The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-22

Ion, IN regard to Mr.. Fillmore's Know Moth
Iingism. Although Mr.. F. is in Europe, it is
presumed that his home organ, the Buffalo
Commercial Advertiser, knows all about his
sentiments on this subject. To prove that
he is a X. n, that paper publishes the fol-
lowing letter from Mr.. Fillmore to Mr. Clay,
accompanied by the editorial remarks which
precede it. We think this settles the ques.
ton. We give the letter and the editors
remarks merely as q matter of information
We find in the "Private Correspondence
of Henry Clay" published last year by Rev.
Calvin Cotton, the following letter from Mr..
Fillmore. Mr.. Clay was the. candidate OF
the Wing Party for President of the United
States, and Mr.. Fillmore for Governor of the
State of New York in 1874, and both were
defeated in this State by the Abolitionists
and foreign Catholics. Mr.. Frelinghuysen
was the candidate for Vice-President, but his
strong Protestant predictions enlisted the
Roman Catholic Bishops ard Priests in the
canvass against the whole ticket, and they
succeeded in bringing the entire vote Of their
churches to the polls to defeat these men.
This was a time when the American people
were not prepared to believe that this vote
could be controlled by a corrupt Priesthood
for any particular party. Had not this vote
been secured to the opponent of Mr. Clay,
he would have been elected. The fact that
Catholics could be led to the polls in solid
body, and forced to vote as one man, awak-
ehed Americans to the dangerous influence
of the Bishops and Priests, who obeyed the
behests of the Pope of Rome. They could
look into the future, and see Catholicism
weaving its deadly coils around Protestant
ism and Americanism in this country. In
the struggle of 1874, the present American
Party had it's origin. Although many chris
tians and patriots were alarmed at the in
creasing tide of immigration of these ignor-
ant and pauper hordes of Catholic Europe,
the great mass of the American people were
unwilling and unprepared to believe that
there was real danger to our free institu-
tons, but this banding together of these
men to defeat Henry Clay awakened the long
slumbering sentiment of true Americanism.
Mr.. Fillmore, like thousands of others, who
had an abiding " confidence in our ability to
sustain free government" deeply regretted
the influence which decided that election,
and he saw cloud of gloom gathering over
our future, that BODIED no good to an en-
lightened and free people. Under such cir
cumstances, it is not to be wondered at that
Mr.. Fillmore early enlisted, and had his
name enrolled under the banner of the
American Party. He gave the party his
sympathy and earnest support. The follow
ing is the letter alluded to:
WILLARD FILLMORE TO MIR. CLAY.
BUFFALO, Nov. IL, 1854.
MY DEAR SlR:-I have thought for three
or four days that I would write you, but
or resolution. All is gone The last hope,
which hung first on the City of New York,
and then upon Virginia, is finally dissipated,
and see nothing but despair depicted on
every countenance.
For myself l have no regrets. l was
nominated much against my will, and though
feel kind of relief at being defeated. But
Iteration of justice, every feeling of gratitude
conspircd in the minds of honest men to
insure your election and though always
doubtful Of my own success, could never
doubt yours, till the painful conviction was
forced upon me.
The Abolitionists and foreign Catholics
| udNS uclcdtcu Us III CliS Otdte. VIII Iot
trust myself to speak of the vile hypocrisy
of the leading Aboltionists now. Doubtless
many acted honestly and ignorantly in wha,
they did. But it is clear that Birney and
his associates sold themselves to locofocoism
and they will doubtless receive their re-
ward.
Our opponents, by pointing to the Native
Americans and to Mr. Frelinghuysen, drove
the foreign Catholics from US and defeated
us in this State.
But it is vain to look at the causes by
which this infamous result has been pro-
duced. 1t is enough to say that all is gone
and must confess that nothing has hap
pened to shake my confidence in our ability
to sustain a free Government so much as
this.
If with such issues and such candidates
as the national contest presented, we can b.
beaten, what may we not expect? A clout
of gloom hangs over the future. May Coz
save the country; for it is evident the PEG
pie will not.
WILLARD FILLMORE.