Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-01
MIR. BUCHANAN Ar PHILADELPHIA.

MIR. BUCHANAN AT PHILADELPHIA.
In the last number Of the Sentinel we pub
ished the account Of the warm, spontaneous
and enthusiastic welcome of the people which
greeted Mr.. BUCHANAN on his way from New
York to Philadelph ia-through the gallant
State Of New Jersey; and now publish the
account of the proceedings at the Philadelphia
Merchants Exchange.
Mr.. WILLIAM WELSH said
In behalf of the merchants of Philadelphia,
! most cordially welcome you to this their home.
Believing that with the American merchants
rests the great responsibilities Of diifusing the
advantages of our perfect type of civilization,
We watched with deep interest the conduct of
son Of our Commonwealth in the trying DO
sition in which you were recently placed, and
we perceived the American statesman rising
above personal or political considerations, we
avail ourselves of the earliest opportunity of
expressing our high appreciation of your SER
vices
Mr.. BUcHANAN's REPLY.
scarcely know how to express my feelings
upon the present occasion. | feel that my foot
is upon my native heath, and that in the opin-
ion of my kind fellow citizens have not dis
credited my native State in serving my country
abroad. (Applause)
| have been absent now nearly three years
Y GU address me, as Committee of Merchants
not as party men. respond, with all my heart
to the sentiments which you express. have
been party man; but, when American,
with proper heart goes abroad all local po-
litical questions sink before his love of his ma
tive land. The Great Republic looms up in
the distance, and his heart swells with honest
pride that he is an American. Those things
which agitate, and divide the people at
home, he feels to be of secondary consideration
abroad, when he is maintaining the good faith,
the interests, and the honor Of the whole coun-
try.
| confess that | have been astonished at
the reception which the good people of of my
country have given me, since ] landed upon
these shores. Without distinction of party,
have been received at New York as an Ameri-
can citizen--the proudest title in the world
Continued outbursts of applause.) The same
course has been pursued towards me in my
passage through New Jersey, and now, here,
where my heart nestles in its warmest and
tenderest emotions ] have received the most
cordial welcome of ALL
| have been abroad in trying tmes-it is
true; but the great principles which have
Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with
all nations, entanglng alliances with none.
Ask for nothing that is hot clearly right in
our intercourse with foreign nations, and sub
nit to nothing which is wrong.
These the two leading maxms of the
great political apostles of our country, and, as
long as we act upon such great and glorious
principles we are sure, always, TO be in the
right. (Applause.)
Gentlemen, it is hardly proper for me to
speak of the diplomatic business in which /
have been engaged on the other side of the
Atlantic; but | have been asked, repeatedly
IS there danger Of aoarP | think not.
But 1t is, simplyi because believe our coun-
try to be so clearly and decidedly in the right
on the questions involved between the two
countries, that the British people never will
consent to irritate them into a dangerous con.
diton for both parties. Our commerce now
covers every ocean; our mercantile marine is
the largest III the world We have the greatest
interest of any nation on earth in preserving
peace. We ought TO cultivate peace with all
nations. But there is an interest superior TO
all these onSiderations-andthat is-Our Ma
tt0RdG Honor. III war should ensue-I feel
however, no apprehension Of danger at the pre-
sent mOment-if the national honor of this
people should ever be insulted by any govern
nent upon the face Of the earth, j know that
the merchants themselves, who would have the
greatest sacrifices to make, would stand by the
country at the expense of everything human.
Expressions Of approbation.)
l. can perceive no danger. Our example is
a great and glorious example. There are
those within the sound of my voice who share,
among the millions Of human beings on this
vast Continent, the privileges and immunities
pIf ha aY,1a a
that ever existed. Our example is ".Stdr ia
the Vest guiding the hopes Of the freeman
Of every land. We are no propagandsts, ex.
cept by our example; and yet our example is
destined, in future time to carry free and
liberal institutions over the face Of the whole
earth; peacefully, quietly, without danger, and
with the appreciation Of the wise and virtuous
in every cline.
But, gentlemen, if this great and glorious
republic, now one,-the great and glorious re-
public, cemented by the blood Of our fore
fathers and preserved by the Constitution and
the Union,--if this great and glorious Repub.
lie should be shattered into insignificant atoms,
II would be the contempt and dersion of the
virtuous and the good over the whole face Of
the earth. God forbid that this glorious star
should ever set in discord and in blood. 1t
never will A kind and over ruling Providence,
which has heretofore preserved us as a nation,
has not brought to us this length--that it shall
exist no longer This is my confident prayer
and it is my solemn conviction.
! ought to say, gentlemen, that have hon
estly maintained the instructions received from
my country in the negotiation which | have
had with England, and, whilst ! have never
hesitated boldly but courteously to express my
opinions, have never found anything but per.
sona kindness in my intercourse with the
British people. (Approbation.)
do not believe that any American can in
gratiate himself into the good opinions Of any
people in Europe, by concealing his honest
sentiments upon all proper occasions. ] have
acted upon that principle, and / have no reason
to repent il.
Here, then, am in your midst. have re-
ceived from you greater honors than deserve.
can only account for it, because am a citizen
Of that important old Commonwealth, which,
though often unpretending, is always true; and,
whatever differences of opinion Q xist amongst ms