Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-05-31

The Hon. Jere Clemens forcibly presents
arguments for the South to favor the Ameri-
can party. We present a short extract from
his letter:
The three prominent candidates Of the Anti~
Americans are Buchanan, Douglas and Pierce.
buchanan is more deeply attached to the pro-
t~eCtive principles than Fillmore. Douglas is
fully committed to the river, harbor and road
appropriations, and Pierce is committed to
everything, and will prove trne to nothing
Neither of the three comes up to my standard
of what Democrat ought to be. Neither can
be trusted, by the South, an hour after they
have secured our voices. All of them will be
certain to favor measures from which the
North will reap the benefits while we pay the
taxes, and all them will be certain to stab
us while protesting the most profound regard
for our rights. In the very nature of things Il
party which relies upon foreign voters for
success must enunciate principles and advo-
cate measures hostile to the institution of slave
ry. The foreign hack-driver, drayman, ditcher,
or hod>carrier has no desire to compete for his
wages with the negro. Even the Irish chamber
maid looks with jealousy upon the employ
ment of negro girls in our hotels. There isa
wide--an almost acknowledgements to a
domestic relation which they cannot fail to see
reduces so materially their own chances of en-
ployment; and it is here, at the basis of society,
where a wise politician ought to look for the
seeds Of principles which sooner or later cons
troll the destinies of a nation. Great events
work their way up, not down. All resolutions
begin among the masses. Wherefore himself
only gave voice to a sentiment which existed
before his birth. The Parliament of England
would have abolished slavery if he had never
lived. The haraugues of demagogue are
harmless if there is no prejudice for him to d.
rect--no sentiment in the hearts of the labor~
ing classes which responds to his appeals
| With none but an American people to appeal
to who do not look upon the slave as a rival
whose labor interferes with the sustenance of
their own families, all the political preachers,
and orators in the land could never get up Il
slave agitation to dangerous height. 1t is as
a Southern man, born upon the soil Of the
South, linked 10 it by a thousand ties, attached
to slavery as a domestic relation, and beIieV-
ing my soul that it is best for both races, that |
cherish most ardently the American cause
whatever best promotes this cause will be GER
tain to receive my support. | cannot hope to
have everything exactly as | wish, and as a
practical man | mean to take the best | can get.
At Philadelphia, as at all other conventions,
things were done of which | do not approve,
but | predict the CINCINNATI convention will do
much worse in regard to a platform, and that
the nominees will be a hundred>fold more OBJ
jectionabIe, Oliver Cromwell was wont to say
"nits will be lice and a vile set of traffickers
for foreign votes must of necessity give us a
trafficker like themselves for a candidate.
Very truly and respectfully
Your friend, JERE CLEMENS.
To JOHN HARDY, ESQ.