Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-07-23
Letter from Martin Van Rnran

Letter from Martin Van Buren,.
In answer to an invitation from the Tamany
Society TO celebrate the 4th of July with them
| Ex-President Van Buren has written long
and able letter, giving his views in relation to
the Presidential election and the Political
questions connected Herewith He was op-
posed to the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, but argues that its restoration now, if
practicable, could effect no good purpose In
relation to the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency. he says:
Mr. Buchanan. in his letter of accep-
| tance, pledges himseifto the people, i" should
the nomination of the Convention be ratified
by the people, that all the power and influ-
ence constitutionally. possessed by the Execu-
tive'shall be exerted in firm conciliatory
spirit, during the single term he shall remain
in office; to restore the same harmony among
the sister States which prevailed before the
apple of discord, in the form of slavery aei-
tation, had been cast into their midst" He
knows that this pledge can be redeemed in
bat one way, aud that is by securing to the
bona tizs settlers of the Territory, if matters
should be allowed to remain as they now
stand. the full, free and practical enjoyment of
the rights intended to be granted to them by
the organic act. including that of free sG cs Z,
and no ore will understand better than he
that nothing short .of the substance of those
rights would answer the purpose, or satisfy
the excited and vigllant scrUtiny of those who
viii watch every step that is taken in the mat
ter. Doubts were at one time thrown out
know not from what quarter-in regard to
the power of the Executive t6 give this secu-
rity but affairs now in progress show that
these doubts, if they ever existed, have been
dispeled. The Constitution makes it the ex-
press duty of the Federal Executive to see
tnat q the laws faithfully executed y and
he is clothed with powers adequate to its per-
fermance.
''Win Mr.. Buchanan, if elected, redeem
his ptedgee | believe he will, and therefore
l will cheerfully support him, all that can
be asked OF him is to do equal and exact JUS
tice to every section of the country--to exer-
else the high powers with which he will be in
vested to secure the object in view. as well
because it will be right to do so. as because
there may be reason to fear that the existence
of the goqernmeat itself may depend upon lis
securing 1t So much has been said in re-
gard to the dangers with which the U,ion is
threatened, as to require no incoHsderable eff
tert on the part of an earnest man to touch
suspected OF desire to prostitute it to COM
paratlVely petty purposes. But all must ad-
NIT 1t TO be certain that there never was a
period in the history of this Republic when
sectional animosities were so rife. or had to
SO great an extent, lnfianIed the masses of the
people If the Confederacy shall prove strong
enough to withstand these torrents of bitter
| waters, it will afford the best evidence that
the love of Union is as deeply impressed up
on the American heart as its mos. sanguine
| friends have lmmdgined it to be- see good
| grounds for hope that such may be the hap
py issue out of our present alarming condition,
| in the prospect of Mr.. Buchanan's election
| He is neither untried man or one of ordi-
nary stamp. He has for long time been fa-
vnrably known to the public service, and comes
| before the country with character already
| formed, and mind thoroughly trained in the
! sctool Of experience. In regard to the fu-
| ture action of such a man, his constituents
! are not left to conjecture and hope, but may
! form positive opinions. He has established a
! foreign reputation, III regard to which he can
| not fail to be solicitous. He has, with char
acteristic good sense, relieved himself from
| the imputation of being influenced by desire
/ to conciliate any special partial interest.
/ with view to a reelection. and his acts from,
rnisconstrgctions, which the suspicion of be-
ing SO infuerced might engender. That a
man with such aatecedents, and occupying
such position, acting in matter of suffi
| cient interest to attract the attention of the
world, anu in the presence of free and in
teillgent people, among whom he was reared
and expects to spend the evening of his life,
can fail to perform his entire duty when the
path that leads to it is SO plain that the
wayfaring man, though fool could not err
therein" is cousumation that L am very
certain can never be realized