The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-06-26
WHEATLAxD, NEAR LANCASTER,
June 10, 1856.

GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to ac-
know ledge the receipt of your communiea-
ton of the 18th instant, informing me Off
caly of my nomination by the Democratic
National Convention, recently held at Gin
cinnati, as the Democratic candidate for the
Office of President Of the United Stales.-
| shall not attempt to express the grateful
feelings which entertain towards my Dem.
ocra,c 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.-
Deeply sensible Of The vast and varied re.
sponsbiiity attached to the station, especial
Iy at the present crisis in our affairs, have
carefully refrained from seeking the nomin-
alton either by word or by deed. Now that
it has been offered by the Democratic party,
/ accept it with diffidence in my own abli.
ties. but with an humble trust, that in the
event of nay election, ! may be enabled 20
discharge my duty in such manner as to
alIay domestic strife, preserve peace and
friendship with foreign nations, and promote
the best interests o, the Republic
|; In accepting the nomination, | need
scarcely say that accept in the same spirit,
; the resolutions constituting the platform ol
principles erected by the Convention. TIC
S this platform | intend 10 confne mysel
: throughout the canvass believing that have
no right, as the candidate of the Democrat
. ic party, by answering interrogatories, to
!, present new and different issues before the
e people. -
i twill not be expected that in this answer
= | should specially refer to the subject o
= each of the resolutions; and shall therefor
e confne myself to the two topics now mos
e prominently before the people.
And in the first place, cordially concu
B. in the sentiments expressed by the Conven
Y, ton on the subject of civil and religious lib
I'd erty. No purity founded on religious or pa
so litca intolerance towards one class of a
n mercan citizens, whether born in our ow
m or in foreign land, can long exist in thi
n. country. We are equal before God and tn
ed Constitution; and the dark spirit of despo
ism and bigotry which would create odiot
distinctions among our fellow-citizens, wi
be speedily rebuked by free and enligh
ened public opidion.
ut The agitation of the question of Dome
10 tic Slavery has too long distracted and div
ey ded the people Of this Union and ALLEVIATE
uS their affections from each other. This ag
re. tation has assumed many forms since
lai commencement, but il now seems to be
- rected chiefly to the Territories; we mi
ST. safely anticipate that ills rapidly approac
ew ing "fnalty". The recent legislation
oul .s Congress respecting domestic slavery, deri
Inc ed as it has been, from the original and pu
lF' fountain of legitimate political power, a
Jan will OF the majority promises ere long to
lay the dangerous excitement. This leg
lation is founded upon principles as ancie
de, as free government itself, and in accordan
use with them, has simply declared that the p'
ro- ne of Territory, like those Of ST
of rhall ddcide for themselves, whether SLAVE
,int sshall Or shall not exist within their limit
ofl The Nebraska Kansas Act does no mi
than give the force Of law to this elemen