The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1860-01-21

he thought Mr.. Fillmore's letter was bid for the
Black Republican nomination for the Presidency,
and we are inclined to agree with him. but to the
letter.
BUFFALO, December 16, 1859.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 18th
reached me yesterday, inclosing a call for a
public meeting in New York city, headed
"7He North and the Somh-Jus'ice om@
Fraternity" and inviting ME to be present
on the occasion.
As no time is specified, | hasten to re-
spond by saying that the objects of the
meeting have my most hearty approval, but
l have long since withdrawn from any par
ticipstion in politics beyond that of giving
my vote for those whom deem the best
and safest men to govern the country and
| have uniformly, since / was at the head
of the Government, declined all invitations
to attend political meetings; yet, in view
of the present stormy aspect and threatening
tendency of public events, did feel that
my presence at your meeting could in the
least tend to allay the growing jealousy be-
tween the North and the South, / should at
some personal inconvience, accept your in.
vitation, and cordially join you in admonish-
ing the country, North and South, to mutual
forbearance towards each other; and to cease
elimination and recrimination on both sides,
and erdeavor to restore again that fraternal
feeling and confidence which have made US
a great and happy people.
But it seems to me that if my opinions
are of any importance TO my countrymen,
they now have them in much more re,
sponsible and satisfactory form than could
give them by participating in the proceed
ings of any meeting. My sentiments on
this unfortunate question of slavery, and
the constitutional rights of the South in
regard to it, have not changed since they
were made manifest to the whole country by
the performance of painful official duty in
approving and enforcing the fugitive slave
law. What the Constitution gives l would
concede at every sacrifice. | would not
seek to enjoy its benefits without sharing
its burden and its responsibilities. l know
of no other rule Of political right or ex,
pedicncy. Those were my sentiments then
those arc my sentiments now. | stand
by the Constitution of my country, and am
prepared to maintain 1t at every sacrifice.
Here | might stop, but since | have
yielded to the impulse to write, will not
hesitate to express, very briefly, my views
on one or two events which have occurred
since | retired from office, and which in all
probability lave given rise to your meeting
This I cannot do ntclIigibIy without brief
reference to some events which occurred
during my Administration.
All must remember that in lS40 and 1850
the country was severely agitated on this
disturbing question of slavery. The con-
test grew out Of the acquisition of new tors
ritory from Mexico, aud contest between
the North and the South as to whether
slavery should be- tolerated in any part Of
that territory. Mixed up with this claim
on the part Of the slaveholding States that
the provision of the Constitution for the
rendition Of fugtives from service should
be made available, as the law of 1913 on
that subject, which depended chiefly OH
State officers for its execution, had become
imperative, because State officers were not
obliged to perform that duty.
After severe struggle, which threatened
the integrity of the Union, Congress finally
passed laws settling these questions and
the Government and the people for time
seemed to acquiesce in that compromise as
final settlement of this exciting question ;
and it is exceedingly to be regretted that
mistaken ambition or the hope of obtaining
party triumph should have tempted any
one to raise this question again. But in an
evil hour this Pandora's box of slavery was
again opened by what conceive to be an
objectionable attempt to force slavery into
Kansas by repeal of the Missouri com.
promise, and the food of evils now swelling
and threatening to overthrow the Consttu.
ton and sweep away the foundations of the
Government itself and deluge this land with
fraternal blood may all be traced to this
unfortunate act.
Whatever might have been the motive
few acts have ever been SO barren of good
and so fruitful of evil. The contest has
exasperated the public mind, North and
South, aud engendered feelings of distrust,
and l may say haste, that | fear it will take
years to wear away. The lamentable tragedy
at Harper's Ferry is clearly traceable to
this unfortunate controversy about slavery
in Kansas; and while the chief actor in this