Grayville Weekly Herald

Smicksburg, Pa., July 28, '56.

FRIEND Frank:—Although a long time has elapsed since I have heard from you, except through the ever welcome medium of the "Herald," and much longer since I have had the pleasure of seeing your well remembered "phiz," or giving your honest hand a friendly "grip," yet I can assure you, that you are not forgotten by your 'old boss.' Scarcely a day passes over me but my thoughts dwell more or less upon you and the days of "old lang syne." These tho'ts, produced as they most generally are, by reviewing in memory's never failing glass, the unfading type of the joys and sorrows, pleasures and annoyances that surrounded and overshadowed me during the time that you was known as my "devil," (an appellation by-the-way which had more of real truth than fiction in it, are ever welcome visitees, and cherished with a delight that is known to none of a cold and calculating nature. Changes—many and important— have came over both of us since that time.

You, who were but a boy, just beginning to plume your wings for a life contest that was opening before you, have passed on to that age when the faculties of mind and body are fast rising to their highest point of might and power. A few years more and experience will add the only remaining requisite for the full development of the mental and physical powers implanted within you. Let moderation and coolness temper—not rule and crush—the warm gushings of your heart, and whatsoever your feelings prompt, and your better judgment teaches you is right and just, that hold to and pursue with all your might. That you have, and will continue so to do, I have already too much evidence to permit me for a moment to doubt. And Frank, I can assure you, it does my soul good to see it, for if there is any one, aside from my own bright-eyed, intelligent boy, in whom I feel an interest equal to that of a father for a favorite son, you are the one, for I can look upon you only as a "foster-child"—one in whose welfare, success and future eminence I have a deep and abiding interest,—one over whose successful rise to a prominent and enviable position I should rejoice with the joy of a father. Continue, then, as you have commenced, fearless and boldly to battle for the truth and the right, and the day is not far distant when you will receive your reward. Let nothing swerve or allure you from the path your heart teaches you is just and right, but pursue it with that never-failing, never-yielding perseverance of which I know you are possessed, and whatever obstacles may present themselves to impede and thwart your onward progress in the manly struggles for fame and fortune, will disappear from your pathway as the mist before the noon-day sun.

I would that I were so situated that I might be with you, at least for a time, and aid in doing battle for those principles which you imbibed while young—principles that I am proud to find have taken root, deep and lasting, and that are now bringing forth fruit meet for the acceptance of all lovers of our great, our glorious Union. At times I am almost persuaded to enter the arena of public journalism, to battle with the fell spirit of sectionalism and disunion that has dared to rear its hydra head in these Northern States. Was it not for the fact that my business is such that it is entirely out of the question for me to do so, I presume I should enter the field again, and if I did, it would be with soul and body unhesitatingly enlisted for the warfare, but as it is, justice to myself and family will not permit, The community in which I live is not one very well adapted to the doctrines which I should teach, still there are a goodly number among us who love and revere the Union and Constitution, but there are more who have been deceived by the oily tongue and deceitful smile of the "nigger"-loving Black Republicans, and I fear when the time comes, they will be found aiding and abetting by their votes, the unhallowed purpose of the power seeking political demagogues led on by Seward, Greeley, Giddings and others in consummating the dissolution of the Union, and thereby crushing out forever the joyous star of promise which our Revolutionary ancestors, by freely giving their lives and fortunes, had succeeding in planting, as a beacon of hope to the down-trodden millions of the nations across the great waters, upon the political horizon.—

When I look around me and see the feelings and sentiments that appear to possess the great mass of this people, I feel that the time has indeed come, when all the horrors of intestine strife and civil war is near at hand—when a brother's hand will be raised in deadly strife against a brother, and a child against its parent, and at such times I feel to exclaim with our beloved Savior, "Father, if it be possible let this cup pass" from us. I am now, as I ever have been, AMERICAN, and as such I stand with Fillmore upon the Constitution and the laws. Whig though I have been, and American though I am, did I think the only chance to defeat the disunionists would be in supporting the Democratic nominee, I should at once and unhesitatingly give my influence and my vote for Buchanan, but I do not think so, on the contrary, I believe if there is a steadfast, determined and unwavering support of Fillmore by the true Americans, he can and will be elected. Here in Pennsylvania, when you get below the extreme northern counties, there are, comparatively but few Black Republicans, and the contest will be between Fillmore and Buchanan.— Was it not for the votes that Fremont will draw from us, as it is, Buchanan's chance is the best, still we have hopes of defeating him here at home.

You have, undoubtedly, seen ere this, in the disunion Fremont papers, the charge of "nullifier" attached to the name of Fillmore. And why do they do this? Read his Rochester speech and you will find a solution to the mystery. They cannot endure a man who is bold and fearless,—one who will not kneel, and crawl, and whine around them for their support. They well know there is no manliness, or honor or honesty in their time-serving, spoil-seeking hearts, and when they find one who does possess these qualities, there is no depth so low that they will not descend to it to traduce and vilify him who dares boldly to denounce their unholy schemes. In the speech above alluded to, Fillmore says: "I repeat here what I have said elsewhere, that if there be those at the North who want a President to rule the South—if there be those at the South who want a President who will rule the North—I do not want THEIR VOTES. I CAN NEVER REPRESENT THEM. I STAND UPON THE BROAD PLATFORM OF THE CONSTITUTION AND Laws." Does that look or read like nullification? as far from it, as is the Northern from the Southern Pole.—

And yet these Black Republican leaders and wire pullers would like to make the people believe it, at least they are straining every nerve to do so.

But, thank God, there is a change coming over the more patriotic portions of the early supporters of Fremont. Not a mail reaches me but it brings accounts of more or less of those who at first supported him, leaving the piebald, nigger fold of disunion and coming out boldly for Fillmore and the Union. By a late letter from Allegany City, Pa., I see that Ex-Mayor Conrad, the President of the Convention that nominated Fremont and Johnston, has abandoned them, and now goes for Fillmore and Donelson, and that he wrote to the Fremont Club of Allegany city to do the same, which advice they took, and marched in a body to the Fillmore Club rooms and enrolled themselves among the true Americans. The "Philadelphia Times," one of the most influential papers in the city, a short time previous to the meeting of the "North American" convention in New York, pulled down the names of Fillmore and Donelson from its editorial head and proposed to support the nominee of that convention. Its editor was in favor of Judge McLean. He has again run up the names of Fillmore and Donelson, and the following extract from his reasons for the course pursued, will explain his position. He says:—

"Instead of placing him [McLean] in nomination as was most earnestly desired by the most patriotic men in this great State, Col. Fremont was selected. Without experience—without knowledge of political affairs, having been but twenty days in public life, possessing no possible claim to the distinguished honor, he succeeded in obtaining the nomination over the heads of far more deserving men than himself. We deprecated his nomination then—we do so still. It has failed of producing the desired effect in this State at least, if not every where else. The people of this country cannot be brought into the support of a sectional candidate and sectional issues, which must end in disunion and civil war."