The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-07-05
WnEATLAND, NEAR LANCASTER,
June Is. 1856.


ledge the receipt of your communication of the
18th inst, informing me officially Of my noml-
nation by the National Democratic Conven.
ton, recently held at Cincinnati, as the Dem,
ocratic candidate for the Office OF President OF
of the United States. ! shall not attempt to
express the grateful feelings which entertain
towards my Democratic fellow citizens Tor hav-
iur deemed me worthy of ths--thc highest
political honor on carth--an honor such as the
pcoplc of no other country have the rghS to
bcstow. Deeply sensible Of the vast and va
ricd responsibility attached to the station, cs-
pcciay mt the present crisis in our affairs,
have carefully rclrained from seeking the nom
nation. either by word or by deed. Now that
it has been offered by the Democratic party,
accept il with diilidencc in my own abilities,
but with an humble trust, that in the event OF
my election, Inay be enabled to discharge my
duties in such II manner as to allay domestic
strife. preserve peace and friendship with for
cirn nations, and promote the best interests Of
the republic.
In accepting the nomination, ] need scarcely
say that ! accept in the same spisit the resou
t;onS constituting the platform OF principles
erected by The Constitution. TO this platform
intend 10 conlinc myself Throughout the can
vass. believing that have NJ right as the can
didatc Of the Democratic party, by answering
nicrrogatoricS, to present new and different
iSucs before the people.
IL will not he expected that in this answer
soould especially refer to the subject of each
of the resolutions and shall therefore conlinc
myself to the two topics most prominent before
the people.
And. in the first place, cordially concur IN
the sentiments expressed by the Convention ON
the subject Of civil and religious liberty. No
party founded on religious or political intolc.
rance towards one class Of American citizens,
whether born .n oar 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 bigotry and dcapotiSm "hich
wculo create odous distinctions among orr lcl-
low citizens viii be speedily rcbnIsed by free
and enlightened publir opinion.
The agitation Oh the question Of domestic
slavery has too long distracted aud divided the
people of this Union, and acnated their ali'cc-
tons from each othar. This agitation has as
sumrd many forms since its commencement
Int it now seems directed chiefly to the terri,
tories: and judging from its present character,
] think we may safely anticipate that it is rap
idly approaching "lnality.' The recent lc-
gisation OF Congress respecting domestic sla.
very, derived, as it has been, from the original
.pud pure fountain of legitimate political power,
the viii Of the majority, promises ere long to
alloy the dangerous excitement. This lcgsla-
ton is founded upon principles as ancient as
free government itself and in accordance with
them, has simply declared that the people Of Il
tcrrore like those Of II state, shall decide for
themselves, whether slavery shall or shall not,
exist within their limits.
The Nebragkn-K ansas act does no more than
give the force Of the law to this elementary
principle Of self government, declaring it to bc
the true int and meaning OF this act not tC
'lcgSlate slavery into any territory or state, MOI
To exclude it lhcrcfrOm; but 10 leave the pco
pie thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic Institutions IN their own way
subject only to the constitution of the United
States" This principle will surely not be con
troyertcd by any individual or any party pro
Tossing devotion to popular government BE.
sides, how vain and iuSOry would any Other
principle prove in practice i'll regard to the
territories This is apparent from the fact adj
mtted by all, that after territory shall have
entered the Union and become II state no con
sttutional power would then exist which coulC
prevent it from either aboliShing or establish
ing slavery as the case may be, according tc
its sovereign will and pleasure.
Most happy would it be for the country i
this long agitation were at an end. During
its whole progress it has produced ITO practica
good to any human being, whilst it has beel
the source Of great and dangerous evils j
has aenated ard cStrauged one portion Of TIT
Union from the other, and has even seriously
threatened its very existence. To my owl
personal knowledge, it has produced the i'm
preston among foreign nations that our grea
and glorious confederacy is in constant DANCE
OF dissolution. This does us serious injury, be
cause acknowledged power and stability Away
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 that it is the mission o
the Democratic party, now the only surviving
conservative party of the country, ere long t.
overthrow all sectional parties and restore tn
peace, friendship and mutual confidence whic
prevailed in the good old time, among the dill
ferent members Of the confederacy. Its char
acter is strictly national and it therefore as