The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-11-27
Our Chief mpgistrntc.


est Office in the gift ofthe American people.
We have never seen more universal glad
ness and joy difTused throughout the commu'
nifty, at any great public event, than this has
spread over the counienances OF those who
are of the "household Of faith" Every one
feels that although Republics are some
times slow in rewarding the merits Of their
great statesmen, ard crowning the constant
andunfiinching patriotism of those who stand
as their champions, in sunshine and inl
storms; yet, they are not justly chargeable
with ingratitude.
We rejoice in the election Of james Bu
chanan, because he is the greatest Amerl-
statesman now living; because he is a man
of pure anipnblemished personal and Pom'
! cal character; because he has stood in the |
front rank of the Democracy in many severe !
contests and in many trying emergencies,
| faithful, constant and fearless; because he |
has always been steadfast in his adherence
to the rights of the States, the principles cf,
the Constitution, and in his efforts for the
preservation and integrity Of the Union; be-
cause he has faithfully represented his ma.
tive State in both branches of our National
Legislature; because in tn Cabinet coun- |
/ ellis of the nation, he stood foremost in as
serting the height OF her dignity, the weight
of her character, and in making her respec-
ted both at home and abroad; because while
our Minister at foreign courts, he maintained
our Republican character in its true spirit
and simplicity, negotiated successfully great
commercial treaties to our advantage, and
taught the naughty mobiles Of Europe, that
} while we loyed peace and cherished its arts,
and were anxious to hold friendly alliances
. with all, we were not afraid to meet the
; proudest navies and the most powerful ar
r mics they could send against us, when ouI
= rights are invaded or the rights of tho
humblest Of our citizens insulted; because
: in all situations, both at home and abroad
he has showed himself an American a
: heart, possessing the intellectual ability an'
It moral influence necessary to make his mca
e sures as statesman and diplomatist sue
20 cessful.
Our country has sometimes thought it ex
< pedient TO select from the obscure parts o
e the forest, some of the underground, inStea
e of the tall and mighty giants, which 70
= wears have stretched out their protectin
n arms against the storms, and sheltered III
s. ground oaks that have robbed them Of thei
honor, and could never have grown eXeep
u under their shpde. On these have been oc
- casienaly unGurled to the breeze the flag o
our Union, but its miserable trailing Will
'0 hung on such mosts, only served to max
US ashamed Of our folly, and ridiculous
the eyes of those who beheld the height
our colors from abroad. Fortunately, W
have retained to our "sober second thought
and with James Buchanan to stand at tn
T. :. helm of our national ship, and roll out ii
=, stars and stripes to the world, we will fin
:, foreign nations treating US with that court'
sy and consideration which is rightly due
i, our power and intelligence as nation.
n, In regard to his policy, we think it onl
it; necessary at present to advert to one point
Il. point which has agitated this communlt
to .from its centre 10 It's circumference. y
in We refer to the Kansas. Nebraska bill. .
,ir this question, Mr.. Buchanan Gas on ever
st other) will stand on and adhere TO the Dt
10 mocratic platrorm-the broad and compre
,. hcnsive platform of popular sovereignty
u. The principle that must commend itself
every right minded ard considerate man,
v. the only principle at an consistent with tt
at Constitution Of the United States, is, tht
I'd the people Of each Slate shall be at perie
liberty to make their own constitution al
laws, subject only to the National Constit
ton, and that the people of the Terriorie
ost when applying for admission into the Unio
ka shall have the same privilege. lfthis priv
er, ege is denied them, they are deprived
every attribute of sovereignty. This pri
tly cipe, as principle, we believe Mr. Buc
he anan will faithfully carry out; and in its
plication to Kansas and Nebraska, we b
u Ieve he will be conservative, neither lea
he inr to the fanatics on the one side nor
'O those on the other-neither to the fury OF Il
0N aboiitioEists nor to the madn ess Of the ult
nv pro slavery men. We are exceedingly an
80 ious to see Kansas and Nebraska admit
~ as free States, but it must be Of their oV
80 choice as people. We have not the lea
doubt that if the the scales are held equal
and both the pro slavery party and the Ir
State men have Justice done them and t
afforded equal protection, that-we shall I
see the emigrants from the North driven
-, to an attitude of rebellion, but that
- strength Of Northern energy will carry fr
'0A dom on its wings and bring both in as Fl
States. We believe-yes, we know-t
""' James Buchanan will afford this equal ?
was lection, and that he will secure to the Nc
'"' and the South the rights guaranteed tn
by the Constitution. We have in his h
character and frmness as statesman, alb
r,os dant security that the principle of pop'
sovereignty will not be perverted to gra
the base designs Of men from either sect
~ of our Republic, but that the rights OF