The true Democrat., 1856-07-08
Mir. Buchanan,s RenIy

l4tl II ,ad compare them.
 MT. Buchanan's Reply
 Wheatland, near Lancaster. June l6, 1856 f GENTLEMEN -l have the honor to acknow N elge the receipt of your communication of the II 18th inst, informing me officially of my pom l nation by the democratic national convention II recently held at Cincinnati, as the democratic
 candidate for the office of President of the II Tinted States I shall not attempt to ex- nress the grateful feelings which entertain to . wards my democratic fellow-citizens for hay ing deemed me worthy of this--the higbest no- uical honor on earth-an honor such as the people of no other country have the power to bestow Deeply sensible ofthe vast and varied responsibility attached to the station. especially at the present crisis in our affairs have care fully retrained from seeking the nomination. either by word or deed. Now that it has been | offered by the democratic party, | accept it with dlttldence m my own abilities, but with an Il humble trust that Ill the event of my election Il may be enabled to discharge my duty in such a | manner as to alay domestic 5trfe preserve | peace and friendship with foreign nations and promote the best interests of the republic. In accepting the nomination, I need scarcely say that l accept Tn the same spirit the reso- muonS constituting the platform of principles erected by the convention. To this platform 1 intend to conine myselfthroughoutth the canvass, believing that 1 have no right as the candidate of the democratic party, by answering intero- gltories to present new and different issues be- fore the people.
 It will be expected that in this answer should specially refer to the subject of each of +b. ,ltr4f, ,l,,1l myself 10 the two topics now most prominently before the people.
 And, in the first place, I cordially concur in the sentiments expressed by the convention on tae subject of civil and religious liberty. No party founded on religious or political intolcr- auce towards one class of American citizens, whether born in our own or in a foreign land call long continue to exist in this country. We are all equal before God and the constitution; and the dark spirit of despotsm and bigotry which would create odious distinctions among our teIIow-citizens, will be speedily rebuked by free aud enlightened public opinion The agitation on the subject of domestic slavery has too long distracted and divided the people of this Union and alienated their atfec lions from each other. This agitation has as sumed many forms since its Commencement. but it now seems to be directed chiefly to the territories; and, judging from its present char acter think We may safely anticipate that it rapidly approaching tinalitv" The re- cent legislation of Congress respecting domes- tic slavery. derived as it has been, from the original and pure fountain of legitimate polit- cal poWer the will of the majority, promises ere long to allay the dangerous excitement. IAis legislation IS founded upon principles as ancient as free government itself; and in ac- cordance with them, has simply declared that the people of a territory, like those of a State shall decide for themselves whether slavery shall or shall not exist within their limits. The \ ka-kansas act does no more than give the force of law to this elementary princi- lle of self-goyernment, declaring it to be the true " intent and meaning of this act not to le- s'sate slavery into any territory or state, nor to exclude 1t theretrom but to leave the people
 thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their
 domestic institutions In their own way, subject
 only to the constitution of the United States' IA.s principle will surely not be controverted
 by any individual oi any party protesting devo- ton to popular government. Besides how vain
 and illusory would any other principle prove in practice in regard to the territories This is
 apparent from the fact admitted by al that af-
 ter a territory shall have entered the Union
 and become State, no constitutional power
 would then exist which could prevent it from
 either abolshing or establishing slavery, as the
 case may be, according to its soveri4n will and pleasure.
 Most happy would it be for the country if
 this long agitation were at all end. Daring its
 whole progress it has produced no practical good to any human being, whilst 1t has been the source of great and dangerous evils. It has alenated and estranged one portion of the Uu-
 j.D from thp Othar auI has a,-.r, .I
 threatened ts very eXstance. To my own per
 souai knowledge, it has produced the impress slu4 among foreign nations that our great and glorious cOniederacy IS in constant danger of dissolution This does Us serious injury be- cause acknowledged power and stability always
 command respect among nations, and are
 among the best securities against unjust aggreS-
 sion, and in favor of the mantenace of honor
 able peace.
 May we not hope that it is the mission of the democratic larty now the only surviving con-
 seryatye party of the country, ere long to
 overthrow all sectional parties, and restore the }e1cc friendship and mutual confidence which prevailed in the good old tme among the diff terelt members of the contedcracy? Its char
 at.er is strictly national and 1t therefore as
 serts no principle for the guidance Of the fed
 era. government which IS not adopted and sus- aued by it's members in each and every State
 For tAi< reason 1t Is everywhere the same de-
 tennued foe of all geographical parties, so
 much and so justly dreaded by the father of hs country. From its very nature it must con-
 llue to exist so long as there Is constitution
 and Unon to preserve. A conviction of these
 truths has induced many of the purest, the
 abest and most independent of our former op-
 poneuts, 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 constitution and the Union.
 Under these circumstances most cheerfulv pledge myself, should the nomination of the convention be ratified by the people that all the bower and influence constitutionalIv nos sessed by the executive shall be exerted in a firm but conclliatory spirit, during the single term shall remain ir office, to restore the same
 harmony among the sister States which pre-
 vailed before this apple of discord in the form
 of slavery agitation, had been cast into her midst Let the members of the family abstain from intermeddling with the exclusive doines- tie concerns of each other and cordially unite on the basis of perfect equality among them selves. in promoting the great national objects of common interest to all, and the good work will be instantly accomplished.
 In regard to our foreign policy, to which you have referred in your communication, it is quite impossible for any human foreknowledge tC prescribe positive rules in advance, to regulate the conduct of future administration, in al the exigences which may arise in our various
 and everchangng relations with foreign pow
 CTS The federal government must of necessity
 exercise sound discretion in dealing with in
 tenational questions as they may occur bu
 this under the strict responsibility which the
 executive must always feel to the people of thu United States and the judgment of posteri
 ty You will, therefore, excuse me for not en