Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-06-25
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
" HEATLAND, NEAR LANCAgTER,
T. 80 IC-E
Hon JAMES BUcuANAN

" HEATLAND, NEAR LANCASTER,
June 16 1886.
GENTLE,IEN:-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your communication of the
18th instant, informing me officially of my
nomination by the Democratic National Con-
vention, recently held at Cincinnati, as the
Democratic candidate for the office OF Presi-
dent of the United States. / shall not at
tempt to express the grateful feelings which
entertain towards my Democratic fellow citi-
zens for having deemed me worthy of this
the highest political honor on the carth-an
honor such as the people of no other country
have the power to bestow Deeply sensible
of the vast and varied responsibility attached
to the station, especially at the present crisis
IN our affairs. have carefully refrained from
seeking the nomination either by word or by
deed. Now that it has been offered by the
Democratic party, l accept it with d;fidenCe
in my own abilities, but with an humble trust
that IN the event of my election, L may be en-
abled to discharge my duty in such a manner
to allay domestic strife, preserve peace and
friendship with foreign nations, and promote
the best Interests of the Republic.
In accepting the nomination, [ need scarce
ly say that [ accept in the same spirit, the
resolutions constituting the platform of princi-
pies erected by the Convention. TO this
platform l intend to confne myself through
out the canvass, believing hat I have no right,
as The candidate of the Democratic party, by
answering interrogatories, to present new and
different issues before the people
1t VIII not be expected that in this answer,
| should specially refer to the subject Of each
Of the resolutions; and I shall therefore eou-
fine myself to the two topics now most promi-
nenty before the people
And in the first place, cordially concur
N the sentiments expressed by the Conven-
ton on the subject of civil and religious Hb-
erty. No party founded en- religious or po-
litical intolerance towards one class of Ameri-
can citizens, whether born III our own or
foreign land, can long continue to exist in this
country. We are all equal before God and
the Constitution; and the dark spirit of des-
potism and bigotry which would create odious
distinctions among our fellow citizens, viii be
speedily rebuked by q free and enlightened
public opinion.
The agitation on the question of Domestic
Slavery has too long distracted and divided
the people of this Union. and alienated their
affections from each other. This agitation
has assumed many forms since its commence
ment, but 1T now seems to be directed chiefly
to the Territories and Judging from its pres
pate that it is rapidly approachinga ''finality.
The recent legislation of Congress respecting
Domestic Slavery. derived as it has been from
the original and pure fountain of legitimate
political power, the viii of the..majority, prom
ises ere long to allay the dangerous excite
ment. This legislation is founded upon prin-
ciples, as ancient as free government itself,
and i%accordance with them, has simply de-
clared that the people ola Territory. like those
of State, shall decide for themselves wheth-
er slavery shall or shall not exist within their
limits.
The Ncbraska-Kansas Act does no more
than give the force of law to this elementary
principle of self-government; declaring it to
be @ the true intent aDd meaning of this act
not to legislate slavery into any Territory or
State, nor to exclude it therefrom but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the Constitu-
ton of the United States" This principle
will surely not be controverted by any ndivid-
ual or any party protesting devotion to popu-
lar Government. Besides. how vain and l.
lusory would any other principle prove in prae-
tice in regard to the Territories This is ap-
parent from the fact admitted by all, that af-