Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-10
AVAILABILITY.

| AVAILABILITY.
| The Boston Post is utterly opposed to an
available " candidate, and in favor of General
Pierce because he is not available, but as the
Post assumes is singularly obnoxious on ac-
count of the part he played on the Kansas-Ne-
braska Bill, and that, on that account, for that
reason alone, and without regard to consequent
ces, General Pierce should be nominated.
The Post quotes Daniel Webster on "avail-
ability" We will give our view alike of Mr..
Websters availability, and our own, which
concur.
There are two kinds of availability. The
very antipodes Of each other The one is q
candidate who has neither past nor present, he is
perfect blank upon which every one may write
promises for the future to please his own fancy,
his weakness is his strength. The other is one
who, in excited times, when single issue Of
vital Importance is to be determined, presents
to all interested sure reliance. One whose
past and present has given position to COM
mand success. The first is to be used when
multiplicity Of issues are presented; when
each party holds out numerous grounds for
support, and when large numbers find in the
programme of the two parties much to approve
and much to condemn. In this case a blank
candidate is the available one, because uncom-
mitted against or for any thing, every man has
equal hope that he may be with him; he is at
least certain that he is not committed against
his favorite measures
The contest now about to begin il not of this
character. 1t is vital conflict upon essential
features of the Constitution affecting the rights
Of fifteen sovereign States and the interests of
all their people
1t is emphatically one of those crisises, in
which an available" leader is wanted-a
leader whose commanding position will most
assuredly rally together constitutional men
enough to vindicate the equality of the States,
to triumph over treason, fanaticism and spoils
hunting.
In JAMES BUCHANAN we have that leader
With him as the candidate of the Democratic
Party, victory is as certain as any incident of
the future Of this character can be.
Such being the undoubted fact, the only ques-
ton which arises, is. Is there any overriding
necessity which compels the party, to leopard
the only matter at issue to run the imminent
hazard of defeat, rather than make sure OF sue
cess by the nomination of Mr.. BUcHANAY-the
whole question of the controversy lies embodied
in this question.
That in every other respect, as well as in
this one, most indispensable, Mr.. BUCHANAN
is eminently worthy of the confidence and re.
gard Of the Democratic party, no one but par
tsans Of individuals and parties actuated by
personal considerations, will, we are sure, call
in question.
| Mr.. BUCHANAN has received the testimonials
of confidence from Andrew Jackson by his
mission to Russia, from Mr.. Polk, by his selec.
ton to the highest Office in the presentation Of
the Executive. The existing Administration
| was so strongly impressed with the knowledge
alike of his position in the Democratic party,
and with the nation and the Governments of
Europe, solicited earnestly the aid Of his COM
handing abilities on the theatre of greatest
importance to American honor and American
interests. The State Of Pennsylvania has uni
formly extended to him mistaken confidence,
and unbroken evidences Of her great estimate.
| The South at the Convention in 1852, gave
him an unmistakeable endorsement Since
that time his political action has been COM
prised in the labors of his mission to England
including the Ostend Conference. !,
Has he done anything in that mission to lose
him the confidence Of the Democratic party
Let his unexampled reception answer that ques-
| ton.
A spontaneous, simultaneous uprising of the
people, without distinction Of party, the very
partisans Of other men joining to swell the
ovation, and make the approval universal
II, therefore, victory sits surely perched upon
the Democratic banner under the leadership Of
JAMES BUCHANAN, a heavy responsibility at
taches to all who seek, by setting him aside, to
leopard the equality Of the State, the supre-
macy Of the Democratic party.
We will in future numbers revert to this
subject full Of portent for good or evil.
FLOWERS OF RHETORIC GROWN IN
THE FREEsOIL OF THE NEW YORK