Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-03
From the New Orleans Bee.
R..Ennn Ahead

The progress made of late in the affections
of the Democracy by the Hon. James Blu
chanan annoys alike the partisans OF Doug
las and the advocates of Pierce. Attempts
are made to affect the orthodoxy OF DIR. Blu
chanan on Southern questions, ana THESE
attempts appear simultaneously IN journals
committed to Pierce and friendly to Douglas
The Star at Washington, violent Pierce pa
ner. hints that there are material quafca
tons in Buchanan's recent letter to Mr.. Sl
dell. which have been withheld from publica
ton. while q correspondent of the New Orleans
Delta endeavors to prove by the record that
Old Buck assumed the Van Buren, doctrine on
the questions of the power OF Congress 10
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
not denying the power, but deprecating its ex-
ercise-a doctrine which greatly injured Mr..
Van Buren, in 1910, and contributed to his ut
ter overthrow in the South.
We do not intend-nor indeed, are we at
this time prepared to discuss the precise tenets
of Mr.. Buchanan in reference to Southern
principles. Our object is simply to refer to the
efforts made by Southern presses to throw
doubt on his position, as an evidence that his
strength begins to excite alarm. The obser-
walton Of political events daily Transporting
leads to growing belief that Mr.. Buchanan
will be the nominee Of the National Conven-
ton. Pierce, we are now fully satisfied, is out
of the question. The Democratic party are
too wise to cucumber themselves with mill
stone. They know that Pierce is destitute of
popularity, is sustained by few save brawhng
and noisy ofhce-holders, and is regarded as
weak, vacllating and unworthy. They know,
too. that his nomination would lose them thou
sands of votes. They will therefore give him
a wide berth; will load him with compliment
tary resolutions, and vote in the Convention for
another. Touching Douglas, we think very
sincerely that his chances are not improving.
Iowa, neighbor of Rhinestone OF the great
Confederacy of Western States, which was ex-
pected enthusiastically to sustain Douglas, has,
we perceive, appointed a Buchanan delegation
California has proclaimed for Buchanan so
has Pennsylvania, and it is even said that Vlr-
ginia will endorse him. Where are the Doug
las votes to come from at this rate. thus lar,
he has not secured the delegation OF single
State save, perchance, that OF Louisiana nor
are we quite sure even of this. Certainly
Douglas will have TO gain tremendously within
the next month or so, if he anticipates even
show of strength. Illinois alone cannot furnish
capital enough.
Well, if Mr.. Buchanan is chosen, and should
by any possibility be elected, the Conservative
party throughout the country, whether styling
themselves Wings, Democrats, or know-Noth
ings, will have small reason to complain. The
very qualities which render Buchanan distaste-
full to that interesting, though not particularly
formidable party, known as the Young South,
commend him to all others. He has retained
sufficient of the leaven of his early federalism
to keep him in the safe line Of Conservative
presidents He never was rabid as a Demo
crat though decided party man, and his ca
reer presents no prominent act OF political
daring which might lead to the presumption
that he would embroil the country in Difficult
ties and disputes, or strive to annex Mexico,
Ireland and the Sandwich Islands. We are
very candid in acknowledging that if we are
compelled to live under Democratic regime
we prefer James Buchanan to any Democrat
in the field. He has brains, which MIR. Pierce
has not, and discretion, which Mr.. Douglas, we
fear, lacks. But we are not without the hope
of avoiding altogether the hard necessity OF
submitting to Locofoco rule.