Year: 1860

Important Political Manifes o.


LETTER FROM THE HON H. W. HILLIARD, OF


ALABAMA, TO EX-PRESGDENT FILLNORE-THE


DUTY OF THE CONSERVATIVE MASSES IN THE


PRESENT CRISIS Ere.


Hon MILLARD FhLNoRK;-


| Ny DEAR SIR-Your eminent position and the inti-
mate relations which have long existed between US in
dlce to address you upon the present state Of the
country. In the conversation which had the honor OF
holding wi you recently, the Saratoga Springs, We
agreed IN opinion to the pers which surround the
government aud 10 the best mode Of avertng them
and subsequent reflection has confirmed that opinion
II were possible reach the great body Of coun
trymen and TO persuade them 10 look into the actual
condition Of public affairs unI uenced by those passions
which, unhappy have too long swaycd the masses which
make 40 political parties am confident that they would
think YOU and do. The importance and The grand
OF the issue be decided ought TO arouse the
patriotism OF every within the limits OF THIS wide
spread republic The great fact which stands out before
the country H. that powerful sectional organization


threatens acquire control Of the government; party
which, guorng every other question, rallies its followers
60 a crusade against slavery party which, taking lis
candidates for the highest Offices in the republic from
section Of the Uuion procllms lis purpose to bring the
institutions Of the other section under the bln OF the
| government


Such party ought not be tolerated aud against il
every whose patriotic instincts Lot utterly dead
should range himself in the order of battle, matter
what creed he may have proessed what name he may
have borne. Every trGe man, with all bis manhood,
should take his place under that great standard which
tie ends Of the Union have set up against that power
u party which threatens tread the Constitution under
foot and to involve the country in widespread ruin.
Nothing the country from great troubles but
the uprising Of that love Of the Union which liz, deep
in the popular heart Let that rise in its mfjesic SWELL
aud will overwhelm the enemies of the Constitution
Party standards Haunt the air in vau the magic OF party
is gone; the ascendancy Of party managers
the is end; nothing reach the hearts OF
the people but the dear Of the country and the
Union.


The present canvass for the Presidency does show that
old party lines almost oberated in the great slrug
gle.


When Mr.. Buchanan came into power, ! felt il to be
my duty TO support his administration, and said pub
lcly declined to contest with his friends the places
which they held stating my opinion that the con
servatve force Of the country ought TO be impaired
but that t duty to forget past political strfts
and antago, ims, and do what might to strengthen
the hands OF the party in power in view of the great
impending conflict TO be fought in 500 That position
have maintained until recently others have held il
besides mys IL but uuhlppiy, the great party which
achieved the signal triumph four years since Is torn
by fierce disSensions and stands utterly pOwerless
contend against that Formidable orgauzI Iton which
ranges its bations along the whole line which divides
the North from the South. Neither Mr.. Douglas Mr
Breckenridge appeal to the allegiance OF these who
compose their party neither the strength
Of that party Mr. Breckenridge IL the exponent OF my
u / 4
admire him personally aud anu very that be is not
in the slightest degree tainted with that doyalty TO the
Union with which he is charged. must say, too with
equal candOr that | believe the accusations brought
against Mr. Douglas greatly oyeIstraned. He is a
patriotic and consistent statesman Still il is clear that
the nntagonSca attitude of those two gentlemen and
the fierce conflict that is wsged between their friends
put out Of the power of either of them defeat
Mr. Lincoln while this very discussion in the ranks Of
party to which many of Us gave support from the
fact that il in position confronting the enemies
of the constitution aud turning guns upon them now
releases rom any SORT Of obligation TO held ground
longer slIes When the army which we came to aid
has leased TO deliver its fire against the common enemy
aud is hereey engaged in inernecine war; surely
need no longer keep our places in its lines There is
another party in the Id led by able and experienced
statesmen, with whom you and have been long assoes
ted and that party alone save at the present
ianeture by drawing to It's standard the friends OF the
Union from every part of this great coniederacy


At all events the friends OF the Constitution whatever
NAV be their preferences for individuals should merge
personal predictions in their regard for the good Of the
country There should be no sre between the friends
of Mr. Douglas Mr. Breckenridge Mr. Bell; but CON-
ing up as one phaAnx in serriCd lines they should put
their full strength in a united CiiJrt to defeat the
Black Republicans.


An survey OF the state Of the country has sa


ed that great reaction going in the sentiments
Of the Northern people they not willing oput the
Union Of these great kinded States IN jeopardy by CIV
ing power into the hands of merely sectional party and
they will not DO IT, confident that do not miscon
the signs Of the times The extraordinary activity
displayed by the friends OF Mr. Lincoln in yindicatng him
from the accusation OF entertaining extreme abolition
sentiments plainly shows their estimate Of the patriotic
instincts Of tn Am rcan people, aud maniless very
proper apprehension OF the destructive power OF re-
Aux tide.


Mr.. Seward's speech created something Of panic in
the rauks OF his party. II is studously insisted
that Mr. Lincoln does not hold those ultra opinions.
Nothing is said OF the "hrepresSible conflict" be-
tween the North and the SOuth-an idea which il is un-
derstood, originated with Mr. Lincoln, Who believe,
asserted in his canvass with Mr. Dougs for the Senate
that government embraced two conflicting systems
Of civilization; that the other must give way and
that this whole soil Of the republic must be surrendered
to slavery or freedom Well may his friends shrink
fom inseribiug that sentiment upon his banner; the
patriotic people Of the Norh N South will alike de-
nounce it for they prefer leave the States which
pose the Union full and unmoested enjoyment of their
institutions under the protecting Tgis of the con
siituton Even it is clear that the conservative
men of the county are coming TO the rescue aud
tonasm will be- rebuked, and the movement in behalf
of the Union will now acquire reSistless momentum.


We both think, and every days events must strength
this opinion, that the only hope of defeating Me- Lin
coin is to conquer prejudces TO disregard party
shackles and to rally everywhere in support OF those
eminent and conservative statesmen whose claim upon
our confidence does rest upon their possession Of
creed but upon and better bass of well den
ed character Of maturod wisdom aud OF great public





The great State Of New York York will, hope, lea
the way in this patriotic state great in al the
elements OF material wealth and moral power Her great
city is emphatcay the emporium OF the whole country,
for New YOrk is not Northern city-it a national ci
ty-it is a national city. In this great ate "a national
spirit should prevail and the friends Of the Union should
be sustained The conflict going must be de-
ciye one and If seetonalsm be defeated in this
great battle it will be overwhelmed You, sir, are
Northern man am a Southern man but We both love
our whole eoun ry. You have been upon SOIL have
seen our institutions, and you know how warmly you
were welcomed in midst, for you regarded as
an eminent and patotic statesman In my present ys
il to the North have much to crafty me; re-
joce in Witnessing the aboundug prosperity which every
where my glance but, above all, do tj)ice in
observing T. growth OF powerful national sentiment
that will yet be strong enough the republic and
to keep the government in it, true orbit respecting both
the rights Of the States and the Union of the States
Very truly, your friend and Obedent servant,
HENRY w. HllLlARD