Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-30
Tie Jsnns Faced Candidate


Mr.. Buchanan's organ, the Washing
ton Union, has been denouncing Senator
Benton in unmeasured terms, while Old
Buck through the Missouri Democrat as
sures the Benton men that he is deeply
mortifed at the course of the Uaioa.-.
This is an old game with Mr.. Buchanan.
The Pittsburgh Gazette. says:
Here, then, we have Mr.. Buchanan.
through his organ, the Washington Uni
On, publicly assaiIing Mr.. Benton as a
traitor and an enemy while at the same
time privately assuring Col. Benton of
his regard and his regret at the hostility
of the Union These private assurances
having been made public, Mr. Buchan-
an stands revealed in his true charac-
ter.
Such has been his course from the
very hour lie began his political life.
He has been on both sides Of (almost, if
mott every important question that c, er
claimed the attention Of the American
people.
lie commenced life as a Federalist,
when it was safe to be so but Joined
the Democrats whenever federalism be-
gan TO so down.
He denounced the war Of 1919, and
the administration of Madison for plung-
ing the country into it /; but in the end
made feint Of volunteering and shoulder
ing his musket to help carry it on. (He
never served, howeyer.)
He pronounced Thomas jefferson and
the founders Of the democratic party as
'demagogues;' - and in a few years join
ed the party which he pronounced as
corrupt and dangerous.
He was, in the early part OF his ca
reer, in favor Of the United States Bank,
and made it a ground of complaint
against the administration of Madison
that it was hostile TO that institution !;
and he afterwards became a much bet
ter anti-bank man than Madison ever
was.
He was originally a protective tariff
man (; but in the natural course Of his
changes has become a free trader.
He took part in the meeting of the
people of Lancaster, to protest against
the admission Of Missouri as a slave
State and the enactment Of the Missouri
Compromise line he afterwards was in
favor Of extending the Compromise line
to the Pacific, regarding the Compro-
mise itself as little less sacred than the
Constitution !; and now he thinks the
Compromise was all wrong and its re-
peal all right.
In 1843 he repudiated Squatter Soy
ereignty, and contended for the power
of Congress over slavery in the terrific
ries ; in 1856 he endorses Squatter Sow
ereignty and denies to Congress the pos
session Of any power over the subject Of
slavery in the territories.
He entered Office under James X. Polk
as Secretary Of State, clamoring for "54
40 or fight :" and ended by yielding up
to England all the territory in Oregon
between 10 and 81 40.
In short, we can now recall no ques-
ton on which he has not, at some Time
or other, occupied opposite sides; Il
the faculty with which he has changed
front on great public questions he has
carried into his treatment 9his personal
friends taking them on and casting
them off as his changing fortunes seemed
10 warrant.
Is this a man 70 make a President Of?
We put it to the American people 10 de-
eide whether a tickle, unstable change
ling, VINO has fought on both sides in
every battle, is the one they should
choose to occupy the digniied place Of
the Presidency -? The interests now at
stake are too vast and too important 10
be entrusted to feeble hands and if a
man Ike James Buchanan has to take
charge Of them, lie will become at once
the sport Of faction and the tool Of strong
er men.
This we feel sure the country will not
permit. The crisis demands a man with
a clear record. and frmness enough to
meet the exigencies of the occasion.