The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1856-10-03
New YoRK, Sept. ID, 1856.

MI DEAR DIR:
I received your letter, and learn
from it, some letters addressed by me to friends in
Mississippi, in June last have created the impress
sion that NOW favor the election Of Mr. Bnchan-
an. 1t is due tomyself, and especially due to my
old friends, that should explain my course in
this matter. WhenI arrived in this city in May
last l found the public mind much disturbed, and
much feeling excited Ibecame alarmed for the
consequences. and when wrote my friends in the
South in the early part of June last, thought
the crisis demanded that the first consideration,
with the conservatives of all parties, should be the
preservation of the Union-and for the attain.
ment of this great and good object, that no sacr-
fee would be too great. / thought this could
only be attained by allaying the sectional strife,
which so disturbs the whole country, and which,
if continued, must produce the most calamitous re
suits. then thought, and so wrote to my friends
in the South, that for the accomplishment of this
end it might he wise and proper for the Wings to
sustain the election of Mr.. Bnchanan-and thus
make his majority SO triumphant, that he would
feel himself, and be, the President Of the Nation,
and not of party Besides, being advanced in
years, hoped he would have no aspirations for
reelection. and would therefore be likely to adj
minister the Government with purity, and with
out party, or sectional bias.
Inever commended him to the Wings as choice,
evils; for | THEN thought the contest between him
and MIR. Fremont alone. Very soon afterward
however, my views underwent an entire change.
l became satisfied that the success of Mr. Buchan-
an would in no wise allay sectional strife On
the contrary, that his election would most likely
aggravate and prolong it, through the violence of
his opponents for undeuiably true, that he is as
much a Southern sectional, as Mr.. Fremont a
Northern sectional, candidate. With Buchanan's
ELECTION the agitation would be continued
Fremont's election the crisis would be the more
speedily brought to the calumsiating point--not
simply by his election, but through the measures
of his adherents. g
i Since Fillmore's return from Europe his pros
poets have 50 strengthened and improved, that /
think no true Wing can hesitate 10 his choice.
He is the only of the three suited to the crisis
He is national in tone aud sentiment On him
and through him National P6rfy may be built
up, strong enough to over ride all others es-
lpecially all sectional parties. His friends may
confidently rely on his obtaining the vote of this
State. | entertain the opinion, that the success
of all parties heretofore, has depended more on
their organization than on their priac,ples II
this be so, then Fillmore ought to carry New
York, for the party that supports him is much
the best Usganized ofthe three.
i am much averse to appearing before the pub
lie in any way. It would, however, be unjust to
Mr.. Fillmore man for whose public and polit-
i zeal course entertain so profound respect-to
withhold from him any influence, however SMALL
I may possess. / seek not to obtrude my opin-
ions on others; but seek to be fairly quoted aud
represented in the present canvass. could not,
conscientiously withhold from my friends my pres
ent views. have advised all, to whom I wrote
in june of the change stated above, and the rea-
sons for it. They are satisfactory to myself, and
Il / hope will be SO TO them. ss
i Hs am yours, &c,
STEPHEN DUNCAN.