Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-09-19
IGbPCNEEUIIIf
WILLIS WILLINGHAM.
AUGUSTA, Ga, 18th August, 1856

w llLlo w
AUGUSTA, Ga, 18th August, 1856.
MY Dear Sir: Your letter requesting my "opInon
in writing upon the claims Of the candidates now be-
fore the country for the Presidency, with the priv.
lepe of using it you may wsh. ls before me, and
although Withdrawn from the political arena, can
| not decline compliance with your request.
These claims must be considered relatively, in re-
ference to the state of the country, and the potcal
circumstances surrounding the candidates severally
Ii is proper to begin with survey of the field of
American politics, as At this moment presented There
is but a single exciting question now before the
American people, viz proposition To repeai that
feature of the act organizing the Territories OF han-
sas and Nebraska which expressly abr"gates the Mis-
sour restriction, and to restore that restriction ms
is the pending ISSUE though there can be no DOUBT
that in it would encourage Its authors To ln'
troduce other measures of repeal until all advantage
resulting to the South from the Compromise OF lSJO
| shall have been swept away. The absence from the
contest OF other questions. akes II distinctly section
a, and fearfully pernus to tho Union.
Now Tor the array Of parties: and remark, that
you are invited to make this survey from point en-
tirry without the lines of any and all OF thein GER
| tainly NOT, for that reason, ine!lgible.
First, then, see party prostituting the time
honored name "Republican,' banded together in one
section of the country, for the avowed purpose OF
crusading against the rights and institutions ot an
other section, holding the affirmative OF the above
stated issue; party equally sectional III lis aims, and
it's organization, employing for the purpose of asIta-
On the combined agencies OF the hustings, the press
and the pulpit, all sustained by the corruptlng ILL.,
luenCes Uf money drawn without stlit, from the well
| filled and open Golfers of tributary mlionares Ii
presents as its candidate Mr.. Fremont, famous oRly
| for bold adventures in exploration OF our Western
| wilds and snowy muuntains-a lit instrument IN the
hands of the desperate faction who have committed
their black banner 10 his firm grasp cannot enlarge
upon the demerits of this party or their candidate
nor indeed, 10 this latitude it be necessary. will
only add that it is formidable, we'll in its strength
as in its desperate daring. All men here properly es.
| tmate it character-ew, very few, rightly appreciate
| is power. The Southern man who thinks II con.
emptibly weak and upon that opinion preGcates his
course in this contest, will find when too Late that he
| has hugged to his bosom fatal Geuson 1t not the
first it will undoubtedly prove itself the second pow
er in the struggle: whether shall be hrst or second
will depend mainly upon the South.
We turn now to array in another part OF the
| field The American party somewhat the senior o
the Republican, has been ayowedly organized Tor the
purpose of reforming our naturalization laws SO a.
to secure efrctunlly 10 Americans The power 10 rule
| America. The object is good one, and when pur'
sued by legitimate means, without being made pri
mary to others more important and more exisent, Will
| | trust, claim the favorable consideration Of the
whole people, Now, however that question Is scarce
y named the canvass, and 1t were well to lei tins
| m,nsure of reform rest, until the escape of the Re
public from its present peril is effected This party
! although not sectional, s certainly OF doubtful ma
tipnality for the purpose o resisting the present az
eressi,u upon the rghts and interest ot the South
l u
their national council in February, 1885, of the l2ti
section Of the platform declaration OF principles
made in june 1855, aud which gave 10 the South al
| ample guaranty ot their corporation. Ii Is some
times said that paper guarantees utterly vaiueess
They have certainly proven in some instances, and
for the argument may grant them always so Sill
il must be conceded that the formal and distinc
| withdrawal of one previously given Is stgnpcdEt.-
This party then with full knowledge that their na
,ions council iwhuse authority is recognlzedl has
made this withdrawal, proceeded, III conventloD OF
the next day, in the city, 10 nominate their can
didaes for the Presidency aud Vice Presidency, ant
| gave them no position whatever this momentou
question In view of ail thls to say that the part,
is of doubtful nationality for defence OF the South
this ruthless aggression upon her constitutional rights
is to use mild terms. Of the patriotism and genuine
national feeling of the Southern WING no DOUBT It
meant to be insnuated-they are above susplciOn'-
Their mistake, / think, lies in reposing unInertec
confidence in their northern coniederates upon "host
faithful cooperation depends the ciaiH o, mo pa'1
to nationality. Their candidate Is Mr' ihmpre,
most worthy man-an able statesman, VINO In the ie
,,slstve and executive departments. has done tht
country good service and made his name honoraole
We are pointed by Southern ah,Fch's ~ h's au
mjnistysti0 and we are told ha'' oy ms ho'u'na'on
| The nar1v ,,ss given the South higher ana Dette
uorortv ,bpn their repudiated 18th section. TO
GREATER extent this guaranty Is ood ana Is cnrhally
sccrpt.d, but does it 90 far enough! VI Mr. Fiji
/, | - InysIty 10 the Constitution, and TO the rgh
| r oil neouls oveSshaduwed by II, as he lnterpre
them there can be 10 doubt-none nj all. But sine
hs went into retreneat there has been further iegs
,tion on the slavery questions; the Kansas and Ne
hrsska acr repeaiDg III express terms The Missouri
re.trictiou which had beE0re been virtually abroga
ad bv the territorial scts of 1850, has been passed.
Ths ia the alleged VI the present agitation II
the non -slavehoding States. Ne Of the South main
tain that this repeating clause is III strict accordanc
viii, the Compromise Of 1850, aud we then claimed
the removal of the Missouri restriction, rs one OF h
benefits derived under it. Yet since his nomination
Mr. Fillmore has publicly denounced this repeal
! Now We cannot afford in klndness TO any man
or set of men, to blink this question, so full of peri
| TO the South and to the Union. Whatever ma,
be said of squatter sovereignty, Of sanctioninl
alien voting, Of other provisions OF tins hansaS
Nebraska active cannot surrender the ciauss
which repeas the Missouri restriction, dielc
that and you yield much that is valuable IN the Soh
promise OF 1850 which we all so solemnly Pieug
I'd to maintain. Yet, again, il IS Prec'sey ths'
ciause of the act which Mr.. Fillmore nhs aenouh:
ed. II is quite possible that not"i'ns'anuus 'I''
denuuciation upon the ground VI e1Peu'ency' :"
t H.. rsstnrat;ou of the Missouri RESTRICTION nave
orce b..n told when presenting thus view, that thi:
nomination by the American party OF Georgia ane
,,.r nIntform in which high ground Is taken on th'
o;nt had been together laid before him, ana that IL
bs arceutance of the nomination, ne must ana "ouil
daclare his assent to the platform. But mas he done
so1 You will search for it in vain there. de aliude'
% hi. candidacy under the Philadelphia nomination
,oresses himself gratified that the Georgia Ameri
have in it, and for his principles refer
70 hi, past administration. will say in candor that
have been told also, that there i'd in existence salts
factory evidence of his concurrence with our view
ON this point, but have not seen it. Why not slV'
II IN the nublc Why not let every man read and Judg