Washington sentinel., 1856-05-29

our views OF that portion OF TINS gentleman
speech which related to Mr.. BUCHANAN W.
proceed to-day to discuss the other part of il
which relates to the other candidates.
At the district Convention, to nominate dele
gates, held at Richmond on the 10th instant
Mr.. Seddon made an elaborate speech in which
he expressed his first preference to be for Mr.
Hunter of Virginia; in doing so he passed as
high wrought an eulogium on that gentleman
enumerated all the qualifications of that dis
tinguished Senator, and all his claims to con-
sideration. After stating these fully and placing
them prominently in view, and allowing to
them their full weight, and with all his own
strong personal partiality, Mr.. Seddon found
himself, by force of controlling circumstances,
compelled to yield this preference and to make
a selection from the North. We give here his
reasons:
! "Despite this decided preference, recog-
nize in the juncture of the times that amid the
contingencies Of the convention there may be
q paramount obligation on me even primarily
to vote and labor for others, and these candi-
dates from the North. While in many respects
the present aspect of affairs in the Union is
ominous and menacng, in others there is room
for graduation and hope. The nefarious agita-
tion of the slavery question at the North seems
urging TO q crisis. More completely than at
any time within my memory, are we the great
| Democratic party of the North and South, as
now purged of anti-slavery elements, identified
in feeling and principle, and withdrawn from
the fimsy refugees of transient compacts and
compromises, to be established in the solid
temple Of the Constitution. The Northern
Democracy now stand arrayed openly and
j without equivocation on the principles Of the
Constitution, as embodied in the great measures
of the Kansas Nebraska bill and the Fugitive
Slave act in defence of the equality of the
States and the rights of the South. They have
been battling, and are battling still, for the
most part, with fidelity and gallantry worthy
of all praise in this cause, and even more than
this, against the banded forces of free-soilism
and abolitionism, which have been incessant in
their appeals to the lowest passion, and pre-
JUDGES Of the North-to its lust of acquisitions
to bigoted intolerance and antislavery fanati-
cism. Under such Influences it is not surpris-
ing that the Democracy of the North who were
weakened by not a few treacherous elements in
their midst, should have sustained very gener-
ally temporary reverses, and that their willy
and unscrupulous adversaries should have
been deluded into the imagination of assured
and permanent triumph. Under thisconfdence,
they have, thank God, abandoned the artfui
game ofbattle they have long played with as
much insidiousness as success. They no longer
wage guerilla war, lurking in coverts and
firing from ambush, watching every change of
opinion, and avaiIing themselves Of every pass
ing weakness. They no longer play between
party and party, changing here and shifting
there, joining now one side and now another,
tainting and demoralizing all, while their as
sumption of the balance of power led to a toler-
ance of their infamous opinions. The demon
has sprung from his lurking place in his full
dimensions, and now openly aspires to rule
and ruin. He is embodied in party-the
Black Republican party-who, under the guild
ance of their leaders, Seward, Wilson and
others, now grow bold to spurn, disguise, and
prepare to meet in open field and direct con-
fict, on the arena of the North, the great
Democratic party of the Union. They must
be met and dealt with effectually, now and for
the future. That is the first and greatest duty
of the Democracy. Within the limits of the
South, indeed, no such conflict can rage. All
parties-even the bitterest opponents of De-
mocracy-concur in unmingled disgust and
adherence of this wicked organization; but at
the North unfortunately it is far otherwise.
There, most potent nfuences-delusions that
claim the sanctity of religion, pharisaical pro-
fessions of humanity and philanthrophy, mis-
taken conceptions Of liberty, and prejudces of
class and section, are invoked with but too
much success, oftentimes to oppose the lust
principles and clear Constitutional obligations
on which the Democracy rest In this posture
of affairs, cheerfuly acknowledge it to be the
first and highest duty of the Southern Democ-
racy to give all possible aid and encourage.
ment to their gallant friends of the North. Too
many have already been sacrificed politically
have nobly preferred justice and principle to
preferment and place, at the cost of honor and
duty. To the rescue with all our hearts. Let
that be the cry and the effort of the Southern
Democracy. How then, shall our aid and en-
couragement be most effectually afforded to our
Northern allies in the approaching dire conflict
Of parties for the Presidency, its power and
patronage? May it not be incumbent on the
South to renounce her predictions.
He asks, "who among them should be our
first choice?s-(among the men of the North
and he answers himself and says: ain all
candor / humbly think our present Chief
Magistrate, Franklin Pierce" His reasons for
his preference are that
"To us Of the South, his Administration
should be specially satisfactory, for all the
great questions affecting our rights and insti.
tutions-the Kansas Nebraska BILL the repeal
of the odious Missouri restriction, the Fugitive
Slave Law, and all the mischievous apitatiops.
freesoilism and abolitionism-have been met
by him with signal manliness, decision, and
vigor,"
and that the South is indebted to him for the
consummate ability with which in bis messages
he made exposition of the constitutional rights
of the South, and Of the justice and modera-
ton Of her course; and Mr.. Seddon thus
winds up the narrative:
ave owe to him, therefore, large measure
Of appreciation aud gratitude, and should we
not exhibit it BY continuing him. so far as de-
pends on our sufrages, to the high functions
administered with so much fidelity and equity
to us, and which we may have from the past
the fullest confidence he will continue TO exer-
else for our defence and the assertion Of our
rights"