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


the proceedings Of the Pennsylvania de-
moctatic State convention which assem-
bled on the 4ih Of March, 1856. by his i'm
mediate successor in the American lega
ton at that court, the Hon. William Will
kins. shows something OF the habits and
capacities of Mr.. Buchanan.
Shortly after Mr.. Buchanan's return
from the Russian Mission the democrats
in the Legislature of Pennsylvania made
him their candidate for the United States
Senate. and elected him. He remained
in the Senate from the 9th OF December.
1884. until his resignation. March 3rd.
l845. having been twice re elected dur
ing that period Of time. ], is not nee
essary to recapitulate the distinguished
services rendered by the great statesman
in The highest legislative bo1y on earth,
so we'll and SO widely are they remem-
bered. In the de ebate on the admission
Of Arkansas end Michigan; in his opposi
tion to the designs of the abolitionis,s; in
his resistance & exposure of the schein
Of the Bank Of the United States, after il
had been Transferred TO Pennsylvania. as
a vast political moneyed monopoly; in
his opposition to profuse expenditure
OF the public revenue. for the creation OF
an unnecessary public debt; government
bank of discount. circulation and deposit.
under the British name Of Elk chequer; a
substitution Of paper money for the con
stitutional currency Of silver and gold, f.,
the surrender of M'Leod upon the insult.
ing demand of England; the unjust dis
,rlbuti1n of the public revenue 10 the
States OF his Confederation; in his cour-
ugeous hostility IL special legislation. no
matter how concealed; he co-operated
with Wright, Woodbury.. Benton. King.
Linn. aud other leading democrats Of that
day. As chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Regulations, during a series Of
three years. in the Senate Of the United
States. he sustained the honor Of the ma
ton. by his unanswerable demonstration
of the right Of each State to punish a
foreign murderer. who. in the time OF
peace. kills ON American citizen upon its
own soil.
His mastery expositions Of our nn
questionable title 30 the Northeast boun-
Diary line were upheld by the decisions Of
Congress. aud he won high honor for his
opposition to treaty which gave large
portion Of the American territory to a
foreign government. He was the advo-
cate OF liberal and enlightened policy
in regard to the public lands.
Duiing the memorable extra session Of
one hundred days. when The opponents of
the democfucy. in the SeEate of the Un-
tied States, had resolved 20 push through
series of high federal measures, begin
ming with The Bank Of the United States,
and ending with the Bankrupt law. Mr..
Buchanan was constantly in his seat, and
was frequently put forward as the leader
OF his party. in certain trying emesgen-
cies. An early and fervent advocate
Of the annexation Of Texas. he signalized
his career in that body by giving his views
on that important question to his coun.
trymcn. in q speech of unsurpassed a abili
ty and power.
II is hardly necessary TO 60 over Mr..
Buchanan's record TO show how true he
has been on all those grea: questions in
volving the rights Of the States and the
rights of the citizens of the State. On
those delicate questions which tried so
many Northern men, and which lost 10
;he democratic party of the country some
OF its most prominent leaders. who would
not follow the doctrine of State rights TO
its just and logical conclusion. Mr.. Buc
hanan was found unwavering aud decided.
In the exciting debate during the Con-
gress Of 1886. on the subject Of circulat-
ing incendiary documents through the
mails OF the United States, Mr.. Buchs nan
spoke repeatedly in support Of the mes
sage of Mr.. Van Buren,. demanding the
Interference Of the national legislature TO
prevent the disse mination of appeals
among the slaves of the South TO rise in
sesvilo iEsurrection against the people Of
that quarter OF the country; and on the
question Of The abolition Of slavery in
the District Of Columbis, Mr.. Buchanan
used the following emphatic language:
"What is now asked by these memo
rialists? That is this District Of ten
miles square-a District curved ou, of
wv oto1CS, duu SutfOuuucu
by them on oil sides--sluvery shall be
abolished! What would be the effect of
granting their request? You would then
erect ci,idel in the very hearts of these
States, upon territory which they have
ceded to you for a far different purpose.
from which sboli,ionists and incendiares
could securely attack the peace and safety
of their citizens. You establish a spo.
within the slaveholding States which
would be city Of refuge for runaway
slaves. You create by law a central point
from which trains of guDpowder may be
securely laid, extending into the surround
ing States. which may at any moment
produce fearful and destructive explo.
sion. By passing such law you intro.
duce the enemy into the very bosom of
these two States. and afford him every
opportunity to produce servile insurrec-
tion. Is there any reasonable man who
can for mement suppose that Virginia
and Maryland would have ceded the Dis
trict Of Columbia TO the United States, IL
they had entertained the slightest idea
that Congress would ever use it for any
such purpose? They ceded it for your
use. for your conveinsnce, and not for
their own destruction. When slavery
ceases TO exist under the laws of Virgi.