Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-08


surely follow, would be in no small degre,
chargeable to us, if we aided in it.
This point conceded, as we think it must be
that we should take Northern man. TIL,
next is, to decide as to who he shall be? IL
determine this, two things are mainly TO b.
taken into consideration. First, and foremost
the superior qualifications Of the man, his hon
esty, devotion to the Constitution, and the
policy particularly in issue; and then his popu
larity or strength TO carry the requisite number
OF Northern votes, by the aid of the South, &c
elect 1t seems to US that the past political
history of the country, and the recent elections
at the North, will readily point out the man
The great State of Pennsylvania, the Key
Stone" of the Democratic arch, stands out in
bold relief as the triumphant champion of the
Constitution, amid the general detection and
desertion at the North. Her noble Democracy
have just emerged from the fercest political
contest that was ever fought within her borders
lin which they efectually put down the COM
bined factions Of freesoil, abolition, and every
other fanatical organization for mischief by a
majority that was hardly to be hoped for by
the most sanguine. Looking at the PROSTATE
position of New York and Ohio, the other two
great States of the North, and, in fact, the great
body Of the Northern Slates-her position is a
proud and elevated ones There she stands,
proudly bearing aloft, the principles Of truth
and the Constitution; against which the mad
waters Of abolition and fanaticism, gathering
in concentrated fury, have dashed in vain. Let
US call to mind, the dependency and general
gloom that pervaded the entire country just
previous to the last October elections in Penn
sylvania. Maine, it is true, had given some
evidence to return to q more wholesome po-
mt INIT ho act .vod IN
with so many local issues, that we were afraid
to look to it with much hope; the State, too,
was too small to effect much by her vote in the
Presidential contest. All else was utter dark
ness and gloom. Not another State remained
to us throughout the entire North. But how
the political armament Frightened up, when
the glorious Democracy carried the old Key
Stonel We then began to see our way. Here
were nearly votes enough, at q single blow, to
elect our President, by the aid of the South.
Is there patriot in the land, let us ask, who
did not breathe freer and easier-sleep sound
er, and have more buoyant hopes for the future
of our country, after he knew that Pennsylva-
MIA had been carried by the Democracy
Then to this noble old Key Stone let us give
the honor of the nominee. 1t is fairly her due.
She has never yet had President, great and
true as she is, and has been to our principles.
Now, above all others, is her time. Without
her cote zoe can't elect Democratic President;
for New York and Ohio, with three-fourths of
the free States, are dead against US. A Presi-
dent has never yet been elected without the
vote of enc of these three great States-New
York, Pennsylvania and Ohio; nor is it now
at all within the range of rational probability.
But one of them is reasonably certain in the
next election. Shall we put that certainty in
,ao hx oc,1l a To- n1
mocracy to put aside her great son-their ia
forte-whose prominent qualifications and fit
ness for the Office are not surpassed, if indeed,
they are equalled, by any in the whole country;
and 60 for some second or third rate politician
from some other State, whose vote could effect
but little in the general result? really, such a
course, it seems to US, would be violative of
the plainest dictates of common sense, good
judgment and sound policy, and invtive rather
OF defeat and disaster, than Of success and
victory. The questions at issue at this juno
ture are too vital, not only to the well-being,
but to the very existence of the country, to
admit of the least temporizing or experiment,
to put anything in risk that can possibly be
avoided What has been said points too plainly
to Mr.. Buchanan to require any formal an.
nouncement of his name. Nor is it necessary
to dwell at any length upon his superior quail
fcations for the position. His political history
may be said to be that of the country for the
last thirty6ve or forty years !; for there will
scarcely be found single measure of great
public importance, within that time, that has
not received the light of his judgment; and
whether in the Legislature or the cabinet, his
friends can proudly challenge the production
of single vote that was not given in strict
conformity to the Constitution, and in equal
Justice to all sections of the country. So far
as the South is concerned, an examination of
the records will show an answering support to
every proposition to keep an unnecessary dis
cusson Of the subject of slavery out of the
halls of Congress Such is his position to-day.
We do not speak unadvisedly when we pro-
claim that Mr.. Buchanan ,oiH gipe ecery aid
ia his pO,cer, in phaterer position ne may DC
placed, 10 the maintenance and carrying out OF
the present eristing laos relative to Slavery, the
Kansas Nebraska acts included. If we did not
knoic that was his position, we should not ad-
vocate his nomination. No man, North or
South, should receive the support of the De-
mocracy, that could not stand this test. Mr..
Buchanan's intensely Southern position, too,
upon the Cuban notwithstanding by our
own Soule and Mason, of Virginia, in the
Ostend Despatch, both from the South and ex-
treme Southern Rights men at that, should
commend him to our support at this time No
better evidence could be given of his reliability
than this, so far as we are concerned; for we
should be perfectly sure, so long as be might be
President, that no of6cious intermeddling of
any other power, however great, would be per-
mitted, to our detriment, with Cuba, or that IL
would be allowed to be turned into a free-negro
colony. Such is the high, plain, and unvar
nished announcement in the Ostend Despatch.
One word more and we are done.
Mr. Buchanan is among the very few sur
yivors of the compeers of those great and good
men so lately removed from among us-CaL
houn, Clay, Webster, Wright, &C., that is of an
age and position suitable for the Presidency.
We solemnly appeal to that sober judgment
that is even now beginning to settle down upon
the history Of the country for the last twenty
years, whether the people have acted wisely in
putting aside our greatest and best statesmen,
and elevating over their heads comparatively
obscure Though honest and good men, who
have little or no experience in the management
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