Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-09-16
EuDortant Letter.

Important Letter.
Mr.. Buchanan has recently written the following
important letter to the Democracy OF od bsTks'
Pennsylvania We shall take further notice of 1t,
as we have time and space. Let every body read 1t,
and carefully.
WAsHINsToS, August 25, ls47.
Cenflmen-I have been honoed by the receipt OF your
kind invitation TO unite with The Democracy OF Old berks
in their Home celebration, to be held at Reading
on Saturday, the 2Sth inst should esteem II Dom
Measure and a privilege be present that interesting
occasion il is therefore, with regret have TO inform you
that my public duties during the present week WI" render
this impossible.
rejoice to observe that the glorious Democracy OF
4" Old Berks" buckDg their armOr, and preparing
for The approaehiDe contest II long since any State
election involved such important consequences Tor the
Democracy of the Union the approaching election Tor
the Governor of Pennsylvania On IFS result may pro-
baby depend the asceudency Of the Democracy for years
to Hence Democratic brethren oil other Siatrs
are witnessing the contest with intense anxiety Inc
field is fair one candidate we-tned, able, ana
honest; end he has been regularly nominated by the
party. Should he be defeated, The attempt VIII be vain 10
explain the decision Of the ballot boxes IN any other
manner than by admitting tina; the W higs have the msjo-
ny. Our candidate for canal nmlssoner Is also above
all repoah. both personally and politically and Is emil
neny qualified for the duties of that important Office
IT, under such circumstances, the Democratic hrysone
should give wav there great danger that the arch may
pieces. IL this emphalicay. be that
not for US against / do sPprehend defeat,
unless our willy foe should first ull into security by
making extraordinary public efforts; and then, at the
eleventh hour quietly steal march upon they have
done in some other States Our vigilance ought TO be
constantly the alert. until the moment of victory.
The question of slavery of its ancient aspects
has been recently revived and threatens TO convuse the
country The Democratic party of The Union ought TO
prepare themselves in time for the approaching Storm
Their best security the hour of danger is TO cling fast
their -honored principles. sacred regard Tor the
federal Constitution and for the reserved nights of the
States, the mmOveabe basis which The party can
alone safely rest This has saved from the mTOsds OF
abolition Northern democrats expected to approve
Of slavery the abstract but they to themselves,
they value the Unon aud all the political blessings
which beautifully flow from II, TO abide by The eompro-
l. misses of the Constitution aud leave the question where
that instrument has left ito the States wherein slavery
Our fathers have made this agreement with their
brethren OF the SOulh and It Is not Tor The descendants
of either party in the present generation 10 cancel this
solemn compact. Tie abotionists. by their efforts TO
annu il, have arrested the natural progress Of emanclps-
ton, and done great injury to the slaves themselves
- After Louisiana acquired from France by ML JET
fersOn and when the State of Missouri which constituted
. part of it, was about to be admitted into the UnOn the
Missouri question and progress threatened the
II dissolution of the Union. This settled 10y the men
of the last generation other important and dangerous
questions have been settled, a spirit of mutual
nder the Missouri compromise, slavery was Tor
ever prohibited" north of the parallel of sc deg 80 mln
and south of this parallel the question left TO be de-
cded by the people Congress in the admission OF Texas,
following the footsteps Of their predecessors, adopted
: the rule; and my opinion, the harmony OF the
States and the security of the Union ITSELF require
that the line of the Missouri compromise shod be extended
any territory which acquire from Mexico
p | should entertain the opinion even If II were
that this would become serious practical question
but that 1t be thus considered must be evident
- to all who have atieniivey examined The subject
= Neither the soil, the climate, the productions OF
: that portion of California south of Sc deg. 80 min nor
indeed of any portion of it, North South is adapted
I'd 70 slave labor; and besides every facility would he there
ut afforded escape from his Such
property would be utterly insecure in any part OF CALI
orna. Ii morally mpOssbs, therefore, that majority
of The emgrans that portion of the territory south OF SO
ii deg. 80 which will be chiefly composed OF our lei
n, oW.czens from the Eastern Middle and Western States
e will reesiabsh slavery within its limits. In regard
New Mexico of the Rio Grande, the question has
Or been already settled by the admission Of Texas into The
= Union.
should we acquire territory beyond the Rio Grsn6e
and of the Rocky MOuutADs 1t Is still more ImpTo-
C. babe that majority of the people of that would
Sk consent reeslabsh slavery They themselves IN
u large proportion cOOTed population and among them
the Negro does socially belong a degraded
The question therefore, of practical import
ance It's agitation, however honestly intended, can pro-
I'D duce effect but ALLEVIATE the people OF different po
tons of the Union from each Others TO excite sectona
divisions and jeaouses and 10 distract and possibly de-
IL stroy the Democratic party the ascendancy OF whose
w principles and depends, firmly believe the
st success of grand experiment of sefgovernmen
Such have been my individual opinions, openly and
feey expressed ever since the commencement Of the
On present agitation and of ell places in the
h world prefer put them record before the ncorruP
n bic Democracy of Old Berks l. therefore, beg leave Il
offer you the following sentiment:
- The Missouri COmpromise-Iis adoption in 1920 saved
II th Union from threate ed CONFUSION It's extension 10
ev ls4s any territory which may acquires viii
. secure the like happy result
Yours, very respectfully,
n JAMES BUCHANAN.
e.
ny The Washington Union says that the Secretary oil