The Washington union., 1857-05-06
EX-GOVERNOR FooTE.

Pennsylvania.
EX-GOVERNOR FooTE
We perceive, from am address of the ex-governor
to the members of the American party in California,
that he has entirely Withdrawn from that organza
tion. He will support the administration of Mr. Bu-
chanan, heartily and cordially. He pays to the Pres
dent, and to the members of his cabinet the warm
and generous compliment which their talents and pa
triotic anteeedents so justly demand. His address
will be read with interest, and is as follows:
10 he Members Of he american Party N California.
FELLowcrrlzENs have received within the last week
two several letters from prominent and influential ind
viduals among you asking my opinion touching the
pedicncy of continuing the organization of the American
party in California for future political purposes and
have also received by the last mail from the Atlantic
States formal communication from the highest official
known to the American party of the Union as
national organization suggesting the propriey of imme-
date steps being taken in this State for the sending of
delegates to the national American convention expected
to assemble few months hence in the city Of Louisville.
Under such circumstances trust 1t will not appear
seemly be looked upon attempt to dictate to
Others if make In this form declaration of such views
conscientousy entertain upon this interesting subject
claim of course special influence control over the
opinions action Of Others but desire simply that there
should be mistake in any quarter in reference to my
particular attitude at moment important in the
country history the present. and especially that there
should be misunderstanding on this point among those
with whom it has been my honor to cooperate for several
years past and from whom should most reluctantly sep
arate at this time
The American party in California, i have always
understood, originally set ON foot by of the
most honest and patriotic have known main
y for the purpose of securing faithful execution of the
compromise of 1885, of suppressing the aga
ton of the question of domestic slavery and preserving
the Union itself from the dangers which seemed to menace
it the prevalence of feelings fierce sectional hos
y in two opposite quarters of the eonederacy How
it have been elsewhere, the American party in
this State has been at all times wholly untaintcd either
with the heresy of abolition that OF secession Uni
versa religious toeraton has been with cardinal
principle and in regard to the naturalization laws,
have conented ourselves party with insisting upon
.udicious revision thereof Resolutions these sub
ccts and avowal in unequyoca language of an
est desire for the establishment of railway from the Pa
cc to the Mississippi river, comprised almost
whole distinctive party creed We supported Fillme.e
and Donelson in the late presidential campaign, because
under all existing circumstances thought that the great
objects which we had at heart would be certainly
attained through their instrumentaity The presidential
contest is now with the history of the past Mr.
Pierce's administration is at an end and and
bright is visibly dawning upon Mr. Buchan-
has been formally inaugumted and his cabinet
officers have been appointed. His Inaugural Address
has been promulgated among his countrymen, and
all fair-minded and unprejudiced men must acknow-
edge TO be manly digniied and patriotic document
cannot but regard it as equal in merit to any
production of the kind which has heretofore cmana
ton Whilst there is nothing in il which have been
graied TO read there is at the time nothing that
any reasonable could have desired it to contain
which not to be found in part of that document
and expressed too in language most luminous and for
chile 1t breathes throughout spirit of genuine nation
aty and enlightened conservatism and he denounccs
scctionasm In manner to leave doubt of his incx
BILE determination to maintain the Union involate against
all its enemies, wlcresoeyer located. He pledges himself
to do all in his power to suppress the dread question
which has for SO long period disturbed the peace and
put the republic itself in jeopardy He asserts the old
and approved doctrines of the national democratic party
of the Union upheld by s members in the days of JEFF
ferson, of Jackson and of Polk and he procams bold
ly and Enthusiastically the great principle of inteven
tion first promulgated by Gen. Cass in his Nicholson
letter and afterwards imboded in the democratic plat
form of lS4S, and in the compromise of 1885,
in the support of which Clay, Webster, Cass and
Dickinson established claims to the eternal gratitude Of
their countrymen The President evinces afec-
tonate and truly statesmanlike solcitue the welfare
and advancement of our favored portion of the
tnent, which should call forth grateful response from
every city, hamlet and country place in California
The cabinet officers whom he has chosen are Just such
the republic needed at this moment and with whose
selection the whole country will and ought to be more
than satisfied They all able and tried men, and each
of them different grounds may well claim the respect
and confidence of their fellow-citizens They need no
oomondation at my hands, and it would be Justly viewed
prasunptuous in me to undertake specific deneaton
OF their virtues and qualifications This though hope
to be paroned for saying that such cabinet Mr. Bu
chanan has formed, with such Lewis Cass of
Michigan, at its head, and such political views
nounced in tho inaugural should command universal
fdence, and gives most gratifying that for the
next four years at least tho republic will be in the enjoy
mcn of complete repoe that its great domestic interests
will be carefully guarded and asiduousy promoted and
the honor Of the American nation be wisely and fearlesy
maintained in every quarter of the globe.
Such my deliberate views and have, therefore,
no hesitation in declaring that propriety in
attempting to keep up the distinctive organization of the
American party either in California elsewhere At any
ax,J,a ,at frtho Iulo
yield to Mr. Buchanan and his administration as hearty
and true support it would have been possible for TO
accord to them had ever actively participated in ce
waiting them to the high official places which they hold
your fellow citizen, II. S. FooTE.
MAncH 81, 1851
ACCEPTANCE or GEN HARRIS