The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-05-16

of the people; and now, when the Missouri
line has been superseded by another plan Of SET
tlement, The Nebraska-KanSaS Act. based upon
the same sentiment OF State equality, all patriot
ic men will cheerfuliy abide by and yigiantly
maintain it against the intoads Of that abolition
fusion which once more threatens 10 assail the
constitutional rights ofthe South The country
will lind, among lis public men, no trner or
frmer advocate and defender Of that great priR-
clpie OF popular sovereignty, as embodied ID the
Nebraska bill, than James Buchanan.
Mr. Buchanan remained IN conuvXon with
Mr. Folks administration until March 4th,
$40, when he once more returned to PennSyl-
vania, and from that period up 10 the election
of the present enlightened Chief Magistrate, be
engaged himself in pursuits congenial to states
nt large and extended experience. The
conflict between the rntuies OF the Constitution
and the Democracy, Did not find hlm an Idle
spectator. He was in thr fore front Of the De-
mocratic party, demanding for the South no
hollow and hypocritIcal platform, but broad,
radical, distinct recognition OF those rights,
which cannot be equal, unless they are shared
honestly and fairly brtweeR the people OF all
sections Of the Union. Everywhere, the De-
mocracy of has Stale felt and followed his wise
aud patriotic counseS. When he emerged
from his quiet home, II was to demand the fe-
cognIll0n Of all the guarantees oi the ConstEu-
ton to all the Statts His letters and speeches
IN favor of the enforcement Of the fugitive slave
LAWN favor Of the repeai oflhs laws OF Penn
sylvania, enacted for he purpose OF deprlviag
the Southern Citlzrn OF the Use Of our la.S for
the satp-keeping ot bis iugitives and his appeals
10 the Democracy OF the State never to yield to
sectonaliSm, conclusively show that hr had not
forgotten his duty 10 great principles, and that
his attention was constantly fixed upon the inn
portance of dlScharglng that obligation. He
was as vigilant in his duties as private in the
ranks ofthe people, as be was prominent as
counsellor in the Cabinet and as Representa-
tive and Senator IN Congress.
During the Presidential contest in 1882, Mr..
Buchanan stood ln ;he van Of the Democratic
ranks. The following remarkable passages from
bis speech delivered 10 a uass meeting Of the
Democracy Of Western Pennsylvania, on the
7th Of October, 1852, at Greensburg, West
moIeland county, are 50 Characteristic OF the
man and his opinions, that we do not hesitate
TO copy them Remember that, al 10 time, did
he yield jot or little TO seeiionaliSm.-
He was against II inslinctiyey, and from the
start. He said =
From my soul, ] abhor the practice Of ming
ling up religion with politics. The doclrinr Of
all our Constitutions, both Federal and State, is,
: that every man has an ndefeasibIe right to wor-
ship his God according TO the dictates of his
own conscience. He Is both a bjgot and ty-
rant, who would Interfere with that sacred right
When a candidate is before the people for Of
fee, the inquiry ought never TO be made, what
form Of religious faith he possesses; but only,
in the onguagr of Mr.. Jefferson, SIS be honest,
is he capahle7'
"'Drnocratic Americans! What name
for Native American party, When all the
records Of our past history prove that Arspri-
can Democrats have ever opened wide their
arms 10 receive foreigners flying from opprrs-
sion in their native land, and have always be-
slowed nPon them The rights OF American citi-
zens, after brirf period of residence in this
country. The Democratic party have always
gloried in this policy, and its fruits have been
to increase ot:r population and our power, with
unexamped rapiditv and to furnish our count
rv with vast numbers of industrious, patriotic
and useful citizrns Surely TtTp name OF DEM
ocratic Americans was an unfortunate desgna-
ton for the Native American party.
''rhe Native American party, an sAmerican
eXceilence and the glory of lis ioundership,
belongs 10 NztbT1e w NO. iVilOW Nti-
izrns the American people will rise up with
one accord to vindicate the memory ei that IL
lustrious man from such an imputation. As
long as the recent memory of our revolutionary
struggle remained vividlv impressed on the
hearts of our countFymrn, no such party could
have ever existed. The recollection OF Mont
gonery, La Fayette, De Kab, ko.ciuSco, and
a long list of foreigners, both officers and sold
lerS, who freely shed their Blood TO secure onr
liberties, would have rendered such ingratiiude
impossible. Cur revolutionary army was filed
with the brave and patriotic natives other
lands: and George Washington was their conI-
maBdpr-in-chieE Would he have ever closed
the door against the admission OF foreigners To
The rights OF American citizens Let his acts
sprak for themselves. So early as the Goth of
March, 1870, General Washington as President
Of the United States, approved the first law
which ever passed Congress on the subject Of
naturalization and this only required resl-
dence OF two years, previous TO the adoption OF
foreigner as an American citizen. On the
29th of January, 1795, the term of residence
was extended by Congress to FIVE years, and
thus il remained tbroue huut General Washing
tons Administration, and until the accession Of
John Adams to thr PRESIDENCY In his admin
Straton, which will ever b. known in history
as the reign of terror, as the era Of airn and So
diion laws, an Act passed The 18th oi
June, 1898, which prohibited any foreigner
from becoming a citizen until after a residence
of fourteen years, and this is the Law, or else.
perpetual exclusion. which General Scott pre-
terred, and which the Native American party
now desire to restnra.
''The Presidential election of 1900 secured
the ascendcncy OF the Democratic party, aud un-