Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-28

either abolishing or establishing slavery, as the
case may be, according to its sovereign will
and pleasure.
Most happy would it be for the country if
this long agitation we're at an end. During lis
whole progress it has produced no practical
good to any human being, whilst 1t has been
the source Of great and dangerous evils. IL
has alienated and estranged one portion Of the
Union from the other, and has even seriously
threatened its very existence. To my own
personal knowledge, it has produced the i'm
preston among foreign nations that our great
and glorious coniederacy is in constant danger
Of dissolution. This does. us serious injury,
because acknowledged power and stability al
ways command respect among nations and are
among the best securities against unjust ag-
gression, and in favor OF the maintenance Of
honorable peace.
May we not hope that it is the mission Of
the Democratic party, now the only surviving
conservative party of the country, ere long to
overthrow all sectional parties, and restore the
peace, friendship, and mutual confidence which
prevailed in the good old time among the diff
ferent members of the confederacy? Its char
acter is strictly national and it therefore as
serts no principle for the guidance of the
Federal Government which is not adopted
every State. For this reason it is every
where the same determined foe of all geo.
graphical 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 pre-
serve. A conviction of these truths has in
duced many of the purest, the ablest, and most
independent of our former opponents, who have
differed from us in times gone by upon old and
extinct party issues to come into our ranks and
devote themselves with us to the cause Of the
Constitution and the Union. Under these
circumstances, most cheerfully pledge myself,
should the nomination of the convention be
ratified by the people, that all the power and
influence constitutionally possessed by the
Executive shall be exerted, in firm but
conciliatory spirit, during the single term shall
remain IN Office, to restore the same harmony
among the sister States which prevailed before
this apple of discord, in the form Of slavery |
agitation, had been cast into their midst. Let |
the members of the family abstain from in
termeddling with the exclusive domestic con-
Germs of each other, and cordially unite, on the |
basis Of perfect equality among themselves, !
in promoting the great national objects Of
common interest to all, and the good work will
be instantly accomplished.
have referred in your communication, it is
quite impossible for any human foreknowedge |
to prescribe positive rules in advance to regu.
late the conduct of future administration in
all the exigencies which may arise in our va
rious and ever-changng relations with foreign
powers The federal government must of ne
cessity exercise sound discretion in dealing
with international questions as they may occur;
but this under the strict responsibility which
the Executive must always feel to the people
ofthe United States and the Judgment Of pos
terty. You will therefore excuse me for not
entering into particulars whilst / heartily
concur with you in the general sentiment, that
our foreign affairs ought to be conducted with
such wisdom and frmness as to assure the
of the people at home, whilst the in
terests and honor Of our country are wisely |
but nhexibly maintained abroad. Our foreign
policy ought ever to be based upon the princi-
pie of doing justice to all nations, and requir-
ing justice from them in return; and from this
principle / shall never depart.
Should | be placed in the executive chair, /
shall use my best exertions TO cultivate peace
and friendship with all nations, believing this
to be our highest policy, as well as cur most
imperative duty; but, at the same tin.r, shall
never forget that in case the necessity should
arise, which do not now apprehend, our ma
tional honor must be preserved at all hazards
and at any sacrifice.
Firmly convinced that a special Providence
governs the affairs of nations, let us humbly
implore His continued blessing upon our coun-
try, and that He may avert from us the punish
ment we justly deserve for being discontinued
and ungrateful while enjoying privileges above
all nations, under such Constitution and such |
a Union as has never been vouchsafed 10 any
other people.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. John Il. Ward, w. A. Richardson, Hairy
Hibbard, w. B. Lawrence, A. G. Brown,
John l.. Manning, John Forsyth, w. Pres
ton, j. Randolph Tucker, and Horatio Sey