Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-07-26
ME-. RnrMeIl,s Letter.

Mr.. Burwell's Letter.
The reasons impelling VIM. NJ. Bur-
we'll, Esq, late the editor of the Wash
;ugton Organ, to withdraw from the
Know nothing party, must fall with con-
vincing force on the minds of all oppo-
sition men in the South who have not
mado up their minds to be used really
to aid the election of Fremont under the
pretence of supporting Fillmore. We
quote his letter in question as follows:
1.-The first national action of the party
encouraged the hope that it would realize
this patriotic expectation. 1t announced
in June, 1855, that it would maintain
the existing Legislation upon the subject
Of slavery as settlement of the question.
Under this declaration some thirty men,
bers of Congress were elected by the
American party, in the Southern States.
" In FEBRUARY, 1856, this policy was
changed. The pledge to maintain ex-
listing legislation was substituted by a
creed in which not only the subject, but
the name of slavery is carefully ignored.
The guarantee for the admission Of new
slave States, specifically given by the
declaration OF 1885, is replaced by an
article which recognizes the right Of le-
gal citizens of territory ito frame
their own constitution and laws, and to
regulate their own domestic and social
affairs in their own mod subject only
to" -, The Wilmot Proviso or to
-" tie provisions of the Federal Consti-
tution," which las. phrase, under the
Interpretation of the dominant majority
10 Congress means precisely the same
thing. With this restriction, tho pledge
of admission into the Union is granted
to the territorial State whenever it F'shall
have the requisite population for one
representative in Congress.
" At the same time, and upon the same
principles of neutrality. the American
party nominated for It's candidate a gen
tleman of integrity and patriotism, but
did not require him to say whether he
would, if elected, veto bill restoring
the Missouri restriction or repeating the
Kansas act Those who have regarded
the pending question too important 20 be
LETT in doubt have been informed that the
nominee is platform enough" and that
his past official acts afford a sufficient
assurance of his future. Taking his
signature of the Compromise of 1850,
as the most prominent of these acts, we
encounter msurmountable aificulties Of
construction. The friends of the Kansas
act contend that is = legitimate deduction
from the compromise Of 1850, but thou.
sands who advocated that compromise
assert that the Kansas. act is flangran,
violation Of that measure. If the infe.
renee that the Kansas act resulted from
the compromise is inevitable, there coult
be no controversy upon the subject. 49,
But there is radical difference upor
this subject, therefore the position of The
American nominee upon this question is
doubtful and those who are disposed t.
support him may. without impugning his
integrity, ask his construction upon the
consistency of the Kansas act with the
compromise of 1850, and whether it is
his purpose to maintain or repeal it.
Until some such declaration shall be made
the Americans at the South are wholly
without assurance against the continued
agitation of a dangerous question, or Of
having rights, deemed by them invalu-
able, surrendered by the act of their own
representatives.
:" The issue upon which parties have
organized Cor the ensuing campaign, is
shall any more slave States be admit
ted in the Union %
. Foremost and most formidable ir
this contest stands the black Republican
party, dangerous compound of fanati
cism and political cupidity. 1t is hume.
rous and of powerful resources; it is lee
by ambitious and sagacious men; it in
tends to employ the numbers of tho
North to subjugate the South and govern
the country. Its materials of warfare
consist in impeaching the title Of your
property, defaming your character and
combining the most despotic and lawless
influences in crusade against you. It's
plan of warfare is, to cut off the supplies
and communications of slavery, to invest
its citadel, and to send in flag inscribed
Assault or unconditional surrender"
The Democratic party has been, by
force of circumstances, placed in direct
antagonism to this party. 1t stands moi
only pledged, but committed beyond the
power Of recantation or withdrawal, tc
maintain your rights as political equals
in this oonfedoracv.
with my opinions, neutrality would
be at this important crisis little better
than treason I shall, therefore, vote
for the Democratic candidate at the en-
suing Presidential election, because that
is the only party committed to assert the
rights of the South, and because the
opinions avowed by that party upon the
subject of slavery represent my own"
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QUALIFICATIONS OF A MISSISSIPPI Ell
TOR. The Yazoo American Banner is
owned by Mrs Harriet n. Prewett. -
This lady has secured the services of a
political editor" whom she thus an.
nounees:
We have the pleasure of announcing
TO the readers Of tho American Banner
that Mr.. John T. Smith, an able writer
and Jealous American, who has been