The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-07-09
DEFENCE OF PRESIDENT FILLMORE


DEFENCE OF PRESIDENT FILLMORE
HON. JAMES BROOKS,
Tor NEW YORK,
Before Meeting Of the American Party, held al Gin
cinnati, Friday evening May 30, 1856.
tRepnted By T. Slinkria, cf cincimaii
Mr.. Brooks, on being introduced by the
Chairman, and warmly welcomed, addressed
tie meeting a. follows:
VIZ. Chairman and Gentlemen
THANK you hearth " fer this kind reception,
IN community where never before had the
honor 10 appear in public; aud. unaiirctedly,
] may say, feel oppressed BY the kind an
nouncement which my brethren oi' the press,
sympathizng with our comman profession,
have made ot my coming here, in inducing
you 10 expect something lrom me, plain
man, unframed ii public speaking. utterly
beyond nv power TO give. ! am here, from
the banks Of the Hudson, on this 0hio, 10 in
quire why il is, that in some parts Of your
State, there is an opposition raised among
men, acting with you in some thing, 70 an
eminent citizen of my own State, whom we
have always delighted to honor, and whom,
on all occasions whatever, that proper 0p
portuniiy offered, we have honured before all
other men, and whom, as the opportunity Of.
lers once more, doubt not, We shall honor
more than ever. tApplause.l Who he Is,
you know as well as know. What he has
been, is scattered all over the modern records
Of his country. The successor, the lineal
successor, of tie principles Of Washington,
and Madison, and Clay, aud Webster, what,
ever their principles NAV have been, their
acts NAV have been, his have been and his
will be; and IL those principles cannotbe up
held, or such men be elected as MIR. Fillmore
To uphald them, the time has come when our
institutions aud our country are IN peril Of
wreck. II is charged, indeed, against this
eminent citizen, MhOse honor is nnlainted,
aud against nhUin, as a man, nothing can be
said in public or in private life, that he IS
connected with party bigoted aud fanatic,
hostile 10 the rights Oi conscience, as pledged
IN the Constitution Ol our common country,
and hostile TO men on the ginund o. their re
liginn, and proscriptiye Of them because OF
that religion, and that, if he, and his friends,
had power, they would draw around The At
lantic aud Pacific coasts, "a Chinese wall,
which the waters 0f the ocean could never
otcrleap in the tides af distant emigration,
and that, if liz and his had their way. tins
would be but an exclusive, proseriptisr land,
like that of tie Celestial Empire 81 called.
shutting OF al outside barbarians. IL i al
legged. too, though Northen man, educated
IN Northern State, among the free schuals
aud the freemen 81 these our Northern states,
that this eminent citizen j. disloyal and IN.
faithful to the Nnril, rerreani TO the very
soil on winch he trea,ls, iraIturous 10 the IN
stiiutinns IL thar blrlh-laud. With a face but
made 0f dnueh or clay, e. be moulded BY
any. aud every Southern potter. These are
great and grave charges against any man,
greater aud gra,er When leselle against an
eminent man, and cume here from his avn
State 10 protect him irnm them. II he cannpt
be protected, lei him 20. lethim lall. ! s,aud
here 20 protect nobigat. no lanatic, no North.
ern traiio, for scurn them Ill. hut whence
do these charges come against the American
party, aud against this great pitut now stand
ing by The rudder II this American party.
and sailing under the American flag! From
the batteries ol Europe, on lie nne side,
charging him with bigotry and lanaticism,
and from the batteries 81 Africa, On The oticr
charging him with ,Iisluyalty 20 his country.
Mllarl Fillmore hight and finaiic, and
against the right. nf conscience! The Ame
rcan party bigutrd and fanatic. aud agans
the rights Of conscience Sir, wc make ~
war---suu. who are americans, or We, whn ar
iriends Ul the American parts--none q q.
make war upon any inar : religion, no mat.
iet what may be ils furms. speak on ms
avn responsibility. hut III lie spirit II ihu.,
/ with whom | act, when s.y That, - iaras
am concerned, ! care not What may be |
mans religion. provided he j. faithful 20 ih,
4 institutions nf this country. ! make no VA
on Catholics of any Iind-Luthrran Catho
\ lies. Catholics u the Church IL England
Roman , athulies. Grsck Catholics, OF an,
species uf Catholics whatever. have III,
own religious opinions. aud give every mai
fill liberty 10 have his own. Il u not on III,
religion ol men We make war-rcligion o
any shape or iurm--bui nrun the politics .
men wliuse principles ate not OUr principles
uf political administration. or whusc princi
pies are alien 10 the in.titutions of cur rnun
iry. applause knuw IL il charged sol
are puiiiically hostile 10 The Roman Cathcli
because of bis religion. But say before III
public here, and think NAV say il in be
half of the American party of The Unicn, that
a. political men, We care not for The religio
IL ans person. not even for the Roman Cath
olic religion. Weha,c not intcfIcrcd. aud "
10 not wish 10 interfere with the rights All
privileges Of any sect. Let the Roman Ga
iholie. ir lie please, entertain his own idea
II tfansubslEntistiun-- Is welcome 70 ,hei