The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-04-16

and was published in several languages u
Europe The State papers on other grea
questions, proceeding from his pen dur'n
the four wears he semainsd in that depart
ment of State, were so many contribution
10 the column which celebrates lis sminer
fitness, and bis unsullied integrity. ~h''
the Wilmot Proviso was introduced into 4 ON
gress, it was James Buchanan who at ono,
denounced, and exposed and rallied the De.
mocracy against it.
II was during The administration Of Mr..
Polk, iha, Mr.. Buchanan, in bis letter 10 the
Democracy Of Berks County, Pa, first recon-
mended 10 the North and the South, that the
Missouri line should be extended TO the Pa.
cific, and that this should be made the basis
of final set,lementof the slavery question
IN The sferrilories. The war with Mexico,
consequent on The annexation OF Texas, gave
US vast empire,In addition to the area which
constitutes our beloved Union, and IN the ar.
gumen,s growing out of the acquisition of
California, Mr.. Buchanan labored earnestly
and effectively on the side of pro. ress. MIR.
Buchanan's letter on this subject ls Of record,
and speaks for ITSELF Il lie easy 10 recall the
vi.uperation which his proposition 10 extend
the Missouri line called forth from The lanai.
les OF the North, from those who now clam.
or for It's restoration, and who in insane Tor
gelfulness of thei. hostility to it fsw years
ago, Sc, themselves up as its peculiar cham
pions.
Mr.. Buchanan's recommendation of an
extension of The Missouri liue was far in adj.
vance Of public sentiment. l. was hailed in
the South by all parties as an exhibition of
firmness only too rare.iiu those days among
Northern men, and j. was appreciated by
the truly national men of the he free States.
Would ii no, be strangely unjust, If this pro.
posal of Mr.. Buchanan should now be cited
10 prove him unsouLd upon existing issues
The spirit which aciuated. Mr.. Buchanan in
iS47, when he wrole his letter recommend
ing the extension of the Missouri line, was
10 promote harmony among The States OF this
Union, by recognizing the principle OF equal
ity among the States, in regard 10 the COM
mon territories OF The people and now, when
the Missouri line has beef superseded by
another plan of sellleme nj, The Nebraska.
Kansas Act, based upon the same sentiment
OF State equality, all patriotic men will cheer.
full, abide by and vigilanily maintain i, a.
gainst the inroads of iha, abolition fusion
which orce more threatsns.to assaiI ,ifs con.
siiinlioual rights OF the Sonth. The country
will find, among its public men, no iruer or
firmer advocate and defender of tha, great
princiI lie of popular sovereignty, as embodied
IN the Nebraska bill than James Buchanan.
Mr.. Buchanan remained in conn ec,ion
with Mr.. Folks administration until March
4th, ls49, when he once more returned to
Pennsylvania, and from that period up to the
election of the present enlightened Chief
Magistrate, he engaged himseI! in pursuits
congenial 10 statesman of large and ex.
tended experience. The conflict between
the enemies of The Constitution and the De-
mocracy, did not find him an idle spectator.
He was in The fore front OF the Democratic
party, demanding for the South no hollow
and hypocrilical platform, bu, a broad radi-
cal, distinct recognition Of those rights, which
cannot be equal, unless they are shared hon.
essiy and fairly between the people of all
the sections of the Union. Everywhere,
the Democracy Of his State fell and followed
his wise and patriotic counsels. When he
emerged from his quiet home, II was TO de-
mand the recognition of all the guarantees
OF the Constitution 10 all the States. His
letters and speeches in favor Of the enforce
ment of the fugitive slave lawn favor of
the repeal of The laws Of Pennsylvania, en-
acted for the purpose of tepriving the South
ern citizen of the use of ou. jails for the
aie.keeping of his fugiiives, and his appeals
TO the Democracy Of the State never to yield
10 sect,onalism, conclusively show ,ha, he
had not forgotten his duty TO great principles,
and that his attention was constantly fixed
upon The Importance OF dschargias that OBJ.
legation. He was US vigilant in his duties as
private in The ranks oil the PEOPLE, as he
was prominent as counsellor in the Cabi
net and as Representative and Senator in
Congress.
During the Presidential contest in 1852,
Mr.. Buchanan stood in tho van of The Dem
ocratic ranks. The following remarkable
passages from his speech delivered 10 mass
meeting of the Democracy of Western Penn.
sylvanis, on the 7lh of October, 1852, al
Greensbure, Westmoreland county, are so
characteristic Of the man and his opinions,
that we do not hesitate 10 copy lheM. Re.
member that, al 10 time did he ever yield
iot or a!litle to sectionalsm. He was against
ii instinclively, and from the start. He said -
"From my soul, abhor the practice of
mingling up religion with politics. The doc.
trine Of oil our Constitutions, both Federal
and Stxie, lie, that every man has an indie.
feasible right 10 worship his God according
10 the dictates of his own Coincidence. He
is both bigol and a tyran,, who would in.
terfere with ,ha, sacred right. When can
dida,e is before The people for office, the in
quiry ought never even 10 be made, what
form of religious faith he possesses: bu, on
ly in the language Of Mr.. Jefferson, "Is he
honest, is he capable?"
Utnarn~ratic A m ne,;can.v What . nm ~ q