Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-04-16
TULIP GROVE, NEAR NASHVILLE,

Gentlemen Il did not receive until yesterday
your official note of the Goth OF February last in
forming me of my nomination to the office OF
Vice President by the American party, and ask
ing my acceptance OF the same. 3ao III. /. -.
For the tiattering terms in which You have
communicated this proceeding, | beg leave to
offer you my sincere thanks. accept the posi-
ton assigned lie by the American party, with
Just sense, trust, of the responsibility belonging
TO it. attended the Convention with no ex-
pectation that such an ho.ior awaited me, and if
my own feelings and wishes could have been
consulted, it would have fallen upon some other
member of the American party, in whose ranks
are so many distinguished individuals, better
known to the country. and better prepared by
experience for the high duties of the station,
should the voice of the people be in accord with
that of which you are the organ on this occasion.
But acting upon the maxim left us by the great
men of the earlier days Of our Republic, that
public office should be neither sought nor de-
.clined yield to the judgment of those who
have thought that my name might be OF service
in advancing the important objects which con-
stitute the American party.
Our leading idea is that the two old parties,
Democratic and Wing, have ceased to exert their
former healthful influence in the management of
the public interest, and that without the inter-
vention of reforms which they can never effect,
the beloved Constitution and Union, bequeathed
to us by our foretathers, will not be preserved.
For the most of the evils with which we are
threatened at the present period, the administra-
ton of President Pierce is evidently responsible;
but instead of finding his party engaged in the
prosecution OF measures to avert the dangers he
has brought upon the land we see it more ac
tive than ever in scattering the seeds of sectional
strife and social anarchy.
When Gen. Jackson came into the Presidency,
he acknowledged in his inaugural address the
obligation of the Executive to restrain the pat
ronage of the Federal Government so that it
should not be brought into conflict with the
freedom of elections. But modern Democracy
stands in direct antagonsm to this obligation.-
There is scarcely an election precinct in the Uni
ted States which has not witnessed the most
shameful interference with elections by the "a
gents of the Federal Government acting in the
name of Democracy.
In former times when parties were created by
patriotic and national sentiments, upon measures
of general interest TO the whole country, we
never heard that measure could be declared
Democratic in one place, and not Democratic i'll
another, by le9ding men protesting to belong to
this party Yet we see this enormity exhibited
daily by the party press in the pay OF the pres
ent Executive. The necessary result OF such
corruption, if not successfully opposed, must be
to destroy all political morality, and to continue
power in unfaithful and incompetent hands by
the mere influence OF the money derived from
the taxes which are paid by the people for far
different purposes. 1t is undenlable that the an
tagonism now prevailing between the North and
the South, is mainly attributable to the political
artitice which has enabled men holding directly
opposite opinions on the power OF Congress over
the institution Of slavery in the Territories, but
yet protesting to belong to the same Democratic
party. The Nebraska-kansas act is constantly
called by one portion of Democrats, law which
will prevent the extension Of slavery to the Ter
ritories, and by another portion, law which
will enable the South TO carry slavery to the
Territories. BY the same fallacy, secession null
lifcaton abolition, and all other isns have found
shelter under the flag of Democracy, explained
as it is by modern interpreters.
In former times, also, our best patriots, with
out distinction of party, spoke of the necessity OF
guarding the ballot box from the dangers OF for
eign influence and of keeping separate the Church
and State; and of the advantage to be derived
from q frequent recurrence TO the earlier advice
tNN
the compacts of the Constitution, and the absti-
nence from whatever tended TO form Geographic
cal parties or array one section OF the Union a.
eanst another. Now, however, the whole pow
er of the Federal Government is brought to bear
against any individual who has the independence
to declare his attachment to these old fashioned
sentiments. Whole classes of men stand pro-
scribed and ostracised for no other offence than
that of joining an association which seeks only
to correct the excuses of party spirit and to re-
store the Government TO the purity it possessed
when we received it from the hands OF those
sages who founded and reformed it.
Looking, gentlemen, upon the American party
as destined to eradicate the evils to which have
thus briefly adverted, am proud to be called
one of its members, and can only regret that in
selecting its lag-bearers, the choice for the Vice
President had not fallen upon one who could
bring TO the cause higher guarantees for its sue
cess than can be drawn from the humble SER
vices have heretofore rendered my country.
Thanking you again for the kind manner in
which you have expressed your personal gratifi-
cation Mt the nominations,
! subscribe myself,
Very respectfully,
Your ob'dt. ser'vt.
A. J. DONELSON.
To MEssRs. Alex. II. II. Stuart, of Virginia
Andrew Stewart, of Pennsylvania; Erastus
Brooks, of New York; f. B. Bartlett, of Ken
lucky Vim. j. Eames, of Massachusetts,; E.
phriam Marsh, of New Jersey.
Gov. WIsE's ANcEsTRY.-The Lynchburg Nir-
gilman reproduces the following elegant passage
from the life of Governor Wise, by James Pink
ney ITambleton, NJ. d., of Pittsylvana Court
House:
THE mother of Governor Wise was Sarah
Corbn Cropper,the daughter of Gen. Jno. Crop
per of Bownan's Folly in the county of Acco-
mack, on the sea side. Her mother was Mar
garet. called Peggy, Pettitt. The Choppers were