The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-06-21
The DAILY DISPATCH


sataraay .llornlns. June 81. 7isse.
nr. Buehananss Letter OF Acceptance.
The telegraph yesterday. gave brief synopsis
oI ar; buchanans letter Of acceptance of the no
iiihA'ion. Inc following Is the letter In full
/ WHEATLASD, NEAR LANCASTER . i
1 June 16. 1856
| oENTLEMEN 81 have the honor to acknowledge
Ine receipt OF your communication OF the 18Th in
80 ,nIoI ming me ofiiciaiiy Of my nomination by
| .he democratic National Convention, recently
neid at Cincinnati. as the Democratic candidate
ior the offiee of President Of the United Statss
suai nos attempt to express the grateful feelings
o,,;sa .n entertain towards my Democratic fellow
stuzens TOT having deemed me worthy of this
the nghest political honor ON earth-an honor sucb
as tue people OF no other country have the power
70 oesiow Deeply sensible Of the vast and varied
.espopsioiily attached to the station especially al
sna present crisis 10 our affairs have carefully re-
| framed from seeking the nomination either hx
wora or by deed Now that II has been offered by
the democratic party, accept IL with difideucs
IN my own abilities, but N ith humble trust, thai
Ia the event of my election, may be enabled IN
discharge my duty in such manner as to allsy
domestic strife preserve peace and friendship with
ore,gh nations, and promote the best interests OF
the Republic.
ln accepting the nomination, / need scarcely saw
'nas accept in the same spirit, the resolutions
constituting the platform of principles erected by
the Convention To this platform / intend to con.
hne myself throughout the canvass believing tina,
rQ IN
party, by answering interrogatories TO present
new and different issues before the people
II VIII not De expected that in this answer /
snonid specially refer to the subject of each of the
Iesoiutohs aud 1 shall therefore confne myself
70 the two topics now most prominently befo,e e the
people. fsfs : - 'A' :"
And in the first place. 1 cordially concur in the
sentiments expressed by the Convention on the
suolect OF civil and religious liberty. No party
founded on religious or political intolerance TO.
born in our own or in foreign land can long con
tinue to exist in this country. We are all equal
Deiore iod and the Constitutions; and the dark
spirit OF despotism and bigotry which woulf. ere.
ate odious distinctions among our fellow citizens
VIII be speedily rebuked by a free and enlightened
public opinion ''
The agitation on the question of Domestic Slave
ry has too long distracted and divided the people
oil this Union and alienated their affections from
each other. This agitation has assumed many
forms since its commencement, but it now seems to
be directed chiefly to the Territories; and Judging
from its present charat ter, think we may safely
anticipate that 1t is rapidly approaching "fnali-
~" The recent legislotion of Congress respecting
domestic slavery, derived it has been from the
original and pure fountain of legitimate political
power, the win of the majority, promises ere long
to aiiay the dangerous excitement. This legisla.
ton Is founded upon principles as ancient as free
government itself. and in accordance with Them
has simply declared that the people of a Territory
like those of State, shall decide for themselves
whether slavery shall or shall exist within their
limits.
The Nebraska Kansas Act does no more than
give the force of law to this elementary principle
OF selfgoyernment, declaring it te be the true in.
tent and meaning of this act not to leRisate sla.
very into any Territory or State, to exclude it
tnerefIom; but TO leave the people thereof perfect
ly free TO form and regulate their domestic nstitu
tions in their way, subject only to the Consti-
tuition of the United States" This principle will
surely not be eontrovefted by any individual of
ment Besides, how vain and illusory would any
other principle prove in practice In regard to the
Territories This is apparent from the fact ad.
mitted by ALL that after Territory shall have en-.
tered the Union and become State, no Constitu.
tional power would then exist, which could pre-
vent it from either abolishing establishing sla-
very, as the case may be, according TO its sove-
reign will and pleasure. So
Most happy would it be for the country if this
long agitation were at end. During its whole
progress, 1t has produced no practical good to any
human being. whilst it has been the source of great
and dangerous evils 1t has alienated and estran
ged one portion of the Union from the other and
has even seriously threatened its very existence
To my own personal knowledge, it has produced
the impression among foreign nations that our
great and glorious confederacy is in constant dan
ger of dissolution This does us serious injury,
because acknowledged power and stability aln ays
command respect among nations, and are among
the best securities against unjust aggression, and
IN favor of the maintenance of honorable peace
May we not hope thati is the mission Of the Dem
ocratic party now the only surviving conservative
party OF the country, ere long overthrow all sec
iionai parties, and restore the peace, friendship
and mutual confidence which revaied in the good
old time, among the different members of the con.
federacy lts character is strictly national and it
wherefore asserts no principle for the guidance of
the Federal Government which is not adopted and
sustained by its members in each and every State
Fer this reason it is everywhere the same deter
mined foe Of all geographical parties, so much and
so justly dreaded by the Father OF his Country
From its very nature il must continue to exist so
long as there is Constitution and Union to pre.
serve. conviction of these truths has induced
many of the puresf, the ablest and most indepep.
dent of our former opponents, who have differed
from us in times gone by upon old and extinct
party issues. to come into our ranks and devote
themselves with us to the cause of the Constitu.
tion and the Union. Under these circumstances
i most cheeriuly pledge myself. should the nom.
ination of the Convention be ratified by the peo.
pie, that all the power and influence constitution
ally possessed by the Executive shall be exerted
in firm but conciliatory spirit, during the single
term which shall remain in office, to restore the
same harmony among the sister States n hch pre-.
vailed before this apple of discord in the form of
slavery agitation. had been cast into their midst
Let the members of the family abstain from inter
meddng with the exclusive domestic concerns of
each other, and cordially unite, ON the basis of
perfect equality among themselves, in promoting
the great national objects of common interest to
ALL and the good work will be instantly accom-
plished
Ia regard to our foreign policy, to which you
have referred in your communication it is quite
impossible for any human foreknowledge TO pre-
scribe positive rules iu advance, to regulate
the conduct of future administration in all
the exisencies which may arise in our various and
exchanging relations with foreign powers. The
Federal Government must of necessity exercise
sound discretion in dealing with international
questions as they may occur but this under the
strict responsibility which the Executive must al
ways feel TO the people of the United States and
the judgment of posterity. You will therefore
for not entering into particulars; whilst
heartily concur with you in the general senti-
menf that our foreign affairs ought to be conduct
ed with such wisdom and frmness rs TO assure the
prosperity of the people at home whilst the inter-
ests and honor of our country are wisely but In
fexiby maintained abroad. Our foreign policy
ought ever 10 be based upon the principle of doing
justics to all nations, and requiring justice from
them in return; and from this principle shall
never depart
should be placed in the Executive Chair, shall
use my best exertioDs TO cultivate peace and friend
ship with all nations believing this to be our highest
policy wei. most Imperative duty but at the
same iime shall forget that In case the mecca
sity should arise, which do not now apprehend, our
naiiont rights and national honor must be preserved
at all hazards and at any sscrificc.
Firmly convinced that special Providence gov
erps the affairs of nations, let us humby imploru his