Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-19

originated with others. 1t is well remembered
that the organ Of Mr.. Pierce even criticized the
introduction of the Missouri repeal, and did
not come up to the maintenance of these
measures, until their most distinguished advo-
cate in the Senate had, like Cortez, burned his
ships, and staked his political existence upon
a successful assault against this ancient and
obstinate error.
But such legislation was in fact inevitable
upon the first application of the Compromise
letter to the Union meeting Of Philadelphia, in
September, 1850,
"The defeat of the Wilmot proviso and the
passage of the fugitive slave law are all that
the South have obtained by the compromise.
They asked for the Missouri Compromise, which,
it is known, that for one / was always willing
to concede. believing this would be the most
just, equitable, and satisfactory arrangement
of the territorial question between the North
and the South bat that has passed aacay."
The Nebraska act was, indeed, so obviously
a corollary from the compromise of 1850, that
many statesmen thought the regular result Of
judicature would supersede the necessity of
special legislation. Upon this ground it re-
ceived the support of many. 1t would not,
therefore, be just to claim for Mr.. Pierce or
any other individual the merit of measure
which originated without Executive recommen-
dation in the Legislative department, and which
has been confirmed by the people. 1t would
be surely no State Rights doctrine, that sover-
eign States which have introduced, and carried
this great measure, should PROSTATE themselves
in gratitude at the footstool of the Federal
Executive. The homage, if due at all, should
rather come the other way
The South then, being in no doubt whatever,
but certain to vote for any Democratic nominee
upon this Democratic platform, it becomes of
great importance to select some nominee who
can carry the Northern States, by conciiating,
harmonizing, and uniting in his support all
the elements of opposition to the Black Re-
publican and Abolition candidate.
Our opinion upon this point is all well known.
We mean not to dsparage any Of the hume.
rous distinguished Democrats, worthy of high
honor to be conferred at Cincinnati.
We mean by no means to threaten or in
sinuate that we will not cast our influence in
favor of the candidate who may be chosen, but
| we should be derelict to our duty to the coun-
| try, and to our own conscientious convictions,
| if we did not declare that the Democracy OF
| the South having tested the devotion Of Mr..
Buchanan to their rights, may consistently,
honorably, and advantageously support him as
their most eligible and appropriate nominee.
To demonstrate this proposition, short re-
cital of historical facts in connection with this
eminent statesman will be necessary.
The honorable James Buchanan has been
identified with the Democratic party in all the
fierce conflicts with its formidable antagonists,
National Wings and the various hostile com
binations, which have since their dispersion as
sailed it. He stood by Jackson in his perilous
contest with the most formidable opposition
which any American Administration has ever
encountered. He sustained the Democratic
party against the monetary influence Of the
commercial emporium Of his own State, and
aided not only in prostrating great fiscal
agent, whose advantages were most sensibly
felt by his own fellow-ctizens, but in the
establishment of another system, intended to
deprive every commercial community of the
incidental advantages resulting from the fede-
raj deposites, and thus effectually separating
the Government Of the country from the man
agement of the banks.
He made distinct and immediate opposition
to Mr.. Van Buren,, when the latter proposed to
mislead and commit the Democratic Party to
the insidious endorsement of free labor and
free soil. He did not hesitate to express his
opposition to the abolition Of slavery in the
District of Columbia. He denounced the
transmission ofincendiary publications through
the mail.
he advocated the admission of Texas with
knowledge that she retained the right Of sub
division into several States, with the right Of
admission into the Union with or without the
institution Of slavery, as the people should de-
termine.
He was the resolute advocate of the war
with Mexico, and sanctioned the treaty by
which we acquired an extent Of territory val
liable not less for the enlarged field Of settle
ment and dispersion, open to our enterprising
people, than for those natural treasures in
which all have participated. He aods the first
public man cho proposed The extension of the
Missouri line across This Territory, that there
might be an harmonious partition of common
property between the people of the United
States who had acquired it. These are some
Of the acts which James Buchanan has per.
formed for the good Of the Democratic Party
and the protection of Southern rights. But that
he might found his claims to public confidence
upon even higher ground than mere devotion to
theinterests ola party, howsoever patriotic, when
the insane conflicts of sectionalism had wrap
ped the fabric of our liberties in flames, for
getting all the antipathies of sections and Of
party, he united with Clay and Clayton, with