Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-10-04
Important Letter.

We find the subjolned important and in
teresing letter in The Natchez Courier of the
oath inst. It is in answer 10 one directed TO
the writer by Judge c. L. Dnbis on, Of Nat
chez. DR.. Duncan we'll known in this city and
Throughout the South; and, being one or the
largest shareholders in the country, his views
should exercise a corresponding influence upon
those who are alike interested with him in the
preservation Of the Union and the protection Of
the Constitutional rights Of our section.
Here is the letter alluded to:
New YORK, Sept. 18th, 1856.
My dear Sir / received your letter,
and learn from it that some letters adj
dresned by me 10 friends in Mississippi in
June last, have created the impression
that I now favor the election of Mr.. Blu
chanan. 1t is due to myself, and especial
" due to my old friends, that | should
explain my course III this matter. When
I arrived in this city in May last, | found
the public mind much disturbed, and
much feeling excited. | became alarmed
for the consequences, and when / wrote
nv friends in the South in the early part
Of June last, | thought the crisis demand
cd that the first consideration, with the
conservatives Of all parties, should he the
preservation Of HE Union, and for the
attainment of this great and good object,
that | no sacrifice would he too great. ]
thought this could Gully be attained by
alIayinG the sectional strife which So dis
turbs the. whole country, and which, if
continued, must produce. the most calami-
tous re.nIts. Then thought, and 81 wrote
To my friends in the South, that for the
accomplishment Of this end it might be
wise aud proper for the Wings to sustain
the election Of Mr.. Buchanan, and thus
make his majority so triumphant, that he
wanltl feel himself, and he, the President
Of the Nation, and not Of a party. Be
sides, being advanced in years, / hoped
he would have 40 aspirations for a re-
election, and would therefore be likely to
administer the government with purity,
and wiillont party, or sectional bias.
never commended him to the Wings
as a %ciinice. but only as an alternative, as
the leastof two evils: for | then thought
the contest would be between him and
MIR. Fremont alone. Very soon afieward,
however, my views underwent an entire
change. | became satisfied that the sue
cess Of Mr.. Buchanan would in nowise
tend to alIay s~ectional.strifc. On the con-
trary, that his election would NEST likely
aggrayate aRd proiong it, through the
violenceofh opponents, for it is undenia-
bly, true that he is as much a Southern
sectional, as Mr.. Fremom is a Northern
sectional, candidate. With Dir. BucI,a-
mans election the agitation would be
continued, with Mr.. Fremons's election
the crisis would be the. more speedily
brought to the eliminating point, not
simply by his election, but through the
measures of his adherents.
Since MIR. Fillmore's return from Eu-
rope, liis prospects have 30 strengthened
and improved that | think no true Wing
can hesitate in his choice. He is the only
ope Of the three suited to tire crisis. He
IS national in lone and sentiment. On
him and through him a national marty
may be built up. strong enough TO over
Flde al 0tleFss ana especially all sectional
parties. His friends may confidently rely
on his obtaining the yote of this Stage. Il
entertain the opinion that the success Of
all parties heretofore has depended more
on their organization than on their urinci.
pies. II this be 50, then Mr.. Fillmore
ought to carry New York, for the partv
that supports him is mach the best or
ganized Of the three.
! am much averse to appearing before
the public 10 any way. It would. how
ever, be unjust to Mr.. Fillmore, d man
tyr whose public and political course /
entertain 20 profound a respect, to with
hold from him any influence, however
small, may possess. / seek not to Oh.
trude my opinions on oilers; but I seek 10
be fairly quoted and represented in the
present canvass. ! could not. conseien,.
ousIy, Withhold from my friends nv nres.
ent views. ! have advised all, to whom +
wrote in June, of the change stated above.
and the reasons for ii. They are satis.
factory to myself. md | hope win be SO
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