The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-03
Interesting Disclosures--Mr. Bucha-
nan on Slavery. i .-l

Interesting Ulsclosures--mf' ousA"
. nan on Slavery. 1rt .-'
The Huntsville, (Ala.) Democrat contains
an interesting letter from PHILADELPHIA
written to the editor "by a personal friend
a gentleman of the highest respectability'
for whose accuracy he vouches," and giving
a report of a conversation which the writer
had Just held with Mr.. BucuASAS.
We copy the letter from the Advocate, as
follows;
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 6, 1856.
Ny DEAR Sir: spent two hours with
Buchanan yesterday, at Wheatland. His
grounds are beautifully and tastefully ar
ranged, but his house is plain and unpre-
tending in the eItreme-everything has tho
air of unostenlatious Democracy. But the
man himself is tho very impersonation Of
unaffected Republicani.m. was never
more agrecably disappointed in my life.
He gave us cordial and frank reception,
and talked with us with the freedom OF an
old acquaintance. really felt as if1 had
known him all my life. He said the issue
involved in this election was the Union Of
these States as equals. That the South had
submitted to the aggressions Of the Aboli-
tionists with patience that might well
challenge the admiration Of the world, and
considering the fire-cating propensities, was
difficult to understand. He ridiculed the
doctrines of Squatter Sovereignty, and said
that the South had now, for the FIRST time
in the history Of the country, obtained from
the Government the concession of tho true
principles, viv: that the people ofa terrific
ry had the right, when they came to form u
State Constitution, to say whether they
would or would not have Slavery. That by
this legislation Congress had admitted that
the power was with the people, and not in
Congress, and the only sensible rule was,
that this could be exercised by the people
only when thcy came to form State Gov
ernmcnt, preparatory to admission into the
Union. give you almost his very words
He said, if he should be elected, he felt nat
isfed the Slavery question would be fdRlly
settled, provided he could carry a portion Of
tho New England States and New York. In
other words, if he were elected by q nation
al vote, what he would do in the premises
would have a national support, and> the
strength of Free.SOilism, which is sectional,
would be dispersed. The truth is Mr.. Bu-
chanan is as sound on this question as was
Mr.. Calhoun, and the Northern Democracy
are better Southern men to-day, than many
Democrats even at the South. Whatever
they may have done heretofore, now they
meet the question boldly, and defend the In
stitution Of Slavery with fearlessncss that
we might do well to initiate. They do not
even apologize for it on the ground that 1t
is recognized IN the Constitution but they
say i, is right. That God himself estab-
lishcd it, and that it has the Bible for its
foundation. five do not sustain these
men in defence Of our Institutions, wo de-
serve eternal iniamy. The contest is sbvi-
ously between Buchanan and Fremont
Fillmore is not in the race. No man here
protends to say that he is.
On the whole, therefore, l considek his
election beyond peradventure-and what 1
regret is, that there can be found in the
whole South single man who will vote for
him. If they could see him, and hear him
talk, firmly believe he would get every
Southern vote.
l have scribbled this of 50 hurriedly,
fear You will not be able to read it.
Yours truly.
W. b. FIGURES, Esq, Huntsville, Ala.
We commend this letter to all honest demo
Gratis of the North. There are many OF this
class who are conscicntiously looking to
Mr.. Buchanan, in the event of his election,
to reverse the policy of Pierce, and heal q
portion, at least, of the evils, growing out
of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
How utterly unloundcd these hopes are,
may be gathered from the above letter.
Here we have the democratic candidate
for the Presidency expressing to slavehold-
er his extreme admiration for the manner in
which the South has submitted to the az,
gressiOns Of the AboltiOnists - Ho ridi-
cules the doctrine Of Squatter Sovereignty
by denying that the people of a Territory
have the right to form their own institu-
tions. 1t is only when slavery has done
its utmost, as in Kansas, and the free State
men are driven Of, that an opportune mo
ment may be seized and the Territory trans
formed into Slave State! Thus, freedom
docs not 20 with the Constitution, as the
right OF every settler.
No wonder then, this Southern writer
compares Buchanan to Calhoun, and pro-
nounccs the Northcrncrs who support him
as better Southern men than many demo-
crats at the South" Let the honest dem
ocrats Of the North ponder upon these nc
cumulating proofs of Mr.. Buchanan's real
sentiments.