Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-13


the Democracy of the Union for years come Hence our
Democratic brethren Of other States are witnessing the contest
with immense anxiety. The field is fair one our candi-
date wetred, able, and honest and he has been
nominated by the party Should he be defeated the
will be vain explain the decision of the baotboxes in any
other than by admitting that the Wings have the ma
oriy O candidate for canal commissioner is also above
all eproach both personally and politically, and is emneny
qualified for the duties Of that important Office IL under such
circumstances the Democratic keystone should give way
there great danger that the arch may tumble into pieces In
this contest emphatlcaly be that is not for against
do not appehend defeat unless willy foe should first ul
US into security by making no extraordinary public efforts
and then the eleventh hour quietly steal march upon u.s.
they have done in other States Our vigilance ought
to be constantly the alert until the moment of victory.
The question OF slavery IN one of its ancient aspects has
been recently revived and threatens convulse the
try The Democratic party Of the Union ought to prepare
themselves in time for the approaching storm Their
security in the hour Of danger cling fast their time
honored principles sacred regard for the Federal Com
sution and for the reserved rights of the States the
mmovabe basis which The party can alone safely rest
This has saved oh the inoads of abolition Northern
Democrats not expected to approve slavery in the abb
stract but they themselves they value the Union
and all the political blessings which bountully flow from it.
to abide by the compromises of the Constitution leave the
question where that has left ito the States where
in slavery exists. Cur ahers have made this agreement with
their brethren Of the South and not for the descendants
OF either party in the present generation cancel this
emn compact The abolonists by their efforts annu it,
have arrested the natural progress of emancpaon and done
great injury to the slaves themselves.
After Louisiana acquired from France Ivy Mr.. Jeer-
and when the State Of Missouri which constituted part
of it, about to be admitted into the Unon the Missouri
question and its progress threatened the dissolution
of the Union. This settled by the men of the gem
Grafton, other important and dangerous questions have
been settled in spirit of mutual concession. Under the
Missouri compromise slavery forever prohibited north
OF the parallel of SO deg 80 mn and south of this paal
lei the question left to be decided by the people, Con-
gres the admission of Texas following in the footsteps of
Tho and
ion, the harmony of the States and the security Of the
Union ITSELF require that the line of the Missouri compromise
should be extended to any territory which we may
qure from Mexico.
should entertain the same opinion if il certain
that this would become serious practical question but that
never can be thus considered must be evident 10 all who
have atentivey examined the subject
Neither the soil, the climate, the productions of that
portion Of California south of SO deg 80 mn-no indeed
of any portion OF it. north southis adapted to slave labor
and, besides, every facility would be there afforded TO the
slave to escape from his master Such property would be
utterly insecure in any part of California. II morally inn
possible, therefore, that majority of the emigrants that
portion OF the territory south of SO deg. 80 mnwhch will
be chiefly composed of elow-cz from the Eastern
Middle, and Western Stateswil reestablsh slavery
within IFS limits In regard to New Mexico, of the Rio
Gande the question has been already settled by the adms
sion of Texas into the Union
Should acquire territory beyond the Rio Grande, and
east of the Rocky Mountains, is still improbable that
majority Of the people of that region would consent to
establish slavery They themselves in large proper
ton, cooed population and among them the negro does
not, socially, belong to degraded race.
The question is therefore, of practical importance
Its agitation, however honestly intended produce eff
feet but to ALLEVIATE the people Of different portions of the Union
from each other excite sectional divisions and eaouses
and 10 distract and possibly destroy the Democratic party,
the ascendency of whose principles and measures depends
firmly believe the of grand experiment of self
government.
Such have been my individual opinions, openly and freely
expressed since the of the present I'M
fortunate agitation and, Of all places in the world prefer
TO put them record before the ncoupble Democracy of
old Berks therefore beg leave offer you the following
sentiment
The Missouri Compromise: Its adoption in 1920 saved
the Union from threatened CONFUSION. Its extension in ls4s
to any territory which may acquire will the
like happy results.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Charles kessle Esq, President, and George F. Spayd
and Jacob Lvengood, Esqs., Secretaries, &c.