Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-01

fiction Of evils Of tenfold magnitude TO thos'
which Il proposes 10 heal.
"Resoieed, That the equality OF the States i
the vital element Of the Constitution ITSELF ane
ihsi al interference with the rights OF the
States, by those Who seek 10 disregard the So
cred guarantees Of the past, and by all others
shoald be- rcbuked with the same spirit thai
~csld denosnce and repudiate oil attempts
10 srect odiaas distinctions between those who
are est,,led 70 share the blessings and benefits
ef oar free Institutions.
Resolved, That the effort 10 direct the
poser of the government by anti-slsvery agita'
lions, under the various names aud phases OF
frss soslssm, Ana. Nebrxskaism, Fusionisn,,
and kspablcsnism. ard BY interfering with the
rights of conscisnce ia establishing religious
test IA a Qualification Tor o4hce, by the secret
oath bound society of the know-nothings, ID
opposed boak 10 the letter ard the spirit Of the
Constitution, and TO the earnest teachings and
practice Of i,s earliest aud most honored ad'
illustrators.
@Rsssirsa That We arc now rs ever unalter-
ably opposed 10 The doctrines and designs OF all
organizations ~hich contemplate the overthrow
Of the eisil and religious rights Of the citizen,
which, ke the equality Of the States, 10 = sacred
and insl,enable right, never TO be interfered
with by factioas parties aud reckless legislation,
without sabsersion Of the primary objects Of
our political system, aud repudistion Of the
guarantees Of the past, aud the hopes OF the
future.
q Resolved, That In the repeal Of the act
known ~ the Missouri Compromise act, and
the passage Of the act organizing the Terrific
sliiutional restrictions, the last Congress per-
formed work Of patriotic sacrifice, in meeting
the demands Of sectional excitement by un.
shaken adherence TO the fundamental law.
"Resoiccd, That this legislation cannot be
deemed unnecessary, but that il was expedient
to meet the questions Of which it disposed, and
which could never admit Of u more easy settle.
ment than NJ present That we recognize in
il the application 10 the Territories Of the
United States of the rule OF equal and exact
justice 10 all men, Of all sections OF the Con-
fcderacy, which was designed by the trainers
Of our Government, aud which was defined as
one Of its essential principles by the immortal
Jefferson.
/" Resolved, That the Democracy Of Pennsyl-
wanna, following the counsel Of some of the
wisest statesmen OF the North and South, were
ready on more than one occasion in the past to
extend the Missouri Compromise line to the
Pacific, so as 10 make ii the basis OF final set
Element of the question of slavery in the Terri
tories; but when this proposition was rejected,
in ls4s, on the ground that il involved an unt
due concession TO the South, by the very men
who now clamor for restoration of the Mis-
souri, line, there seemed to be but one wise
alternative left, and that was to refer the whole
question Of slavery in the Territories to the
people thereof, to be regulated as they may
deem proper; and we, therefore, cheerfully ex-
tend our hearty support to the policy Of the
Government as recognized in the compromise
measures of 1850, and embodied in the laws
organizing the Territories of Kansas and Ne
braska."
And what other answer is necessary to the
allegation of my colleague? What other plat
form does the country desire2
Mr.. Speaker, this is Mr.. Buchanan's position.
Upon this impregnable foundation be takes his
stand. There is no evasion here all is frank,
outspoken, and plain. Who can be surprised
if to such standard, and to such man the
people, in the present crisis, should look with
confidence and hope? Who will not rejoice
to see patriotic citizens applauding public
man who stands upon such creed? Those
gallant spirits heretofore opposed to us, whose
delight in both branches of Congress, declar.
ing themselves for the principles Of the national
Democracy, will be no less gratifed with the
creed upon which Mr.. Buchanan has taken his
position than will the national Democrats
themselves. And now, sir, let me recall to
your mind the action of the Democratic party
in this House, at the opening of the present
Congress, to the following resolution, which
had the honor to offer on the Sd Of Deem
Der, 1855, and which was adopted by that
caucus by q unanimous vote:
"Resolred, That the Democratic members
Of the House Of Representatives, though In a
temporary minority in this body, deem this a fit
occasion to tender TO their fellow-citzens of
the whole Union their heartfelt congratulations
on the triumph in the recent elections in seve-
raj Of the Northern, Eastern, and Western, as
we'll as Southern States, Of the principles of the
Kansas. Nebraska bill, and the doctrines of
civil and religious liberty which have been SO
violently assailed by q secret political order
known as the Know-nothing party; and, though
in a minority, we hold it TO be our highest
duty to preserve our organization and continue
our efforts in the maintenance and defense Of
those principles, and the constitutional rights
Of every section and every class Of citizens
against their opponents Of every description,
whether the so-caed Republicans, Know-noth.
ings, or Fusionists; and 10 this end we look
with confidence to the support and appreciation
of oil good and true men-friends OF the Con-
stitution and the Union throughout the conn
try"
You will observe that the invitation TO the
patriotic men Of all parties held out in this
resolution is in exact accordance with the
spirit which now animates the Democracy all
over the land, and which was itly responded
to by the Democracy of Pennsylvania, when
they placed James Buchanan in nomination
for the Presidency. You will observe, also,
that the confidence expressed in the ultimate
triumph Of the principles Of the Nebraska bill,
and the advice that these principles should not
be discarded, are in peculiar harmony with the
stern patriotism Of character which has always
controlled Mr.. Buchanan in meeting great
questions, and especially in resisting the onsc,s
Of the enemies Of the rights Of the States.
Mr.. Speaker, we are on the eve Of important
events. We are in the midst Of an era Of In
vestigation; and at such a time il Is natural, IL
is right, that the records Of our public men
should be explored, to see how far they may
be trusted in the future We have not boastcd