Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-07-02
EBENsBURG, JULY 2, 1866,

| the uni'cfsai JOY Whlch greeted his nouilna-
/ tion. MIR. Breckenridge was thirty FIVE years
of age on the 3lst of January last, and is now
the candidate for the second office in the gift
of the American people. 1t would be difficult
to find a man in whom public and private use
| fulness rarely commingle Notwithstaud-
! ing the early age at which he will be called
| to occupy high position. he possesses in SIN
| gular degree, that firmness OF character, that
directness and purity of purpose which, when
ever exhibited, are always sure to be honored
BY the most sagacious people In the world =
= 3 - --asFs.ehenr:2ge has served In the Legisa-
ture of his State, and was four years distiu-
guished and eloquent member of the popular
branch of Congress. His speeches in the lat
ter body placed him in the front rank of Am
erican statesman, and won for him perma-
nent place in the objections Of his political
friends He was selected by President Pierce
as the American Minister at the Spanish Court,
which high position he was compelled to de-
ciite.
Previous to entering upon his Congression-
al career, he volunteered for the Mexican
war, and during long and trying campaign,
he secured the respect and confidence of his
fellow soldiers He has never sought public
favor. The people have always called him
forth and it is because he has withheld him.
ment, that the distinctions he wears so grace
fully have been SO freely bestowed In this
respect, he resembles Mr. Buchanan whose
nomination was no effort of his own, but the
offspring of that popular opinion which COM
manded the respect of the Convention, because
1t was based upon motive which entitled 1t
to the highest consideration. The hammer in
which Mr.. Breckenridge refused to become
candidate for the Vice Presidency, his fidelity
to the choice Of his own State, and bis deter
mination to throw no obstacles iu the way of
that choice, excited in his behalf, sentiment
of admiration which could not be restrained
until it found vent in the expression which
made him the Democratic nominee for that
distinguished position.
1t is in vain to describe the spectacle which
transpired when Mr. Buchan's name was f.
naliy agreed upon. The rivalry to second
the enthusiasm to support, the eagerness to
endorse, the Significant unity of sentiment and
of action which characterized that interesting
period of the Convention, cannot be described.
Scarcely bad this event been announced to an
expectant people, before the discordant Dran-
ches of the Democracy of New York were
brous ht together and for the first time in ma
ny years started forward upon their way,
more united as band of brothers 1t was
duiu SUCH al uuUeT SUCH clTCuni-
stances that James Buchanan became the nonl-
inee of the Democracy for the Presidency
Before the struggle for the nominations
came on, the platform of principles was adop-
ted, 1t is constructed upon an enduring ba-
sis; it is founded deep in undying faith aud
fidelity to the Constitution; it renews, in Ian
guage of fervent patriotism, devotion to
the Union ofthe States; ii re-asserts our graf
ltude to the sages of the past; it enunciates
our duties with respect to coming events, and |
points out the dazzling destiny In reserve for
us on the North American Continent The |
unanimous assertion of these doctrines, In ad- !
vance Of the nomination, was an assurance to |
the country, that.with the Democracy, prin-
clples are always paramount, and expediency |
any policy entirely secondary and subordinate.
And now, citizens of Pennsy ylyapia, we have !
placed before you our principles and our can
didates. Freely as the Convention has spo-
ken, the candidates themselves have respon-
ded: Mr.. Buchanan by the record Of his life |
and the recent declarations of his opinions
Mr.. Breckinridge by bis manly and beautiful
address upon the floor of the Convention.
Nothing is left to inference. Intolerance is
rebuked prescription prescribed; abolition
ism denounced the rights of the States re-
the principle of the Nebraska bill
endorsed. There is completeness in the dig
nifty and in the emphasis with which all this
has been done, which shows that it has been
the work of men who felt that they were dea-
ing with an intelligent people, and acting as
the trustees of an exact and jealous, but at the
same time confding and conscientious Demo
,racy.
The odrersartes Of the Democratic party
haze dissolred the American Union an ad-
IL. 81, |
that direful result. They no
onger assemble in National Convention; they
,ongregate as the representatives of frag
nent of one half of our happy country, and
hey arrogate to themselves the mastery of
,he other half, by attempting to consolidate
ierce and fanatical sectional majority in every
department fthe government They declare
hat the country Is on the eve of unprecedent- |,
ID convulsions, and they proclaim their pur-
pose to arrest these conyulsions by ignoring
md insulting fifteen sovereign States of the
Union. They talk of peace, aud in their
Conventions proclaim policy which must end
n civil war. They appeal to Heaven to sane
ify a movement, which, Ii successful, would
destroy the farest fabric of freedom the
globe. They invite our con- trymen to sup
bort their cause in the midst of the most irrev--
rant blasphemi, of the Constitution They
orate of exclusive Americanism, while they
lccept as leaders, men wno profane the sages
If the past with iuconceiyable calumnies--
But they deserve credit for their boldness.-
they do not attempt to conceal the fearful end
which, should they succeed, must crown their
'forts. True to the history of all sectional
,arties, they would unite men not by love
It country, but by hatred of national prin-
iples. Their bond of action is sympathy