Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-12

| Congress 10 clothe the people OF the Territorie
with ample power to exclude slavery iron
within their respective limits, as well Will
they continued Territories as in making PROV
sons for its exclusion from the State when tina
transition shall take place. The only question
that can be raised upon the act in this regard
must relate to the effect of the grant-that is
whether the Constitution authorizes Congress
to clotbe the people of the Territories with /
power TO exclude slavery therefrom while the,
remain Territories. | have not the slightes
doubt of the power of Congress to give this au
thority to the people Of the Territories. But il
is, think, quite certain that if the objection
raised in behalf of the slave States in respect
to legislation for the government of the Terri
tories is well founded, that objection could not
be obviated, either by the restoration of the
Missouri Compromise or by the re-adoption OF
the old mode Of settling the question of slavery
in the Territories by the direct legislation Of
Congress. Whether these questions are set
tied by the act of the people of the Territories,
or by the direct legislation of Congress, or by
the restoration of the Missouri Compromise, ESQ
far as that would reach,) the validity of the
settlement in each case, and to an equal ex-
tent, rests upon an act of Congress and upon
the constitutionality Of that act and this would,
OF course, have been the case if the Nebraska
Kansas act had not recognized in terms the
subsection of the powers it intended to grant to
the Constitution.
Mr.. Buchanan in his letter of acceptance,
pledges himself to the people, "should the
nomination of the Convention be ratified by
the people, that all the power and influence
constitutionally possessed by the Executive
shall be exerted in firm but conciliatory spirit,
during the single term he shall remain in
office, to restore the same harmony among the
sister States which prevailed before the apple
of discord in the form of slavery agitation had
been cast into their midst" He knows that
this pledge can be redeemed in but one way,
and that is by securing to the bona tide settlers
of the Territory, if matters should be allowed
to remain as they now stand, the full, free and
practical enjoyment of the rights intended to
be granted to them by the organic act, includ-
ing that Of free suffrage, and no one will un-
derstand better than he that nothing short of
the substance Of those rights would answer the
purpose or satisfy the excited and vigilant scru-
tiny of those who will watch every step that is
taken in the matter. Doubts were at one time
thrown QUIT know not from what quarter-in
regard to the power of the Executive to give
this security; but affairs now in progress show
that these doubts, if they ever existed, have
been dispeled. The Constitution makes it the
express duty of the Federal Executive to see
that "the laws are faithfully executed" and
he is clothed with powers adequate to its per-
Torrance.
Will Mr.. Buchanan, if elected, redeem his
pledge? believe he will, and therefore will
cheerfully support him. All that can be asked
of him is to do equal and exact justice to every
section of the country-to exercise the high
IL. L L
the object in view, as well because it will be
right SO to do, as because there may be reason
to fear that the existence of the Government
itself may depend upon his securing it. So
much has been said in regard to the dangers
with which the Union is threatened, as to re-
quire no uncomfortable effort on the part of an
earnest man to touch upon the solemn theme
for fear he might be suspected of desire to
prostitute it to comparatively petty purposes.
But all must admit it to be certain that there
never was period in the history of this Re-
public when sectional animosities were so rife.
or had to so great an extent, infamed the
masses of the people. If the Confederacy
shall prove strong enough to withstand these
torrents of bitter waters, it will afford the best
evidence that the love of union is as deeply
impressed upon the American heart as its most
.sanguine friends have imagined it to be- l
see good grounds for hope that such may be
the happy issue out of our present alarming
condition, in the prospect OF Mr.. Buchanans
election. He is neither an untried man or one
of ordinary stamp. He has for long time
been favoraby known to the public service,
and comes before the country with character
already formed, and a mind thoroughly trained
In the school Of experience. In regard to the
future action Of such man, his constituents
are not left to conjecture and hope, but may
form positive opinions. He has established a
foreign reputation, in regard to which he can
not fail to be solicitous. He has with charac.
teristic good sense, relieved himself from the
imputation of being influenced by desire to
concate any special or partial interest, with
a view to reelection, and his acts from mis-
constructions, which the suspicion of being so
influenced might engender. That man with
such antecedents, and occupying such posi-
ton, acting in a matter of sufficient interest to
attract the attention of the world, and in the
presence of free and intelligent people,
among whom he was reared and expects to
spend the evening Of his life, can fail to per-
form his entire duty when the path that leads
to it is so plain that "the wayfaring man,
though fool, could not err therein" is con.
summation that | am very certain can never
be realized.
| am very truly yours,
M. VAN buren,.
To Messrs. Murphy, Shepard, Fowler Kelly,
Wheelan, Purdy, and others, Committee OF
A rraprapoapto &C. ba Tt c.