The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-25

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State delegates having rejected him. By,
whom is he Supposed? The Know Nothings
of the South, chiefly, the great body of North
ern Know Nothings having gone over to FIRE.
mont What does he represent, in addition to
the proscriptive tenets of his Order? The
Fugitive Slave Bill, antsgonism to the Wilmot
Proviso, acquiescence in the Kansas N ebraska
act, and the policy of enforcing what is called
the laws of Kansas, out of which have sprung
tratricidsl war. Is this system of acts and
policy national? Was it instituted to promote
or secure any national interest? Is it not
from beginning to end purely sectional, and
nti-national2
Mr.. Fillmore is in all points just as sectional
regard the Party that nominated and now sup
ports him, or the Principles and Party he rep
resents.
But he is put forth, as the representative, par
excellence, of Union. This Union has nothing
to apprehend except from the extension of
Slavery and the growth of the Slave Power.
Arrest these evils, and the Union is perpetual.
What Interest predominated all through the
Administration of Willard Fillmore? The
slaveholding. 1t was that which passed Flu
gitive Slave Act, revolving to justice and hu-
mainly, and exasperating to the People of the
free States. 1t was that which dishonored the
Anti Slavery Extension policy of the Jeffer-
sonian Ordinance and initiated in the Compro-
misses the pest of Squatter Sovereignty in the
place of the Wilmot Proviso. 1t was that
which lay open to the invasion of Slavery
Utah and New Mexico, and furnished to
Messrs. Douglas and Atchison the pretext for
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. And
yet we are now to believe that the man who
acted as the instrument of sectional and anti
Union Interest in all this mischievous line of
policy, is the only national Union candidate
for the Presidency
What does this Union candidate propose as
a remedy for the civil war in Kansas? Has
anybody heard him say? He has denounced
Black Republcansm-he has even proclaimed
a Dissolution of tho Union, as the inevitable
result of the election Of Fremont. But what
are his opinions about Kansas? What does he
think of its so-called Laws, which have driven
the people to arms in defence of their constitu-
tional rights? Ought they to be repealed or
Ought the authority of the bogus
Legislature to be recognised-its acts to be
Ought ruffians from Missouri to
burn and kill, and so maintain order and law,
while actual settlers, taking up arms to defend
themselves, are indicted and incsrcerated as
guilty of treason? What says Mr.. Fillmore?
Nothing What say his friends? Hear Ed
ward Bates of Missouri, member of the Con-
vention, hitherto deemed liberal, moderate
man:
"The President Mr.. Bates, before putting the
question, spoke some time. He said he had
not been in political life for eight-and-twenty
years, and he was astouished at being called
upon to preside over this Convention. He was a
man who asked for nothing in the line or power
of Wings to give.
ale did not place much faith in newspaper
statements, for he believed there was a system
attic system of perversion of facts relative to the
affairs occurring on the Missouri frontier, and
he believed the whole thing had been got up
and kept up by parties for electoneering pur-
poses. The Kansas n ebraska act had been the
cause of all the difficulties which had arisen in
the country. Nobody, down to the time of the
report Of the Kansas. Nebraska bill, had ever
asked for a change in the policy relative to the
Territories.
"Mr. Douglas was not the originator of that
| bill-Mr. Atchison was the author of it. TWAS
| deemed necessary to secure his Mr.. Atchison's |
reelection. 1t was done by Mr.. Douglas, as a n
| electioneering scheme for the Presidency, but
| - raioa1 do NJ IL
| recoil WAS greater than the onset
''The speaker denied that there was ANYTHING
in the Compromise acts of 1850 that prohibited
| Congress from admitting Territories as slave
States. The acts establishing the Territories
of Utah and New Mexico, provided that they
should be admitted as States, with or without
Slavery, az their Legislatures should determine
Mr.. Bates spoke at length on the subject OF
| Slavery in the Territories. The Wing party he
claimed to be the party of law, in contradistinc
ton from the Democratic party, which was the
| party Of men.
| "The Territories, he said, were dependent
property-to be governed, aud must be govern
ed. In this Government, we had no king bu
the law; and he called no man a Wing, who
had not reverence for the Constitution and tn,
law, and was not willing to enforce it, whethel
he voted for it or not. Applause.
|
vention 10 give his views of the difficulties nov
existing in Kansas, Mr.. Bates did 80 at som,
length. He said the affairs there were YER,
much like the game of brag, each party looking
at the other very ferocious, but each hopinl
that the other would run away.
Sometimes, however, the parties came tot
close, their hands slipped, and they got NOR,
than they bargained for. in his opinion, Their,
never was a time in Kansas, when an ordinar,
firm and determined man could not have main
tanned the laws, if he was disposed to do so.
"Mr. Bates closed by reminding the Conven
ton that they had only marked out their task
they had not begun to do it. And when the,
went home, they must actively and energeticsl
ly 90 to work. They had chosen Willard Fill
more because he was Wing, and nothing blu
a Wing. Let this Convention go home and de
| serve success-that was what they could do.
"When he closed, three cheers were proposes
and given, and the Convention, at ten minute
past 4 o'clock, adjourned sine die"
game of brag-all for electioneering pul
poses-laws must be maintained-at any tim
firm, determined man, might have enforce
law! And this is all that one of the most lii
eral supporters of Mr. Fillmore, living almos
within sight of the horrible deeds perpstrate
in Kansas, can find it in his heart to say
Men murder and rob and burn for electioueel
ing purposes, do theyH 1t is game of bras
is it, whom Mr.. Atchison puts himself at tn
head of an army of a thousand men, proclaim
ing their purpose TO exterminate the Abol
tionists, and when every highway is blocke
in Missouri against Free State immigration
And what laws, Mr.. Bates, are to be enforced
Not word does he drop, suggestive of the ide
that the elective franchise in Kansas has bee
interfered with, bogus Legislature institute