Year: 1861

BUrFALo, n. Y, Dec II, 1860


Dear Progress During the troublous times
that are now hanging around our beloved coun-


try it is natural that the people should look to


some of their great leaders for advice and coun-


sell The conservative citizens of Buffalo lately


held meeting here from which they sent the


following letter:


To THE HONORABLE MILLARD FILLMORE:
Sir The gned. citizens of Buffalo, be-
| ing deeply impressed with the threatening as


pect of our National affairs and being desireus of


availing ourselves of all proper means of avertng


the innumerable and immeasurable evils which


must necessarily flow from disruption of the
! American Union, respectfully urge upon yeu,
that you shall attend upon the Convention of the
State of South Carolina, appointed to be held on
the 18th instant as a messenger from the State of
| New Yerk of peace and good will. We entertain
| the hope that by the influence justly belonging
to your public and private character, our fellow
citizens in that State may be dIssuaded from any
hasty action tending to the severance of 1.-The
sacred ties which now link together the various
parts of our common country. 1t is our sincere
belief that the extreme differences which our


brethren of the South are inclined to draw from
the result of the recent Presidential eect4on


not warra nted by the true state of the case.


We are confident that we express the deep root
ed sentiments of the great mass OF the citizens of
the Northern States, in declaring our willingness,
desire, and determination, to abide faithfully by
the provision of the Constitution of the United
States in all its parts Much of the estrangement
and dissension manifest in tie country seems
to be the fruit of misapprehension, and we are de-
sirous through you Sir, to assure Southern
brethren that there is general disposition in
this region, to outrage their feelings to infringe
upon their rights under the Federal Constitution,
or to encroach upon them members of the con-
federacy. The time for remedial action is short,
and although we have no opportunity for con-
sultation with distant points, we are not without
the hope that the patriotism of the North may
still find a voice and that other wise and good
men may be induced TO lend you their aid in the
excellent work of restoring peace and harmony
TO the land


A committee was then appointed to wait upon
Mr.. Fillmore.


During the absence of the committee, Henry
W. Rodgers, Esq, addressed the meeting. No
sketch can do justice to the calm, earnest and
impressive language with which he portrayed
the condition ofpublic affairs. He showed that
this was not the time for ordinations and re-
ordinations but the time for all good citizens
to do all that lay in their power to bring about
such change in public sentiment North and
South, as to preserve the Union. He did not
undertake to justify or apologize for the attitude
of the South, nor to lay all the responsibility
for this crisis upon the North. There were
wrong-headed men in both sections of the coun-
try, and the path of safety lay midway between
the two extremes He alluded to tbs 1nedde
some and obnoxious legislation of some Of the
Northern States, and urged its repeal, pos
tive evidence that the North would cheerfully
abide by the constitution.


Mr. Rogers was followed by McsSrS. TillinG
last and J. c. Strong, who spoke more partic;l-
la,ly Of the importance Of the repeal Of the Per
<onal Liberty Laws


The cctnmittee having returned, Mr.. Hatch
reported that the Committee had called upon
Mr. Fillmore, and had free and full Intel
,hangc of views with him; that Mr. Fillmore
~ynpathzrd with the objects Of the meeting,
and was willing to do anything in his power to
promote them.


You will see by this that the conservative
element is in the lead even in this Republican
climatee and that Mr. Fillmore has been looked
up to as a savior of the country in former times
and with the earnest hope that he will be now.
Il is no private tact that the people are waiting
for Gov Graham, of North Carolina to step out
of his privacy and write a letter defining his
views Everybody knows him to be pure
unselfish patriot who has the good of his coun-
try at heart, and his voice would have moment
Gus weight at the present crisis. People here
regard him and Mr.. Fillmore as the avowed
champions of Southern rights while they we'll
know that their motto is 1.-The Unio::-now and
forever-one and inseparable." Will not the
North Carolina press take hold Of this thing
and urge Mr.. Graham to express his views.
Mr. Fillmore has stepped into the field to save
the Union, will he not be met upon the thresh
hold of the Southern States by his fermer coad-
tutor the Secretary of the Navy. Imerely make
these suggestions as expressions of popular will
here at the North. . CAVALIER.