The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-03-04
Patriotic Letter Of HI. Buchanan.

The annexed letter from this distinguished
Democratic statesman, says the Nlississip-
plan, viii be read with great pleasure ~ bis
many attached friends in the South. Il was
written in reply to an invitation extended to
him, to partake of public dinner in Rich
mond, Virginia. We trust that his advice
to Democrats to bury dissensions about set
tied issues, will not be without its good et-
fects. With the almost entire South, Mr.
Buchanan advocated the Missouri line OF
30: 30; but now, since the compromise
measures have become laws, and all diVis-
ions of the party have determined to acqui-
esce in them, he advises those who "believe
that the triumph of Democratic principles
is essential, not only to the prosperity OF
the Union, but to the preservation OF the
constitution, rcciprocally to forget, and If
need be, to forgive the past, and cordially
unite in sustaining for the future the good
old cause Of Democracy"
RICHMOND, Feb. u, 1852
GENTLEMEN: On my arrival in this city
last evening received your very kind letter,
welcoming me to the metropolis of the Old
Dominion and rendering me the honor of
public dinner regret-deeply regret
that my visit to Richmond will necessarily
be so brief [ cannot enjoy the pleasure and
the privilege of meeting you all at the fes-
tival board Intending merely to pass a day
with my valued friend, Judge Mason, my
previous arrangements are of such charac-
ter that must leave here tomorrow, or, at
the latest, on Saturday morning.
But whilst l cannot accept the dinner, I
shall ever esteem the invitation from so ma
ny of Virginia's most distinguished and es-
Unable sons as one of the proudest honors
of my life. Your ancient and renowned
Commonwealth has ever been the peculiar
guardian of State rights and the firm sup
porter of constitutional liberty, of law, aud
of order. When, therefore, she endorses
with her appreciation any of my poor efforts
to serve the country, her commentator is
sure guarantee that these have been de-
NOISN w 4" SaAISON0 N~0oS'
You are pleased to refer in favorable terms
to my recent conduct cat home in defence
Of the federal constitution and laws" This
was an easy and agreeable task, because the
people of Pennsylvania have ever been as
loyal and faithful to the constitution, the
Union, and the rights of the sovereign States
of which it is composed, as the people of tho
ancient Dominion themselves. To have pur.
sued different course in my native State
would, therefore, have been to resist tho
strong current Of enlightened public opin
ion.
1 purposely refrain from discussing tho
original merit of the Compromise, because
consider it, to employ the expressive Ian
guage of the day, as ''fnality' fxet
fact-a most important enacment of law, the
agitation or disturbance of which could d.
no possible good, but might produce mucl
positive evil. Our noble vessel of Stat
freighted with the hopes of mankind, boil
for the present and future generations, ha
passed through the most dangerous break
ers which she has ever encountered and ha
triumphantly ridden out the storm. Bot
those who support the measures of the Com
promise as just and necessary, and those who
regarding them in different light, yet &C
quiescn in them for the sake of the Union
have arrived at the same conclusion-that
must and shall be executed. They hav
T thus, for every practical purpose, adopted tn
/, same platform, and have resolved to sustai
it against the common enemy. Why, ther
should they wrangle and divide and vast
their energies, not respecting the main quc'
ton, which has already been definitely Sc
tied, but in regard to the process which ha
brought them, though from different diret
tons, to the same conclusion Above al
why should the strength of the Democrat
party of the country be impaired, and its al
tendency jeoparded, for any such cause?-
, We who believe that the triumph of demt
, cratic princiI les is essential not only to tn
! prosperity of the Union, but even to tn
preservation of the constitution, ought r.
q ciprocally to forget, and if need be, to 70
, give the past, and cordially unite with OF
, political brethren in sustaining for the Fl
! ture the good old cause of democracy.
: must be source of deep and lasting pie
= sure to every patriotic heart that our believe
> country has so happily passed through Il
j late trying and dangerous crisis The vo
i cano has been extinguished, trust, forever
f and the man who would apply a fre-bran
: at the present moment, to the combustib
: materials which still remain may produce ;
: eruption to overwhelm both the constitute
, and the Union.
: With sentiments of high and grateful I
i spect, remain your fellow-citizen,
a JAMES BUCHANAN.
. Shelton F. Leak, esq. and other gentleme