Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-08-08

Il
/ alive nationality was put TO practical test, and
| exhibit to the country letter written in 1888,
and some votes on the simple right of petition to
/ prove that he is not national man and their
| press in the South, and some of their orators,
/ boldly charge that he is abolitonist with a
worse record than Fremont IL Mr. Buchanans
/ acceptance of the Democratic nomination and en-
dorsement of the Cincinnati platform have purged
away all his anti-slavery sentiments, ana trans
formed him from a Free-soier into the representa-
| tive of southern sectional rights and opinions,
ought not three years administration oil the exec
| utiye power of the Government, with exact justice
| TO every section and every constitutional right,
under the greatest crisis in the history OF the he
/ public, TO give a sufficient guarantee OF Mr. FIJI
| more's nationality, conservatism and PATRIOTISM
| Sir, have not called up the history OF Mr. Bu-
chanan for the purpose of imputing to that gentle
man any lack of patriotism, nor disparage his per-
sonal or political character-but to show the true
,character of the partisan warfare, waged by the
| Democratic party, with view to promote the ac-
compishment of its ambition. One OF two con-
illusions must be deduced from the facts and cir
cumstances attending the present contest for the
/ Presidency-either that the political opin ons OF
the candidate on the subject of slavery are wholly
disregarded by the Democratic party, and all the
| clamor upon that subject is only part OF the
means to accomplish the ends Of its ambition or,
| One party has determined to make sectional coil
test in which they invite the South to unite upon
Mr. Buchanan, because he has surrendered his
| private opinions and personal independence, and
| become the representative of sectional views and
| opinions. Upon what principle the North can be
urged to support Mr.. Buchanan, am at loss to
determine. They may allow bis spokesman to fall
back upon his own record, in which he places him
self in harmony with the State of Pennsylvania in
uncompromising hostility to slavery or they may
rely upon the magic power Of the word Democrat,
which forms the mystic and imperceptble tie
which has hitherto united the most heterogeneous
elements into a common mass. If the principle OF
sectional opinions upon the abstract question Of
African slavery is to be adopted as the raIying
element in the South, then am prepared to pro-
nounce that party rs perfectly sectional as any
other in the Union. And if the mere term De-
mocracy is to be employed as rallying word to
all who wish to participate in the spols of victory
without regard to their political opinions, then |
protest against the deception, and expose the
stratagem as the artfu invention of inordinate lust
for power. A single word as to the Republican
nomination and the principles of that party. That
party is the representative of the Northern Sec
tional sentiment on the subject of slavery, and like
other extremists make their opinions the touch
stone of political orthodoxy, and, like the Demo-
cratic party South, the Republicans have nominated
man whose little record exhibits him in direct
opposition to their anti-savery sentiments. But
they, too, have platform, the endorsement of
which cures all unsoundness, and transforms a
Southern man--educated among saveholding |
people-into the representative of extreme anti |
slavery sentiments Look at the similarity in the |
action of these two parties The Democratic
party claiming to be the peculiar defenders of the
constitutional rights of the South-among which
is slavery-with James Buchanan as their candi-
date, who declares he is and always had been OPP
posed to the institution of slavery. The Repub-
lican party, which claims to be the peculiar
guardian of the constitutional rights of the free
States and free people of all coors, with John
Charles Fremont, Southerner, and heretofore
supposed supporter of African slavery as its can
didate. will not support the pretensons of ex-
tremists either side of the slave line; nor make
abstract opinions of constitutional power upon
questions of difficulty and doubt the test of poi
cal utilization. think it is right to concede some
thing, in the spirit of national paternity to our
Northern brethren. | would moi yield any i'm.
portant interest to crafty sectional fanaticsm.
But would tolerate differences of opinion among
national and conservative men, and unite upon one
great principle of devotion to the Union and the |
extnguishment of sectional agitation. But my
colleague says that in the 18th section of the PHI
adelphia platform, adopted in June, 1855, the |
American party gained every election in which it |
succeeded in the Southern States; and under |
stand him to admit now, that that section pre- |
scented view of the slavery question which was
South in which the American party succeeded; nor |
does he allege that it was not sound and orthodox
on that subject. He now deplores the rejection of |
that section by the American Council, in February, |
1856, and the substitution in its place of the 9Th
section of the present platform. | have heard |
much wailing on the part of the Democratic party
South for the loss of this 18th section The |
American party satisfied with the substitute
which, though not identical in terms is equivalent
in principle in reference to the subject of slavery
in the Territories. The complaint comes alto |
gether from the Democratic party and those who |
now cooperate with it,
Mr.. BARKSDALE, Was the American party
at the South in favor of striking out the twelfth |
section of the platform?
Mr.. COX. l think it was not.
Mr.. BARKSDALE. Then the American party
was satisfied with the twelfth section?
Mr.. cox. Certainly.
Mr.. BARKSDALE. Then why was it stricken
outS
Mr.. cox. l do not suppose that When prop |
osition is made it must necessarily stand in the
same words forever Though we yielded some-
thing in phraseology, we have precisely the same |
thing in substance
Mr.. BARKSD ALE. | Should like to ask the |
gentleman what occasion there was for changing |
the platform?
Mr.. cox / do not think there was any.
Mr., BARKSDALE. Why was it done then
Mr.. COX. I suppose Others thought it was
necessary. .
Mr.. BARKSDALE. Were those Others North |
ern or Southern men?
Mr.. COX. | have not the proceedisgs of the |
Philadelphia Council before Inc, and cannot state
the position taken by the members from the two
sections Of the Union on that subject, though /
believe the Southern members generally opposed |
the modification of the platform.
Mr.. READE. would like to ask the gentleman |
from Mississippi question.
Mr.. COX. If it does not come out Of my |
time.