The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-18

y Mr.. Buchanan, albeit the effort mus
have been somewhat painful, has crook
I'd the pregnant hinges of the knee to the
southern autocrats who dictate the terms
ON which candidates may enter the lists and
contend for the Democratic nomination for
the Presidency. 4 host orsmlll politicians
like Pierce and Douglas and Dickinson
might wsllOw in the mire to please these
Southern dicmtos and excite no remark
but we had hoped better things of Mr.
Buchanan. His letter upon the repeal Of
the Missouri Compromise is the most dis,
credimble production which has ever come
from his pen. IL is well understood that he
was opposed to the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise, and that he has expressed his
deliberate opinion that the Compromise
should be maintained as finality. This
" solemn compact" as he terms it, between
the North and the South, having been abro'
gated by one OF the parties without the
consent Of the other, Mr.. Buchanan thinks
the only way to allay the righteous indig'
nation of the cheated party, is TO adhere
to the existing settlement without the slight.
est thought or appearance OF watering, and
without regarding any storm which may be
raised against it " Such an illogical con.
clusion il unworthy Of a mind like that OF
Mr.. Buchanan.
The letter Of Mr. Buchanan may put him
in line with his more ignoblc competitors IN
the Cincinnati Conyentian, hut 1t will di-
mini.h his popularity among the democrats
Of the North. The party is not SO thor
oughly wecded out that there are not many
sturdy democrats who cannot be brought tC
recognize the necessity Of eating dirt TO &c,
cure southern favor. Many OF these, and
perhaps some ultra conservative wings who
have looked with favor upon Mr.. Buchanan
as one of the few remaining relics of the
days when the leading men Of the great
political parties were statesmen, will be dis'
gusted by the evidence of seryliity which
Mr.. Buchanan has betrayed; while high
minded SOuthernerS must entertain feeling
of contempt at an evidence of suhseryiency
which could hardly have been expected o
the statesman Of Pennsylvania, but which
was not out Of character in Pierce or Doug
lass. The letter of Mr.. Buchanan may
spike one OF the guns which was to hay,
NtNu -uIoAEuN W hNAA e-aAhok hAAi eAt'
Cincinnati Convention, hut it viii add moth.
ing TO his available political capital, while
il viii detract from his high reputation, and
sink him to level with politicians who
are held in deserved contempt by large
portion Of the Community.
The Baltimore American thinks the pub
lication by the Washington Union Of the
extract from Mr.. Buchanan's letter is in re-
ality blow aimed ut his popularity at the
North. Mr.. Pierce having obtained by a
coup de man almost the entire Southern
delegations 20 the Cincinnati Convention,
MIR. Buchanan's friends have felt the neccs-
sity OF particularly recommending him to
the North. To this the Pennsylyanian
Buchanan's recognized organ, has chosen 70
place him ON the ground Of firm support
er Of the Missouri Compromise, us uncom-
mittcd on the subject Of its repeal, and
therefore more acceptable TO the freesoil ten
denotes Of the Northern Democrats. To
this view OF Mr.. Buehanan's position the
Union took exception as demOralizing to the
Democratic party, and il now publishes the
extract from his letter, and argues il to be u
full Identification Of Mr.. Buchanan with
the Democratic party on the Nebraska as ON
all other iSsucs.-BOSiOR Journal.