Washington sentinel., 1856-05-27
nag The CINCINNATI CONVENTION
meets on MONDAY NEXT, JUNE %.
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY BEGUN
AND MAINTAINED BY FRANKLIN
PIERCE,

AND MAINTAINED BY FRANKLIN
PIERCE.
1t is amusing to behold the cunning and in.
cessant efforts which the advocates of Mr..
Pierce's reelection are continually making to
persuade the Democratic party to look with
favor on no candidate for the Presidency who
cannot claim 10 have gotten up the drama
enacted in Kansas, as if the whole concerns
of this country--foreign and domestic-were
bounded by that single and contracted circle of
politics. Age, thou art shaned-service, thou
art despised-wisdom, thou art fool-patriot-
ism, thou art a clustering coward; ye never in
augurated the popular sovereignty which Mr..
Pierce dandled into the Kansas controversy.
Why, even if the paternity Of this great and
sacred principle could be unquesionably traced
to Mr.. franklin Pierce, lwho came into this
breathing world century after the principle
was born, sucked, and nourished into action
it would be extremely unwise to make the
Presidential nomination turn upon nothing
else. Such a doctrine would supercede all
qualifications for office, and secure a continu
ance of Presidential power, without the slightest
assistance from personal virtue, experience, or
abilities
But this sacred principle of popular sover-
eighty, which Mr.. Pierce pretends that he
rocked in the cradle of his wisdom, every man
who ever read the history Of this country
knows started in the colonies, discussed in
the Federal convention which framed the Con-
stitution, and pervaded the deliberations of the
various State conventions which slowly and
cautiously ratified our social compact. Yet
this sacred and time-honored principle of equal
rights is claimed the legitimate offspring
and exclusive glory of the worthless who only
carried that principle into the heavy storm
which Kansas has lately engendered.
1t would lily become the flial renown and
gratitude of the American people 10 allow
their great ancestors TO be cheated out of the
wisdom which asserted and the courage which
vindicated principle which lies at the basis
of the Union, and which honest Democrats
maintain and canting fanatics resist. Shall
the laurel which has grown for a century upon
the houored graves of the mighty dead be now
upiooted by selfish hand and made to con-
secrate the destroyers brow? Let not the
fctions of the past be turned into melancholy
truth.
To have been, is TO hang quite out of favor,
Like rusty mail in monumental mockery"
Shall the living, too, be slighted, forgotten
and cloven down by the Democratic party, no
matter what signal honors they have won in the
cause of the people and the blessings Of free
government, merely because their duties to the
nation placed them where no voice could be
raised, nor effort made, to organize Kansas?
Let us present, for example, the case Of Mr.
BUCHANAN. Here is statesman OF reproach.
less character and Of ofcommanding talents, which
have been dedicated TO the cause Of the peo-
pie and to the blessings Of free government;
a hero who has fought in all the great po-
Gtical battles which the Constitution invoked,
and which Jackson led; statesman, urged
by his country to 20 abroad, on account Of
international troubles which no other man was
SO able as he 10 settle; jurist and diplo-
mat, whose consummate wisdom while abroad
has been the fruitful source and standing theme
Of praise; yet, having no power Of ubiquity-
no capacity to appear at the same time in Eng.
land and America-at St. James's there, and
at the White House here-he is to be doomed
and discarded, because not personally present
to assist in the passage Of the Kansas act. Can
folly, injustice and presumption further go7
II is often the little, mean and ignoble pur-
pose Of power to select chosen point; to
perch upon it; to entrench within it; and to
defend IL il possible, against the paramount
title Of superior rivals. But such a pithy
contrivance always dishonors when it fails, and
does no credit when il succeeds II is neither
to the honor nor advantage Of the Democrats
to permit II. Their horizon should embrace a
wider verge, and include all the great and use
ful qualifications for the Presidential Office.
Mr.. BUCHANAN is as fully and honorably
pledged to support the old and noble principle
which the Democrats have justly applied to
Kansas, as any man is; and is able and pre-.
pared to bring up the whole power Of the Key
stone State to support it. Can any other man
alive do the same? No. 1t is idle TO asser,
that Pennsylvania is certain for any nomipee
whom the Cincinnati Convention shall select
The tamest beast Of burden will become rest
less and unmanageable il too much weight be
packed upon him. II is human nature TO feel
and to resist the wrongs and insults Of despised
merit Wo to the people and their institutions
when wisdom, dignity, virtue, and services. have
ceased to establish a title to emineuce and
support. For then, blockheads, parasites. and
knaves will no longer despair Of the.highest
preferment and the sycophants who can crawl
into favor, and the millionaire who can buy n,
will become the only animals who will ever nc.
quire it.
THE LATE ASSAULT ON MIR. SUMNER
The Hon. Preston & Rrooka ON gafurda,