Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-22
MIR. BUCHANAN AND THE KANSAS
NEBRASKA QUESTION.

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But let us turn to the letter of Mr. Buchanan.
That it is full, thorough, straight forward, bold,
manly, and honest, all will concede. 1t is the
production Of wise and matured statesman
1t covers the whole ground, and defnes be-
yond all doubt or cavil, the position of this
statesman upon this all important and vital
question. Mr.. Buchanan stands squarely side
by side with Douglas, the truly great Senator
from Illinois, and occupies exactly the ground
upon which the advocates of Mr.. Pierce claim
that he stands.
If personal rivalry and political intrigue
could be satisfied with anything, this letter of
Mr.. Buchanan would at once silence the cavil-
ing and malevolent insinuations and charges
which members of Congress and its camp fol-
| lowers have for some time been so indus
triously circulating against the great Pennsyl.
vanian. 1t will not do hereafter to charge or
insinuate that Mr.. Buchanan is tampering with
the Freesoilers of the North for their support,
by any concealment OF his opinions or of the
policy which he is likely to pursue in case Of
his election to the Presidency. If Pennsylva-
Mas favorite and distinguished son is to be
oyerslaughed and setaside at Cincinnati through
the practices and Vaccinations Of Congressman,
let some other ground of attack be selected
than his want of fidelity to the Constitution, or
of good faith to the South upon the slavery
question.
The interests of the confederacy now at stake
and in peril, are by far too great and immi-
nent to indulge the mob at the Capitol in
Washington, in their offensive efforts to dictate
public opinion to the people of the United
States, and to effect by trick and jugglery the
nomination of some small and obscure person
for President, instead of great and enlighten-
ed statesman, whose services and cultivated in
tellect are guarantee of capabity and fitness
for the exalted position of Chief Magistrate of
this Union The country is in danger; the
peril is serious; the people must take matters
in hand and right the wrongs which the folly,
imbecility and the corruptions of Congress
have brought upon the country. 1t is not yet
too late for action, but four years more may
put us beyond the reach of salvation.
1t is striking and significant fact-and
worthy of remark and earnest rehection-that
all the existing topics of discussion and ques-
tons which disturb the harmony and peace of
the country have originated and been kept alive
in Congress with the sole view of making cap
ital for presidential elections. The compromise
measures were most remarkable instance OF
the Sort and the Kansas Nebraska question is
now sought to be made another. Congress seems
incapable of learning wisdom by experience; for
| the compromise measures had no weight what
ever in designating the candidate at the last
nomination, when Mr.. Pierce was selected; nor
will their successor, the Kansas ebrask
question, be a more fortunate agency. The
people and the country want peace and repose.
| They want q man who knows how, and has the
moral frmness, to enforce concord upon the
delicate and dangerous question of slavery,
which has at last assumed an attitude of most
unquestionable danger to the Union. The
feuds and heartburnings of the North and
South must be allayed-harmony must be re-
stored to the country-this eternal agitation of
the slavery question, SO full of certain disaster
and barren Of all possible good, must be settled
now and forever-the abuses and debauchery
of politics which spring from the disbursement
Of seventy millions of dollars annually, must
be reformed. The dignity of the Presidential
office, such as characterized the ilustrious ad-
ministration Of Jefferson and Jackson, and
constitutes the true greatness Of craftsmanship,
must be restored. If these great objects can
be attained-and most certainly they can be
it is infinitely better that the man should come
from the North who is to accomplish them.
The slavery agitation can best be met and an
initiated by man who best understands both
the causes which led to it, and the sort Of at
tack best calculated to destroy it. Let the
South confde this great and solemn question
for settlement to the hands of the North, where
it originated and let them select for it the
man around whom clusters, in the greatest de.
gree, the graces and excellencies of true states.
manship.
Pennsylvania has special claims upon the
confidence Of the Union, and is most pre-emi-
nenty entitled to that of Virginia. She has
never had a candidate for the Presidency.
| With great men, of great services and distinc-
/ cha hos ptil
gently yielded her claims to those of other
States, and never on single occasion, failed
to stand with unfinching 6rmness, whenever
the success Of the sons Of Virginia brought for
ward for the Presidency, depended upon her
vote. Pennsylvania comes now with states
man who is conceded by every man, even in
the ranks of his opponents, TO be pre-eminent-
" fitted for the Office. Great in bis knowledge,
his attachments and political experience, and
highly distinguished on every arena in which
his long political service has placed him,
Democrat Of tried and approved fidelity, COM
ing up fully to the requirements of those mo.
mentous times one who has stood prominent
and distinguished in the public eye of the
Union for full twenty years-such is the great
man whom Pennsylvania offers TO the Union
as her candidate for the Presidency. Is this
reasonable claim of this great State to be re-
luochA II sO lOE WudS ICaoOUj anu lOI WuOu
We are fully aware Of the unprecedented
exertions making at Washington city to poison
the public ear against Mr.. Buchanan and FIJI
the minds Of the people with prejudice against
him. Let US examine very briefly the charges
as they are conveyed to the country through the
questionable sluices selected for their dissent
nation. II has been said that Mr.. Buchanan
was hardly sound on the slavery question: be-
cause certain Freesoilers we're willing to sup
port him for the Presidency. Inconsequental
as the conclusion seems to be from the prem-
ses all the little breath Of vitality which the
malignant imputation ever had has been
most completely kicked out Of it by the
letter Of Mr.. Buchanan So "that cock won't
fght;' that gun is spiked; that dog is dead
Besides, we should like to know if the Free
soil wing Of the Democracy Of New York
would not vote for Mr.. Pierce, should he get the
nomination.
Again, it is said that Mr.. Buchanan is not
sound on the Tariff question. Yet, the united
4 y0fa NJ ~ g. a.