Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-23

Union WltnOuC having tnelr dOmesuc peace cOhtlnu-
ally disturbed by the attempts of the abolitionist
the great law fselfpreseryation would compel them
to separate from the North. Immediately after the
commencement of the session, and throughout its
continuance, the abotonists, intent upon their OBJ
ject sent immense numbers ofpetitions to Congress
for the abolition of slavery in the District of Colum-
bia, couched in language calculated to exasperate
the southern members" ct was under these cir
cumstances that MIR. Fillmore wrote his Erie letter)
!" What did they ask? That in the District, ten
miles square, cedel to Congress by two savehold.
ing States and surrounded by them, slavery should
be abolished"
He then goes on to denounce in strong language
the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia,
and concludes this branch ofthe subject follows:
''Impelled by these motives, the Senate, upon his
motion, after the petitions had been received, re-
jected the prayer of the petitioners by vote OF
thirtyfour to six and refused to abolish slavery in
the District of Columbia" "Thus
stood the question on the 4th of July, 1885, when
Congress adjourned. The members of Congress
from the saveholding States and their constituents
had right to expect peace. The question had been
fully discussed, and deliberately decided by over
whelming maiorites, and the South had reason to
hope that the minority would acquiesce, at least for
a season, in the will Of a majority"
But Mr. Fillmore and the abolition societies at the
North would not allow peace and quiet to the South
but persisted in agitation of the question which
has repeatedly brought the Union to the brink of
who will ever again charge Mr.. Buchanan with un-
souhdness on this question?
4. 1t is said Mr. Buchanan is favorable to fillibus-
terng and the manifesto of the Ostend conference
is cited proving that he avors attempts to acquire
the Island of Cuba by that means. Mr.. Buchanans
letter accepting the nomination utterly refutes any
such charge. In it he says:
"Should be placed in the executive chair, shall
use my best exertons to cultivate peace and friend
ship with all nations, believing this to be our high
est policy as we'll as our most imperative duty"
From statesman of his conservative character,
whose experience in the conduct eff our foreign af-
fairs is unequaed, and whose prudence is proverbi-
al no such declaration would be needed to satisfy
the country that in his hands its peace and honor
would be equally safe.
The manifesto of the Ostend conference declared
that the possession of the Island of Cuba was of
great importance to the commerce and the security
of this country 'that our government ought to ac-
quire by purchase, if possible, and could afford to
give for it very high price; that if Spain should
refuse to sell it to u.s. it ought to become the fixed
policy of this government that in no event would
we permit it to pass into the hands of q maritime
power, commanding, as it does the whole of our
southern coasts on the Atlantic and the Gull, and
shutting up the whole of Gulf States, including
the mouth of the Mississippi, in the event OF war
between and the power possessing it. Such were
the sentiments avowed to my own constituents
And 20 further and say, that if Spain should at
tempt to pursue such course with the island as
to render it dangerous neighbor to US, the great
law of selfpreservation would imperativey demand
of us to interpose and prevent it, If there is par
ty in this country entertaining different sentiments,
would like to hear them avowed.
Whilst Mr.. Fillmore was President, the best ap-
pointed and most formidable fuibustering expedi-
ton that fitted out from shores left the
Mississippi river almost if not quite, without Oppo
siton from the government. TWAS that led by Lo-
PEI for the conquest Of the Island of Cuba. | do
NJ, e. - 1,,lk <lsl
all he felt justified in doing to arrest it. He issued
his proclamation warning the adventarers that they
need not expect the aid Of their government if they
met the fate they might reasonably expect That
was doing no more than it was strictly his duty to
do both as faithful President and benevolentin-
divdual But the then editor of the Union, Andrew
j. Donelson, now the candidate for Vice President
on the ticket with Mr.. Fillmore, thought otherwise,
and day after day, through the columns of the Union
denounced Mr.. Fillmore for " trucking subservcn-
cy" to Spain, and tor pusIanimously abandoning
American citizens to Spanish vengeance. Indeed of
all the violent abuse heapcd on Mr.. Fillmore by Mr..
Donelson, through the Union, none was more
qualified and more bitter than that founded on Mr..
Fillmore's attempt to suppress fllibustering.
5. 1t is charged that in his speech on the indie
pendent Treasury, Mr.. Buchanan contended that ten
cents per day was sufficient wages for laboring
1t is sufficient reply to this to say, that
such thing is in that any other speech of Mr. Bu
chanan and his enemies, having been repeatedly
challenged to point it out have not been able to do
so. The whole basis of the charge is that he advo-
Gated the independent Treasury. The enemies of
that measure commended that it would reduce the
wages of la, or Mr.. Buchanan denied it. The meas
ure has been the law of the land for ten years. and
experience has shown that Mr.. Buchanan was cor
rect The wages of labor and prices of labor have
never been SO high, nor the country so exempt from
disastrous commercial revulsions, they have been
under the operation of the independent Treasury.
g. The charge of bargain and intrigue against Mr..
Clay. Mr.. Clay. in his lifetime, and his friends, in
Guiding Prentice, his biographer, having exonerated
Mr.. Buchanan from all that improper in that
NATTER it is too late TO found it new CHARGE at
least without some new evidence.
These frivolous charges only intended, as re-
marked Just now, to excuse the Know Nothings for
dividing the South, and to draw off public attention
at the South from exposure brought upon the Know
Nothing party by the proceedings of this Congress,
and the verificaton of every charge made by us
But do not intend to be placed on the defensive,
nor by any such catter of smal-arms, to be drawn
off from the exposure of the misdeeds of 1.-The Or
der of this Congress- Let us briefly trace its ORR
gin and history.
In the presidential election of 1852, the friends of
Gen. Scott made the most desperate efforts to Sc
cure the votes of the Romae Catholic and foreign
born population of tho country. Gen. Scott himself
wrote letters, and made speeches throughout that
portion of the country in which, they numerous,
Astounding in fulsome fattery snd disgusting adula-
ton of those classes, and affected ondness for the
rich Irish brogue and "sweet German accent"
which no pelting storm nor bowling wind could ever
prevent him from distinguishing from the coarse and
vulgar English of the native-born American. In
speech at Cleveland he said
"Fellow-citizens- when 1 say felow-citizens
mean native and adopted citizens we'll as all who
intend to become citizens of this great and glorious
country-I thank you for the enthusiastic reception
you have given me. (Cheers.) But there is one
thing regret in visiting this beautiful city, and that