The Trinity journal., 1856-07-26
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANVASS.
Mr Buchanan's Letter of Acceptance
WHEATLAND, near Lancaster,
Innn lie 1QEc

'innatl, as the Democratic candidate for the |
'flice of President of tae United States / /
shall not attempt to express the grateful I.
ceilings which / entertain towards my Dem
ocratic 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 power to bestow.-I
Deeply sensible of the vast and varied re-
'ponsibility attached to the station, especial
y at the present crisis in our affairs, / have
carefully refrained from seeking the nomi-
nation either by word or by deed. Now
that it has been offered by the Democratic
party, | accept it with diflidence 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 manner as to
allay domestic strife, preserve peace and
friendship with foreign nations, and promote
the best interests of the republic
In accepting the nomination, need
scarcely say that l acceptin the same spirit
the resolutions constituting the platform of
principles erected by the Convention. TO
this platform | intend to conGne myself
throughout the canvass, believing that /
have no right, as the candidate of the Demo
cratic party, by answering interrogatories,
to present new and different issues before
the people.
1t will not be expected that in this answer
| should specially refer to the subject of each
OF the resolutions; and | shall therefore con-
fine myself to the two topics now most prom
inenty before the people
A nd in the first pInpn | poP6io 1IU nODnur
in the sentiments expressed by the Conven-
ton on the subject of religious and civil lib
erty. No party founded on religious or po-
lltlcal Intolerance towards one class of
American citizens, whether born in our own
Or in foreign land, can long continue to
exist in this country. We are all equal be-
fore God and the Constitution; and the
dark spirit Of deSpotism and bigotry which
would create odious distinctions among our
fellow citizens, will be speedily rebuked by
free and enlightened public opinion.
The agitation on the question of domestic
slavery has too long distracted and divided
the people of this Union and alienated their
affections from each other This agitation
has assumed many forms since its commence
ment, but it now seems to be directed chief
ly to the Territories; and judging from its
present character, think we may safely an
ticipatc that it is rapidly approaching 'f-
nalty." The recent legislation of Congress
respecting domestic slavery, derived, as it
has been from the original and pure foun-
tain of legitimate political power, the will of
the majority, promises ere long to allay the
dangerous excitement. This legislation is
founded upon principles as ancient as free
government ITSELF and in accordance with
them, has simply declared that the people of
territory like those of a State, shall de-
eide for themselves whether slavery shall or
shall not exist within their limits.
The Ncbraska-Kansas act does no more
than give the force of law to this elementary
principle of selfgoyernment, declaring it to
be the true intent and meaning of this act
not to legislate slavery into any Territory or
State, nor to exclude it therelrom; but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the Consti- |
tuition of the United States" This princi- /
pie will surel y not be controverted by any
individual OF any party protesting devotion
and ilIusory would any other principle prove
in practice in regard to the Territories
This is apparent from the fact admitted by
all, that after Territory shall have entered
the Union and become a State, no constitu-
tional power would then exist which could
prevent 1t from either abolshing or estab-
fishing slavery, as the case may be- accord
ing to its sovereign will and pleasure
Most happy would it be for the country
II this long agitation were at an end. Du-
ring It's whole progress it has produced no
! practical good to any human being whilst it
has been the source Of great and dangerous
evils. 1t has alonated and estfanged one
portion of the Union from the other, and has
even seriously threatened its very existence.
10 my own personal knowledge, it has pro-
duced the impression among foreign nations
that our great and glorious confederacy is
in constant danger Of dissolution. This does
lis serious injury because acknowledged
power and stability always command respect
among nations, and are among the best Sc
cuntleS against unjust aggression and in the
maintenance Of honorable peace.
May we not hope that it is the mission of
the DenlOcratc party, now the only SurYiv
ing conservative party of the country, ere
long to overthrow all sectional parties and
restore the peace, friendship and mutual con-
lidence which prevailed in the good old time,
among the different members of the cOnfed-
eracy! Its character is strictly national,
and it therefore asserts no principle for the
guidance Of the Federal Government which
is not adopted and sustained by its members
in each and every State For this reason it
is everywhere the same determined foe of
all geographical parties, so much and so
justly dreaded by the Father Of his Country.
From its very nature it must continue to
exist so long as there is Constitution and
a Union to preserve. A conviction ofthcse
truths has induced many of the purest, the
ablest and most Independent of our former
opponents, who have differed from us in
Tunes gone by upon old and extinct party