Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1856-07-03

Senator who should present the bill ad
mitling Arkansas. and advocate it before
the Senate, which he did with signal abil
ity. and Mr.. Benton was chosen as the
Southern Senator, who was TO present and
advocate the bill admitting Michigan in
to the Union. During the exciting de-
5oies on these issues. Mr.. Buchan nan spoke
repeatedly. He took ths broad ground
that the people OF the Territory. having
formed Republican constitution. after
the model OF the other States. could be
and should be admitted into the Union
irrespective of slavery, aud that Congress
should not interfere to prevent their ad
mission for any such reason as is now
urged against the admission of Kansas
1t WAS during the debate on the admission
of Michigan that he used these memora-
BILE words, on the first Of April. 1886. in
his place ss a Senator from Pennsylvania: !:
"The older Igrop. the moro am in
clined to be ,chat is called a State rights
man. The peace and security of this
Union depend upon giving to the Con-
stitution literal and fair construction.
such as would be placed upon it by a
plain. intelligent man. and not by inge
NOUS contractions TO increase the pow
ers Of this government, and thereby di-
minsh those Of the States. The rights
Of the States. reserved 10 them by that
instrument. ought ever to De held sacred.
If, then, the Constitution leaves 10 them
to decide according to their own discre-
tion. unrestricted and unlimited. who
shall be electors, it follows as necessary
consequence that they may, if they think
proper. confer upon resident aliens the
right of voting" &c., &c.
And at the same time. in the very same
speech from which the above is copied.
he made the following eloquent allusion
to the adopted citizens:
The territory ceded by Virginia to the
United States was sufficiently extensive
for an immense empire. The parties to
this compact of cession contemplated
that it would form five sovereign States
of this Union. At that early period, We
had jus, emerged from our revolutionary
struggle. aud none Of the jealousy was
then felt against foreigners. ard particu-
larly agains; Irish foreigners. which now
appears to haunt some gentlemen. There
had been no attempts made to get up o
native American party in this country =
The blood Of the gallant Irish had flowed
fIeely upon every battle field. in defense
OF the liberties which we now enjoy
Besides, the SENATE will recellect that the
ordinance was passed bslose .hs adoption
Of our presen, Constitution, and whilst
the power of naturalization remained
with the several States. In some. and
perhaps in ,ll Of them. it required so
short residence. and SO little trouble, to
be changed from an alien 10 a citizen.
that The process could be performed with.
out the least difficulty. repeat that no
jealousy whatever then existed against
foreigners.
After the splendid campaign Of 1914
which resulted in the election Of Mr..
Polk, 20 which result. Pennsy lvsnia. led
by James Buchanan, contributed her cleo
,oral vote. the President elect. casting
his eye over the long roll of democratic
statesmen then living. weighing the
claims and qualifications Of each and all,
profoundedly sensible of The exciting
questions which must come up for adjust.
ment during his admin is. ration, and after
consulting the venerable sage then in the
sunset OF life in the shades of The Her
mitago. invited Mr.. Buchanan TO accept
The portfolio Of the State Department.
the head oil his Cabinet: and in l845,
Mr.. Buchanan resigned his seat in the
Senate TO which he had only lately been
ee elected aud became Secretary Of State
under President Polk k.-Nor is it neces-
sary that we should recapitulste his SER
vices in that department. They are fresh
and familiar in all minds. His argument
IN fa-or of the clear and unquestionabIe
:i.le Of the American people to all of
Oregon won for him the applause of the
whole liberal world, and was published
in several languages in Europe. The
State papers on all other great questions
proceeding from his pen during the four
years he remained in the Department of
State, were so many contributions to the
column which celebrates his eminent ft-
ness and unsullied integrity. When the
Wilmot Proviso was introduced into
Congress. il was James Buchanan who
at once denounced. and exposed. and ral
lied the democracy against it.
II was during the administration of
Mr.. Polk. that Mr.. Buchanan. in his let
ter to the democracy. of Berks county.
Pa. first recommended 10 the North and
the South, that the Missouri line should
be extended to the Pacific. and that this
should be made the basis Of final settle
mems of the slavery question in the Ter.
ritori-s. The war with Mexico, conse-
quent on the annexation Of Texns. gave
US a vast empire in addition TO the a rea
which constitutes our beloved Union, and
in the arguments growing outof the ac-
quisiiion of California. Mr.. Buchanan
Iabored earnestly snd effectively on the
side of progress. Mr.. Buchanan's letter
on this subject is on record. and speaks
for itself. 1: is easy to recall the vituper-
alton which his proposition TO extend the
Missouri line called forth from the fana-
tics Of the North. from those who now
clamor for its restoration. and who. in
insane forgetfulness of their hostility to
i few years ago. set themselves up as
Its peculiar champions. es
The PennsylvaDia Committees memoir