Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-06-24
HoY. JAMES BucHAsAS.
WHEATLASp, NEAR LANCASTER.
lunp LII MI

CvrTrrJry:-I have the honor 10 acknowledge
IN. receipt ut your communication OF the i3th inst''
informing me officially Ut my NOMINATION oy tue De'
mucrstic National Convention, recently ltid NJ Tin
,;unati. a. the Democratic candidate for the "filce oi
President of the United States. | shal! not attempt
To express the grateful feelings when L entertain To-
wards nv Democratic fellow citizens Tor having
deemed ue worthy of thIs-tlIe highest p"il'lchi No."
or on .ariii-En honor such rs the people OF n" other
country have the y3Tcr TO beStow. Deeply sensible
Of the vast and varied responsibility attached ~ ihe
station, especially at the present CO.'S ~ our auars'
have carefully refrHined from seeking 'i' soinlha'
tion either by word or by deed. 40" u d v . I;f
uf.rsd By the Democratic party, accept II WIN on
lid.nce ia NY own abilities, but with an huhnDie uGs';
that in the event Il! NY election, ] may De tiiaoIei
to discharge my duty in suc: = manner rs 10 "liay
domestic strife, preserve peace anu ir:eHdsnlp VIA
foreign nations, and promote the best interests u
the Republic. .,
In ~aoccpt;gs the nomination, | need scarcely say
that accept in the sqRe spirit, the resoluu"Is onn,
stituting the platform Of principles erec'eu oy me
Convention. TO this platform ! intend 20 fohnne
myself throughout the canvass, believing thai ! nave
no right, as tbs candidate Of the Democratic part!'
by answ.rlng Undergraduates, to present ne" ana u"'
fcreut ISSUES before the people. ,,
II will not be expected thHt in this anewer, ! should
specially refer to the subject Of eGch oi the resoiu'
tinus; aud l shall therefore conhne myself 10 ,he '"o
topics now most prominently before the people
And IN the first place, | cordially concur in the sen.
timents expressed by The Convention on me sutJe.t
cf civil aud religious liberty. No party iouHueu 10
rrlipiuus or political intolerance towards one class o'
American ~citlteI.s, whether born in our own or IN Il
foreign land, eau long cU.,f:ayr to exist III tilS coun'J'
We nre all equal before God and tG2 CONSTITUTIONS
| and the dark spirit OF despotism and b'gotry "ppch
! would create odious distinctions Among our ieilo"ieI'
items, viii be speedily rebused by Il free shd eii''6"t'
| ened public opinion. ~
The agitation on the G~uestiyD Ct Domestic slavery
has too long distracted aud DIVIDED the people "t tllls
Euion, and aiieuated their affections from cacn 9lhel'
This agitation has assumed many forms since lis ro'n'
| menGement, bat il now seems ~ DO directed chiehy "
the Territories and judging from its present cnainG,
ter, | think We may safely anticipate that u IS rhpioiy
approaching II "iiuality." The recent leagIs'atipn y.
Congress. respecting domestic slavery, drr''en, M !"
has been from the original and pure fountain OF lee''
innate political power, the will Of the majority, pro-
misses es long 10 allny the dangerous exclteihelt'-
! This legislation is founded upon principles as ahC'eh'
! as frse government itself, and i'll accurdaIce win .he'D
I has simply declared that the people OF u lerrtory'
like THOSE Of a State, Gha,l decide for themselves
whether slavery shall or shall not eziat Wl'hil 'hei
limits.
The Nebraska Kansas act does no morethan glyethe
force of law to this elementary principle OF sri''8"'
. eminent; declaring it to be 'the true intent and mean
! ing c! This act not to legislate slavery INTO any ierri
tory or Stats, rOr to exclude 1t thereiroin; but ~ lea's
the people thereof perfectly free to form and regular.
their domestic institutions iii tier own way su.Isc
ONLY to the Constitution of the Cnitcd states. lhi'
| principle will surely not be cuntrovertrd 10y any ma
! viduai CT any party protesting devotion to popula
| Government. Issjles, bow vain and illusory woul'
any other principle prove III practice in regard Il? IN
Territories This is apparent from tp TACT au'il'Gl
by all, that utter u Territory shall have entered l"'
Uninn and become n State, no Constitutional powe
would then exist which could prevent it from eithe
abulishing or establishing slavery, as The case may oe
according to lis sovereign will and r!~easure.
Most happy would it be for the country il thia Ions
agitation were at an end. During its whole progress
il has produced no practical good TO any human De
inn, uhilst IL has been the source OF great dDu uhn
! ygrpus evils. 1t has alienated and estranged one por
lion OF the Union from the other, and las even serl
ously threatened its ycry existence. To my own person
al knowledge, it has produced the impression anon!
foreign nations that our great aud g!oElnua &c 'federac.
ia in constant danger Of dissuIutiOn. This does is efrl
ous injury, because acknowledged power and sthniiii.
alysys command respect aInung nations, anu ar
among IT, best securities against unjust aggressi"'
and in favor Ut Tie maintenance of honorable pence
May we not hope that Il Is the mission Of the DE
mocrut,c party, now the only surviving .c"rserva'I'
party of the country, ere long to overthrow 81! sec
tioual parties and restore The peace, friendship, an'
mztual confidence which prevailed in the good on
time, aIiong the different members Of the coniedtra
cy. Its character is strictly national, and it therefor
asserts no principle fnf tks guidance of the r ederf
Government which is not adopted end sustained b
its members in zach and every State. FOR ihl' :easo
it is everywhere the same determined foe ot all geo
graphical parties, so much and 80 justly dreaded o.
| the Father Of his Country. From its very nature
must continue to exist 80 long as there is a Con.tI'u
ton and a Cnion TO preserve. A conviction OF ines
truths has induced many Of tis pursat, the ablesta an
most independent Of our former opponents. gho hav
differed from US in times gone by upon old and e.
t,npt party Issues, 10 come into our ranks and derot
themselves with Us to- the cause Of the Constitute
aud the Union. Under these circumstances, mos
c~heerfuIly pledge myself, should the nomination.
the Convention be ratified by tie people, thar all 10
power and influence, constitutionally possessed 1yth
Executive, shall be ~exerted, in a firm but conciIiator
-...,t ,,rtun thu sipurlof .r,p 7 hall rumalD IN pfrcl
to restors tbs same harmony among the sister STATE
which prevailed hefurs this apple Of discord, in fh
form Of slavery agitation, had 0eeu cast into the
midst. Let the menbe,s OF the family abstain troI