Washington sentinel., 1856-05-15

In manner which, while il must have been
fiatterng to the veteran statesman, was char
acteristic of the hospitality of the "Monumen-
tai City," Having publicly received his friends
Ia mighty host there was Of them--in the
m morning, he left Baltimore in the afternoon, in
special train of cars, and arrived in Wash
ington about seven o'clock in the evening, ac.
companed by the committee of the Baltimore
City Councils and other friends Mr.. Buchanan
was enthusiastically greeted at the cars and
proceeded to the National hotel, under the
escort of those who had welcomed him at the
station.
During the evening, large number of per-
sons paid their respects to him.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock, at night,
Mr.. BUCHANAN was serenaded, and, appearing
at the window, acknowledged in brief but
eloquent speech the compliment thus paid to
him. The band had played the National air
Of "Hail Columbia when Mr.. BUCHANAN ex-
pressed himself delighted with the music, more
especially with the execution of that piece dear
to all American citizens-"H Hail Columbia"
Hail Columbia, happy land the only land of
freedom, and where political honors and wealth
were open to all. He then spoke of the uni
form kindness he had received from. the people
of Washington during his twenty-five years
service in Congress and four years immediate
connexion with the Government here, and ex-
pressed his qualification at the prosperity oftheir
beautiful city. Melancholy as well as pleasant
emotions were attached to these remembrances
of the past. Where were the race Of intellectual
giants then in Congress? All gone-passed
away!
He could not remember one individual who
was in Congress when he entered it. There
was nothing stable but Heaven and the Consti-
tuition. (Cheers.) Great men may pass away,
but as long as the Constitution and the Union
exist, others will rise in their places.
This great and glorious Constitution would
not be worth the parchment upon which it was
written, unless sustained by the win of the
people. South America had constitutions by
the hundred, but the law that the majority
must rule had been disregarded there, and sue
cessful military men in the minority have risen
and constitutions been destroyed. God knows
how many constitutions France has had!
Mr.. Buchanan commented upon, and sus-
tanned the doctrine of popular sovereignty.
For twenty-five years the question had been
agitated, and now it was settled that the people
directly interested shall decide for themselves
what they will do. This simple elementary
principle is "a fnality." The storm will pass
away unless kept up by few fanatics. He
congratulated the citizens of Washington upon
the name without a parallel, which their city
bore-tbe name, Of Washington" He had
not met human being in Europe who did not
recognize Washington as the greatest and best
of men. He then denounced the fanatics
and demagogues who talk of dissolution of
the Union" Dissolution was q word of fear
full import, and not to be invoked upon any
and all occasions. If the occasion ever should
exist, the American people will always remove
the cause. There was not on the face of the
earth more stable government than Demo
cratic Republican Government. There was
not possible evil which could not be remedied
under eur Government without resort to disso.
luton. "a voice from the crowd, We wont
DISCOVERY Mr.. BUCHANAN expressed his sat
isfaction at the response just made. 1t would
not be dissolved. The contest would be an
easy one for those fighting upon the side of the
Union.
Mr.. Buchanan closed his remarks which had
been received with applause throughout, by say
ing that he trusted his fellow-citizens would ex-
cuse him from making more extended speech
on this occasion, as he had gone through some
hard work for the last two or three DAYS, and
his nerves were not made ofiron. He had been
delighted by the kind reception be had received
at the hands ofthe American people, and which
he attributed not to any merit of his own, but to
the overlooking of their generous hearts towards
one who had sustained to the best ofhis ability
their interests in foreign land. He felt CRATE
ful to the citizens of Washington for this kind
reception, and should be most happy to see
them all at his private quarters, to take them
by the hand, and express his heartfelt sense of
their kindness manifested on this occasion.