Daily American organ., 1856-04-04
Hon. James Buchanan 80 caves in'' on the
Nebraska Question, with a Protest.

Hon. James buchanan 90 caves in,' on the
Nebraska Question, with Protest.
The Washington Union of this morning
contains portion of letter written by the
Hon. James Buchanan, on the 2sth of De-
cember last, and addressed to Senator Slidell,
which we present to-day to our readers.
Mr.. Buchanan says:
"The question has been settled by Congress,
and this settlement should be infexiby maintained
The Missouri Compromise is gone, and gone for
ever. But no assault should be made upon those
Democrats who maintained it, provided they are
now willing, in good faith, to maintain the settle
lnent as it exists. Such an understanding il wise
and just in ITSELF
1t is well known how labored in company
with Southern men, to have this line extended to
the Pacific ocean. But 1t has departed. The time
for 1t has passed away, and / verify believe that
the bsst--nay, the only-mode now left of putting
down the fanatical and reckless spirit of abolition
at the North, is to adhere TO the existing settle
ment without the slightest thought or appearance
of wavering, and without regarding any storm
which may be raised against it."
In presenting this extract, the Union says
cit is permitted to copy" the letter. which
was not intended for publication. Perhaps it
was permitted, and perhaps twas reguiredto
do it, to atone for the publication of Mr. Blu
chanan's views in .fapor of the Missouri Com
promise line, which publication was seriously
damaging the prospects of the ex- Minister to
England, for nomination as the anti-Ameri-
can candidate for the Presidency. But it is
unimportant to the public whether the Union
was permitted" or required to make this
atonement.
We now have Mr., Buchanan's avowed ac-
quiescence in the settlement" of the vexed
question, with a solemn and quite natural
| and proper protest. that no assault should
be made upon those Democrats who main
tanned the Missouri Compromise" Of course
mott would be manifestly unjust, and rather
a dangerous experiment also, to assail all those
Democrats who maintained the Missouri Com
promise in former days, for if such men were
now, by assaults, to be driven from the ranks
of the anti-American party, it would "grow
small by degrees, and beautifully less" sooner
than its leaders would desire. And we admire
Mr.. Buchanan's frankness as much as we ap-
prove the justice of his protest. Mark what
he says. "It is well known how labored,
in company Nth Southern men to have the
Missouri Compromise line extended to the Pa
ciic oceanw lie is proud of the services he
rendered the country an company soith
Southern men," in seeking to have that line
run to the Pacific! Whether or not it was
"exactly ia r" to tsoit Southern men with la
boring in his company to effect the purpose Of
extending that line to the Pacific ocean, they
must themselves determine.
In view of the fact that the South now in
sists that it has always regarded the Missouri
Compromise line as unconstitutional, and a
gross outrage upon Southern rights, we are in
clined to doubt the policy of Mr. Buchanan's
declaration that, in performing the patriotic
labors of which he seems so proud, he "labor-
ed in company with Southern menl" He
ought, we think to have avoided treading upon
other peoples corns. His frankness, however,
compensates for whatever indiscretion he thus
committed
But on what ground is it that Mr. Buchanan
rests his acquiescence in a settlement" of this
vexed question, which overthrows and destroys
the principles, in defence of which his former
patriotic labors were bestowed? Why, "the
Missouri Compromise is gone, and gone for
ever u 1t has departedl" 1t is not on the
ground noto taken by the South, that this com
promise was wrong in rrinciple-that it was
unconstitutional - or an outrage upon the
South BY no means; but the time for it
has passed away" and he "vcrily believes the
best and only plan now to put down abolition
ism is to adhere to the existing settlement"
The principle which underlays the Kansas
Nebraska act is not approved, endorsed, or
even alluded tol But forasmuch as Mr.. Buc-
hanan's favorite scheme ais gone and gone for
ever"-inasmuch as his favorite scheme "has
departed "-inasmuch as "the time for it has
passed away, /" he verify believes thatthe scheme
which has now superseded it, is, the best,
nay, the only mode now left of putting down
fanaticism." Now, who can say that Mr.. Buc-
hanan does not readily and cheerfully sustain
Dhateoer measure is, for the time being the
hobby of his party And of what consequence
is it whether he approves or not, the princi-
pies Of the measures Is it not enough that
he "verily believes it the best mode "--of
keeping his party in power? Mr.. Buchanan
is shreaod man, and has learned wisdom from
his experience. In 1872 he opposed g the sec
ond war of independence" and would have
freely opened his veins and poured ont his life
blood, If one drop Of 10 he'd been Democratic,
but experience has taught him that Federalism
would not lead him to power, and he most pru-
IDENTIFY abandoned that doctrine.
In 1915 he patrioticslly denounced " foreign
influence" bat in maturer age, he saw that