest. If joking, they ought to
have said so. Now we deny the PdtriOE's asser-
ton. The issue is made up. We call for the
proof. Unless you can give it, you should retract
she assertion Union aud American.
In the above paragraph, issue is taken
with our statement that there were South
ern democratic presses which had declined
to support Buchanan on account of his
squatter sovereignty heresy, and had de-
nounced that doctrine We are not in the
habit of making assertions unSupportable
by proof We give below list of South
ern democratic papers who refuse their
support to Buchanan, on account of his
free-soil record, and Squatter Sovereignty
ism. Two of these, we learn, the Thibo-
deaux Minerva and Franklin Banner have
run up the Fillmore standard. There are
Others beside these, but we cannot at this
moment lay our hand on them:
Columbia Is. c. Times,
Thibodeaux (La.) Minerva,
Darlington Is. c. Flag,
Pee Dee Is. c. Times,
Sumpterville Is. c. Watodnpdn,
Franklin (La.) Banner,
Sumpterville rs. c. Times,
GanDaway's Brownsville Tenn. Journal,
Newberry rs. c. Mirror, and Plaque
mine (La. } paper whose name we cannot
call to mind.
These papers are not among our ex-
changes, but we have seen statements re-
specting them, as yet uncontradicted, which
give them claim to places on our list We
have published heretofore, articles from
some of them in regard to Buchanan and
his positions.
In addition to these, may be added one
of the abIeSt journals in the South, and we
may say in the whole country, the New Or,
leans Delta. Though not reckoning itself
among Mr.. Buchanan's opponents, it is fast
''damning him with faint" support. 1t has
fearlessIy and independently criticized his
positions on questions vital to the South,
and characterized them as in the highest
degree, dangerous and unsound. 1t def
antly rejects the control of the democratic
clique of Louisiana, and speaks its mind
freely in regard to the Cincinnati candi-
date, and more especially his Squatter
SovereigntyiSm. Though not formally ops
posing him, it is really opposing him most
formidably and effectively. In late artil
Gle it uses the following language: "The
Delta has not declared any intention o.
formally opposing Buchanan, though it is
perfectly true that his notions Of Squatter
Sovereignty, are not relished by IFS editors any
more than By tree-fOurths Of the earnest and
intelligent patriots of the South"