The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-25
WuEArLAND, NEAR LANCASTER, !
June l6, 1856.

WHEATLAND, NEAR LANCASTER,
June Is, 1856.
r. GENTLEMEN Il have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt Of your commp-
nication of the 18th instant, informing
me officially of my nomination by the
National Democratic Convention, re-
Gently held at Cinci natl, as the Demo-,
cratic candidate for the office of Prcsi-
dent of the United States. 7 shall not
attempt to express the grateful feelings
which [ entertain towards my Demo
cratic fellow -citizens for having deemed
me worthy of this-the highest political
honor on earth-an honor such as the
people of no other country have the pow
er to bestow. Deeply sensible of the
vast and varied responsibility attached
to the station, especially at the present
crisis in our affairs, | have carefully re-
Trained from seeking the nomination
either by word or by deed. Nov that
it has been offered by the Democratic
party, l accept it with ~difidence in my
own abilities, but with an humble trust,
that in the event of my election [ may
be enabled to discharge my duty in such
u manner as to allay domestic strife, pre-
serve peace and friendship with other
nations, and promote the best interests
of the Republic.
In accepting the nomination 1 need
scarcely Say that 1 accept in the same
spirit, the resolutions constituting the
platform of principles erected by the
Convention. To this platform Intend
to confne myself throughout the canvass,
believing that l have no right, as the
candidate of the Democratic party, by
answering interrogatories, to present
new and different issues before the peo-
pie.
1t viii not be expected that in this
answer, l should specially refer to the
subject of each of the resolutions; and
I shall therefore confne myself to the
two topics low most prominently before
the people.
Aud in the first place, I cordially
concur in the sentiments expressed by
the Convention on the subject of civi,
anG religious liberty. No party found,
ed on religious or political intolerance
towards one class of American citizens
whether Torn in our own or in a foreign
land, can long cortinue to exist in thi:
country. We are all equal before Coo
and the Constitution and the dark spiri
of despotism and bigotry which woulc
create odious distinctions among our fel
low citizens, will be speedily rebuket
by a free and enlightened public opin
. ion.
: The agitation on the question of Do
r nestle Slavery has too long distracte
e and divided the people of this Union an
C alienated their affections from each 9th
err. This agitation has assumed man
n forms since its commencement, but
now seems to be directed chiefly to tn
n Territories and judging from its pres
ent character, I think we may safely ar
ticipate that it is rapidly approaching
e "fnality." The recent legislation
Congress respecting domestic SLAYER.
derived, as it has been from the origin;
and pure fountain of legitimate polite;
st power, the will of the majority, promis;
ere long to allay the dangerous excit
ment. This legislation is founded upo
principles, as ancient as free governmel
r. itself, and in accordance with them, BIZ
simply declared that the people of
e Territory, like those of a State, sha
y decide for themselves, whether SLAYER
to shall or shall not exist within their liz
g. its.
t. The Nebraska-K Kansas Act does
D. more than give the force of law to th
elementary principle of self-governmer
declaring it to be the true intent al
:. meaning of this act not to legislate slav
1t ry into any Territory or State, nor
st exclude it therefrom; but to leave t
m people thereof perfectly free to form al
ok regulate their domestic institutions
n their W way, subject only to the Go
ng stitution of the United States" I'll
principle will surely not be c%ontrovert
.e. by any individual of any party porfet
ing devotion to popular GoVernmer
he Besides, how vain and llusory won
% any other principle prove in practice
v regard to the Territories This is.
parent from the fact admitted by q