Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-02-16
To the People Of the .. States

I3loao- Citizens:
The convention which has
this tiav assembled. meets to discharge a
duty of the NEST impressive and snomen-
tous character. Representing the wish
es of nearly the entire democracy OF Perm
sylvania, on question so vitality impoT-
tant to the friends Of democratic nrinci-
pies in every section of the Countrywide
question II a candidate for the next pre-
sidency. it becomes US to urge with ell
the force which the occasion demands.
the often-expressed wishes of the people
of state which has formed so important.
so disinterested, and SO. effective an aid
in the repeated glorious achievements OF
the democratic arms. The voice nf the
smallest commonwealth in our cOpieder-
acv, coming as the expression OF sover-
eign state. has ever received the most
respectful consideration. Nor is it bl'ev-
ed that the usage will be departed from
in the case Of the glorious old Keystone.
Respect for her rich, inexhanstble, ana
inestimable resources her important ge-
oeraphicaI position-her honest, enter,
prising aud intelligent people--the Slo
rious memories which are revived IN the
history of her brave and great men :"
sion of her citizens on any &c pres
! questions which agitate the country
And VIXEN this expression IS made wifi
that calm. nndisturhed and conciliatory
spirit. which should ever distinguish the
discussions of the members of our deoie-
cratic family-when the facts are laid be.
lore the country without abuse Of any Of
the statesmen now urged forward by
their TRENDS in various parts of the coun-
try, as candidates for the presideEcv-an
appeal. thus sustained and thus advoea-
ted, will be certain to meet with a far
reception from the democracy of the 9th
er parts of the union.
Wilt be urged that we are thus civ.
ing undue Importance to one state-that
we are presenting local candidate to
the su.frages of national convention
Yet these are arguments which might be
urged. as we'll in relation to South Caro-
lima, to Massachusetts. to New York. to
Virginia. to Kentucky. as 20 Pennsyl-
vanla. All candidates are, of necessity.
local at the start. We are proud of
Virginia, as the author of much that is
great ard good in our political history t;
and although Virginia has given five pre-
sldents So the union. yet Pennsylvania
never objected to the repeated nomins-
tions of Virsinia's sons for the highest Of
fees in the gift Of the nation, but that Vir-
glnla did not deserve monopoly of these
public honnrs. Never was it alleged
that we Of Penns ylvania have statesmen
AS great as those of the Old Dominion
that Pennsylvania was more effective in
the cause OF popular rights than Virgin
ia-that our soil was richer, our position
more important or our claims greater.
The response which Pennsylvania made
was IN democratic maiorities which she
gave at the polls. at every political con
test, during period of more than forty
years! Why, then. should the first claim
ot PennsyIvan,a-her first serious and
powerful appeal to the justice and mag,
nanmlty OF her sister States---be dis
couraged by Az argument which she has
never raised against her sister states
Dut ~ ~ not only on the brad and
impregnabe foundation of the claims of
Pennsylvania, that the present represen-
tatlves of the people Of this common
wealth base their appeal to the whole de-
mocracy OF the union. The candidate
IN whom these claims are charlottesville
man through whom these claims it is no.
ped will be respected-is one know,, to
the ubQ!e country. and emi'aenty aoorihv
ct the support Of the democracy Of The
waote country. rhe name Of JAMES
BUCHAN.daN is not confined to his ma
tive state. His friends are. not limited
to the tlisinterested democratic woman.
ry of Pennsylvania: but wherever the
principles Of democracy are understood
aud appreciated, the name Of JB.lfES