Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1860-09-22

Of peace and prosperity.
--~-
Important Political Mauifesto.
Letter from the Hon. ". II. billiard, o
Alabama, to E1-P President Fillmore
THE Duyo Of the Conservative Masses
in the Present Crisis, etc.
| Hon. WILLARD FILLMORE:
My Dear Su-Your eminent posi-
ton and the intimate relations which
have long existed between is induce me-
to address you upon the present state o
the country. In the conversation which
l had the honor Of holding with you re
Gently, at the Saratoga Springs, we az.
greed in opinion as to the periIs which
surrounded the government, aud as the
best mode Of avert'ng them !; and subse'
ouent reflection has confirmed that OPT
MON. II it were possible to reach the
great body Of our coun,rymen, and to
persuade them TO look back into the &C.
tual condition Of public affairs, u%nin1u-
enced by those passions "hich, unhappi
II, have TO long swayed the masses which
make up political parties, l am confident
that they would think as you ard l do.
The importance Of the grandness Of the
issue soon to be decided ought to arouse
the patriotism of every man within the
limits Of this widespread republic. The
great fact which stands out before the
country is, that a powerful sectional Or
gapization threatens to acquire control
Of the government; party which, ig-
noring every other question. rallies its
followers to q crusade against slavery :;
a party which, taking its candidates for
the highest offices in the republic from
one section of the Union, proclaims its
purpose to bring the institutions Of the
other section under the ban Of the gov
eminent.
Such a party ought not to be tolerat-
ed and against ii every man whose pat
riotic instincts are not utterly dead,
should ranve himself in the order Of bat
tie, no matter what creed be may have
professed, or what name hs have borne.
Every true man, with all his manhood,
should take bis place under TINT great
standard which the friends of the Union
have set up against that powerful party
which threatens to tread the Conslitu.
ton under the foot, and to involve the
country in widespread ruin. Nothing
can save the country from grea. troubles
but the uprising of that love Of the
Union which lies deep in the popular
heart. Let that rise in its majestic swell,
and it will oyerwheIm the enemies of
the Constitution. Party standard flaunt
the air in vain !; the magic Of party
names IS gone ; tue ascendaucy Of party
managers oveg the masses is at an end !;
no.hing can reach the hearts Of the peo-
pie but the dear names of the country
aud the Union.
The present canvass for the Presiden-
cy does not show that old party lines are
obliterated in the great struggle.
When Mr.. Buchanan came into pow
81, felt it to be my duty t support his
administration, and I said SO publicly.
| declined to contest with his friends the
places which the held, stating it as my
that the conservative force of the
country ought not to be impaired, but
it was our duty to forget past poll
tical strifes and antagonists, and do what
might to strengthen the hands Of the
party in power, in view of the great i'm.
pending conflict to b fought in 1850.
That position l have maintained until re.
; others have held it besides N.Y.
self; but, unhappily, the great party
which achieved the signal triumph for
four years since is now torn by fierce dis,
sensious, and stands utterly powerless to
contend against that formidable organi.
which ranges its batalicns along
the whole line which divides the North
the South. Neither Nj. Douglas
nor Mr.. breckenridge can appeal to the
allegiance Of those who compose their
party neither can concentrate, the
strength Of that party. Mr., Breckenridge
is the exponent Of my views; he stands
upon q platform which ] approve ; I ad-
nire him personally, and I am very sure
be is not IN the slightest degree tainted
that loyalty to the Union with
which be ID charged, 1t must say, too,
With equa! candor, that / believe the &C.
'usat'ons brought against Mr.. Douglas
IRE greately o%yerstraiued, He ia a pat
'lotlc and consistent statesman. Still it
s clear that the antagonistioa! attitude
those two gentlemen, aud the fierce
conflict that is waged between their
must put it u Of the power Of
either Of them to defeat Mr.. Lincoln ;
While tks very dissenslon in the ranks