Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-03-07

r.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH =, 1856.
PROTEST OF MEMBERS OF THE "oLD
GIraHD" AGAINST MR.. FILLMORE'S NO
MISATION.
Msuy leading friends OF "Live Oak" George Law
:, New York, have hold meetings to repudiate the
domination of Fillmore, on the ground that, after
to secession of many Of its members, the body that
ods the nomination "caunot DO called convention
suy more than six men can be called JURY
Among the friends Of George Law who took part
IN the proceedings and pledged themselves to stand
hv Law. were e. Edwards Lester and II. N. "eia'
.,.a p-s.;dsnt Of Live Oak Club. Resolutions were
.dontsd. protesting against Fiumore's nomination.
because
.rir,t. The nominee |. not member OF the Anne.
,o,n marty: he has never been inside OF council
room. and no act Of his life, no word SPOKEN or
line written by him Of which we have any Auow'
ledge Indicates that he sympathzes wttn 'oat party
or ,Sn, hs would carry outi Its principles.
.sp,.ond Hi, nomination we regard az an utter De-
travail of the great American movement-a treitcrous
atiempt to wrest it from its purpose and make mln
ister 10 the selfish ambition OF the leaders and dema.
gognes of the dead organization of the past.
.fh;rd He was forced upon the State of New York
he Southern votes against the wish Of our State dele.
,,o,es and from those States which no man pretends
| can carry their vote for an American PRESIDENT
Fourth. He was forced upon the State OF New
Work against the express wish Of large majority OF
our State Legislature, against the express wish cf
minority of tho State officers and, we repeat against
the express wish Of twothirds OF our delegates the
| Convention. .
"Fiftb. He was not neminated by majority Of the
States or BY the delegates nf majority Of the States
Several States were permitted 10 cast their votes
through single delegate, who cast the whole number
| 4 o. ka,,a t,nnn anti nd
Such votes were cast by parties who had previously
protested against the proceedings anu retired from
the Convention.
But the most remarkable sign Of the times is long
protest from j. w. Bryce against the nomination.
In the last gubernaoral contest in Virginia, Mr.
Bryce was one Of the most popular and tavorite
American" orators in this city and throughout Fir-
gnia. Virginia Know Nothngs are therefore estop-
ped from discrediting him as witness. Let them
read and digest the protest Of their own orator and
witness against the nomination of Fillmore, especial
ly upon grounds involving the dearest interests Of the
South. We quote from the New York Herald the
following conclusion Of Mr. Brycs's letter:
Now what, l ask, has this Philadelphia Convention
| done Nominated candidate who, according to
the statement Of highly respectable and well inform
| ed member Of the New York delegation, does not
belong TO our Order, but who no has received
| 4
sibe prsclice,) has certainly never mingled in ouI
councils Or given any public evidence of devotion tc
our principles. Without any disposition to deirac
from Mr.. Fillmore's just merits as pubic man. there
seems to entire and Intentional absence OF proc
that be endorses the principles of the American Or
der, while have satisfactory testimony, which at
proper time may bring forward. that during his ad
rninstration its members were regarded with disfsvor
| and treacherously used by him and his friends. Was
loyalty to the Order or fenlty to its obligations
| which effected the nomination of Mlsrd Fillmore =
! No! it was the miserable doctrine of expediency
which, however may suit the purposes Of spoils
loving party, should have DO influence over the &C.
ton OF an honest and patriotic organization for il re-
quirss at the outset that which must soon degrade il
| to faotion-the sacrifice Of principle.
ltis said that the nomination Of Mr. Fillmore was
| imposed ON the Convention by Southern votes, and
| by disposition to coucilate the South. Now
| though for some years a citizen Of New York, am
| Southerner by birth aud education, and my opinions
OH the subject Of slavery, and the rights Of slave
| ers are more in copsonance with the Southern than
| with the Northern sentiment, and have been bar,
on at least one prominent occasion, to my political
| prerermeni but ask, what right has the American
party Soutif, without the power 10 give any ehsctua
aid in his election to dictate candidate to the Ame
rican party Of the whole Unionl And especially do
ask. by what right was single delegate allowed IN
violation of all fair precedent, to cast the whole num-
Der of votes which State would have been entitled
had the delegation beeu full when in several instances
The delegates who thus acted had previously with
irawn from the Convention, and protested against
It's proceedingsl Ii is but few short years since
Mr.. Filluore's avowsd sentiments on the subject
Of slavery Objectionable 10 the South as those
of almost any Northern politician, and though ac
cord to him all that is his due for his administration
ofthe government and execution OF the laws while ne
was acting President, hore seen no evsdenee 81
change in his viesos on that subject Is the South sc
hard beset, then, in defence Of her constitutional
rights that her sons must take shelter nnder he pro-
lection of Aaard Fmore's CONSCIENTIOUS scrupes n
regard to his oath Of affect For IT there be any truth
h;o lnpa higfnr he
yielded tmdIy this influence rather than his con-
vc,ions Of right in reference to all those acts whlct
have elicited their appreciation. For myself, spurr
the sroveng uecessitY-I ahull invoke expedients
bur always defend my rights upon principle. While
can other claim, then which Mr.. Fillmore ma
upon the South than the negative one Of having done
his duty In Office, under his oath to support the con
stitution, may be permitted TO say w'tnont oneoce nee
that the Order to which they belonged had bigh anc
sacred cuims upon the delegates from tue South In
the National Convention. II they believed these &C.
condary to their own peculiar views, they should
have frankly severed the bond, and released those
| who had acted in good faith with them for tho nd
vancelnent Of American principles; and not have i'm
posed on them, under the tie OF q common brother
hood, the burden of nomination soVntt and so in'
consistent with the plan and spirit ofthe American
Order. But il, on the other hand. they were only
blinded for the moment by the confusion and excite
nent incident to the OCCASION aud which were caused
by the Interpolation of extraneous and improper sub
ecs into creed, they owe to themselves snd the
great objects Of the organization whose onllgatons
| they have asaumed, promptly md with dignity to
retrace their steps.
For my humble self, believing the nomination OF
Millard Fillmore to be opposed 10 the spirit and letter
Of the constitution Of order, aud claiming
interest with tho highest and proudest 10 th" Order
for which have 30 long labored-not an interest
measured by the enouments Of place and power
but an interest in the destny of those institutions
which my children ars to Inherit enter this my So
l.rnn protest. against the nomination Of Mard Fill.
more, by the late Convention at Philadelphia pro-
Tossing TO act for the American Order and hold my
self absoved from any obligation to support him as
the American candidate. JOHN W. BRYCE,
Fourteenth Wsrd Council y. I.