The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1843-03-04


according to my best ability. can, there
fore, offer you no pledge for my future con
duct except The guarantee of the past.
You have been further pleased 10 say
that as rennsylvanians you desire TO see
me elevated 10 the highest office in the gift
of The people, and you tender me 80 the
Union as PeAnsy lvanis's favori,e candidate
for the next Presidency can solemnly
declare tba, was wholly unprepared for
such an annuncation from the democratic
members Of the legislature, having never
received the slightest animation of their
intention, until after their letter had been
actually signed.
Both principles and becoming sense OF
The merit of others, have hitherto prevented
me from taking any, even the least part, in
promoting my own elevation to the
Presidency. haze no ambitious
longings 10 crafty, conscious as am tha,
I have already received more Of The Offices
and honors Of my country than have ever
deserved. If know my own heart.
should mos, freely resign any pretensions
which the parliality of friends has set up
for me, il by this could purchase harmony
and unanimty in the selection of a dem
ocraic candidate. Besides, however pro-
per /. may be that candidates for inferior
Offices should make Personal efforts to se-
cure snccess--I am deeply convinced, that
the highest Office under Heaven, ought 10
be the voluntary gift Of the only free peo-
pie upon earth. No man cau justly claim
il from the people as matter of right.
It ought 10 be thier own spontaneous
gift to the most worthy, and this
this alone can render il the crowning glory
of we'll spent public like. This alone
can preven, the danger of our Institutions
which must result from the violent s,rug-
giles of personal and interested par.izans.
The principles of the man whom the peo.
pie may thus delight to honor, ought TO
have borne the test of long and severe ser
vice, and ough, to stand out in such bold
relief before his country, as to place all
doubt in regard to them at defiance. IT.
my opinion, the candidate who would
either intrigue, OF personally electioneer for
| the Presidency, raises strong presump
| lion .hat ne is unworthy Off. Whether il
| be probably tina, a man resolved, under The
blessing of Providence, to ACT upon these
! principles, will ever reach the Presidency,
| you can judge better than myself ought,
| however, in justice 10 myself to observe,
| that whilst this is my fixed purpose. do
not feel the less graceful to those Kind and
| partial friends who have deemed me worthy
| of the highest effice, because have never
attempted to enlist them in my support.
| With these views plainly presented be
fore the democracy of Pennsylvania, if
they shonld resolve to offer my name to
| the National Convention as a candidate for
the Presidency, with that degree Of unsn
unity which can alone give moral force to
their recommendation. feel f.nls shat ,SgS|, SSgh|
they determine differently, this will moi be
TO me cause Of the slightest modification.
One remark am impelled 10 make be
fore closing 4is letter. The principles and
the success of The democratic party so i'm
| measurably transcend in importance the
elevation of any individual, that they ough,
rot to he ieoparded, in the slighles. degree,
by personal partiali,y for either Of The can.
dda,es. Every candidate who has been
named, and hundreds of individuals whose
names have not been mentioned, would
ably and faithfully administer the govern
ment, according to these principles. No
good democrat, therefore, out Ia suffer his
feelings to be enlisted IN favor of anv one
candidate, that he could not yield his cheer
ful and cordial support to any other who
may be nominated by the National Con
vent;on.
Win sentiments Of great respect,
remain yours, sincerely
! JAMES BUCHANAN.
B. Crispin und H. y. Wright, Esqs, and
other democratic members OF the legisla
ture Of Pennsylvania.
.AwfM Calamity at 7roy.-7 7hirty Lives
Lost About o'clock P. NJ. of last
Friday; great landslide occurred. from
the very high hill called Noun. Ida, a,
Troy, N. Y. Part of the hill gave way
and slid down upon the town Just as i,
Gid in January 1887, crushing houses and
killing number of people.
Some eight or ten dwellings, occupied
bv poor families, were crushed and buried
beneath the mass Of earth. In these. it is
supposed there were not less than thirty OF
forty persons. only ten Or twelve of whom
escaped.
Within an hour, nine bodies had been
dur from, tho rninc-6ua oc ,,b;.L