The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-31
The Opinion Of the Hon James Buchanan
Of the WiImUt Proviso


GENrLEMAS: have been honored by the receipt of
your kind invitation to unite with the democracy of Old
Berks in their Harvest Home celebration to be held at
Reading, on Saturday the 2Sth instant. should e.
it both pleasure and privilege to be present on
that interesting occasion II is therefore with regret
have to inform you, that my public duties during the
present week will render this impossible
rejoice to observe that the glorious democracy Of
"Od Berks" are buckng on their armor and preparing
for the approaching contest 1t 10 long sLcc any State
election has involved such important for the
democracy of the Union the approaching election
Governor Of Pennsylvania On Its result may probably
depend the ascendancy Of the democracy of the Union
for years come. Hence democratic brethren of
other States witnessing the with anx
iety The field Is fair ONE our candidate we-tried,
able and honest and he has been regularly nominated
by the party Should he be defeated the attempt will
bevan to explain the decision Of tho ballot Boxes in
any other manner than by admitting that the Wings
have the majority. Our candidate for Canal Comms-
soner is also, above all reprosch both personally and
politically and Is emineny qualified for the duties of
that important office IT, under such circumstances the
democratic keystone should give way there is great
danger that the arch may tumble into pieces In this
contest emphaticaly he that is not for against
do not apprehend defeat, unless willy foe should
public Efforts and then, at the eleventh hour quietly
steal march upon us, they have done 10 other
States Our vigilance ought to be constantly on the
alert until the moment of victory
The question OF slavery In Of its ancient aspects
has been recently revived and threatens to convue the
country The democratic party OF The Union ought to
pare themselves In time for the approaching storm
Therl best security in the hour Of danger Is cling
fast their time honored principles sacred regard
for the Federal constitution and for the reserved rights
Of the States the immovabe basis which the party
alone safely rest. This has saved from the in
roads Of abolition. Northern democrats are not ex-
pected to approve slavery in the abstract but they
it to themselves, as they value the Union aud all the
political blessings which bountifuly flow from II, tn
abide by the compromises of the and
the question, where that instrument has left it, to the
states wherein slavery exss our fathers nave made
il not for the descendants Of either party in the present
generation, to cancel this solemn compact The abo-
iti0nts by their efforts TO annu It, have arrested the
done
to the slaves themselves.
Af1er Louisiana acquired from France by MIR. JEFF
ferson, and when the State of Missouri which const
tuted part of It, about TO be admitted into the
Union the Missouri question and In It's progress
threatened the dissolution of the Union This was set
tied by the men OF the last generation other mpor
tant and dangerous Questions have been settled IN
spirit OF mutual concession Under the Missouri com
PROMISE slavery was" forever prohibited north OF 80
deg 80 min. and south Of this parallel the question
was left to be decided by the people Congress ~ the
admission OF Texas following In the Footsteps Oh tner
predecessors, adopted the same rule and In my opih
ion the harmony Of the states and even tne security Of
the Union itself require that the line OF the MISSOURI
compromise should be extended TO any new territory
which we may acquire from Mexico
81 should entertain the opinion, even II IL we're
certain this would become serious practical question:
but that 1t be thus consderedmustbe evident
to all who have attentively examined the subject
that portion Of California south Of 80 deg 80 min nor
indeed any portion Oft North or South Is adapted to
labor and besides every facility would be there
Afforded 10 the slave TO escape from his master Such
would be utterly insecure In any part Of Cali
10 ~ morhy iIuporhlDie, therefore. tDat n
of emgrsns TO that portion OF territory
south OF 30 deg 80 min which will be chiefly composed
OF our felow-ctzens from the Eastern, Middle, and
Western states will reesabsh slavery within lie
limits In regard 10 New Mexico, east Of the Rio Grande
tbs question has been already settled by the admission
of Texas into the Union.
Should acquire territory beyond the Rio Grande,
aud east OF the Rocky Mountains Il Ia s: impfo
bsble that majority OF the people Of that region would
consent to re-establsh slavery They are
in large proportion, coored population; and among
them, the negro docs not socially belong 90 degraded
rrce.
This question 10 therefore, not one Of prsstes impor
tsnssl iw agitation, kswsvu honestly isssrasasa, can