Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-14
THE NOMINATION OF MIR. BUCHANAN.

BUCHANAN has received the nomination at Gin
cnnati as a candidate for the Presidency.
This event, ordinarily Of deep political I'M
portance, becomes donbIy Interesting now
Mr. T. has been candidate for the same favor
at the hands of Conventions previously, but
without success, and now, when he has nearly
or quite attained his three score years and
ten" by strange turn in the political affairs
of the country, he las become the candidate OF
the party He has thus become public pro
perty, and his political life and conduct proper
Iy subject to criticism and animadversion.
We take occasion, thus early to say that in.
his private character we believe Mr.. BrcHANAN
commands respect, and we are willing to ac-
cord him that reputation which is justly his
due As a politician he has faults which are
prominent, and which render him particularly
unfit now for the elevation which he seeks.
Mr.. BUCHANAN has been called a safe man."
and appeals will be made to the conservative,
tinlid portion of the voters to support him on
that ground Precisely for the reason that he
has gained such a character, is he unfit for the
Presidency now That reputation has been
the result of weakness and timidity. He has
never been distinguished for bold advocacy Of
mcasurcs-for early and Jealous support OF
prncipleS-but it has been a distinguishing
characteristic that Mr. BUcHANAN permitted
ADLER and bolder men to originate and advo-
cate measures whilst he waited until their suc-
cess was certain before he gave in his adhesion.
At the present crisis i'll our National af-
fairs, we demand a bold determined, reSolute
man at the helm. One who is able to with
stand the tremendous pressure cXcrtcd by the
Slave Power, and who rising above the dcnun-
Citations and demands of the nullifcrs will trll-
" " know no East, no West, no North, no
South" in the administration Of the govern
ment 1t will not be pretended that Mr.. BIZ
cHANAN is such man. The timidity of his
character would not enable him for moment
to stand up when the slavery propagandists
should demand new concessions. Deriving his
support principally, if not entirely from the
Slave States he would be as facile an inStru-
ment in their hands as ever FRANKLIN PIERCE
was
Mr.. BrcuANAN's course in regard to the
Missouri Compromise proves that be is ready
to debase himself to gain the support of the
slavery propagandists In lS4T he addressed
letter to the Berks County democrats in
which he advocated the extension Of the Mis-
souri, line, declaring that it saved the county
from threatened dissolution in 1920, and would
be attended with like happy results at that
during his public life. If any public man in
the nation was bound in honor and conssten-
cy to oppose its abrogation, that man was Mr..
BrcHANAN Being absent at the time of its
repeal We have no reliable evidence as to his
feelings when the measure was proposed. But
we do know, that us he became prominent as
candidate, he took occasion for the purpose
Of proptiatir~ the South, to give in his adhc-
sion to the infamous violation Of national faith,
and aAjectly and bascly succumbcd, III viola
ton of his former repeated professions.
The South has already had assurance from
Mr. BrcHANAN in his official capacity, Of his
willingness to do her bidding. lie sent RoWU-
LIS NJ SAUNDERS, of North Carolina, to Spain,
with Instructions to offer one hundred millions
Of dollars for Cuba, during the administration
Of Mr.. Polk, in order that the annexation of
that island, with its slaves, might accompany
or precede the organization of Oregon and
other northwestern territories, under the re-
strictions Of the ordinance Of 1871 against
slavery.
lie advocated the Missouri Compromise, but,
while the territorial bills of lS49-50 were un-
der discussion, and at the instance of the
South recommended that it should be run to
the Pacific, with the view Of preventing the
application Of the Jetfcrsonan ordinance to
any territory south of that line, all Of which
it was thus proposed to secure to slavery,
lie advised and co-opcrated with the pres
ent administration in its plans for the purchase
or conquest of Cuba, with the view Of extend
inc slave territory and swelling the slave repre-
.rcscntaton in Congress, and in his OStcnd Cir
cular went so far as to justify the United States
in wrestling Cuba from Spain by force, without
waiting for pretext for declaring war, on the
ground that its possession was necessary to
the security Of slave property in the United
States
lie has avowcd his willingness to accept the
territorial policy of this administration in re-
ference to slavery, with all its enormities and
will be what he always has been, one of the
most plant and scrvae instruments Of the
South the moment he is elected. lie only for
bears to say so by the advice of friends, who