The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-30
Mr.. Buchanan's Political Variations on
Slavery.

There are some principles in morals and ply
sizes which are exceedingly curious in their ope-
rations Thus the variations Of the magnet pre-
sent singular phenomena, and are very puzzling
| to philosophers. And we have variations quite
as startling and wonders quite as puzzling in the
moral world, particularly where politics are the
| chart by which men steer their course. On the
| question of slavery, there are very few politi-
| clans who have not varied as much as the mag
netic needle does over our geographical surface.
| Since ls4O-a period of sixteen years-Mr. Van
Buren, has traversed a great part of the circle.
| with an occasional dip as he went along, until
from being few points off the true line, he has
| swung round full one hundred and eighty de-
| grees. in 1910 he stood North and North by
East; now he is full South, or South by West.
| The political mariner who hangs such compass
| in his pinnacle, would find himself not only out
of his latitude, but helpless wreck upon the
I breakers.
Mr.. Buchanan is another illustration of our
meaning, but with curious differences and singu
| lar contrasts Of character and conduct. If he
was a candidate to sustain and carry out the
noble principle Of love, in all its power and per-
manency; if he was to be made President of the
island of Calypso, and there offciate among 1.-The
gods and their loves" or to rule in the ninth
heaven where all lovers are to be made happy, we
might make little or no objection. According to
the article which appeared in Ha,per's 4M,gasiae
and which was republished by all his organs Of
| the press it is evident that tender passion
early monepolized bis soul, and that it remains
in possession Of it STILL In love, therefore, he is
true to his faith and his principles-an example
to the present generation, and to such posterity
as he may leave
But in politics how different! 1t is not as
Shakspere has said, "Frailty, thy name is
Woman y but, Frailty, thy name is-Politician !;
and the career of Mr.. Buchanan in public life
fully justifies this reading. His variations have
been greater than those Of Mr.. Van Buren,, and it
is very natural they should be SO. In early life
he was Of the respectable federal school, pure and
unadulterated; in mature life, a wing, of easy
principles; and in later life democrat Of the
prevailing sect; friend Of jackson, yet embar
raising him with unauthorized propositions from
Mr.. Clay friend Of the Missouri Compromise,
and its enemy opposed to and in favor Of Terri
torial sovereignty; a conservative statesman, and
yet ready to steal Cuba and plunge the nation
into war with Spain.
But prominently among all these changes of
opinion and variations Of temper stand his opin-
ions on the questions of slavery, the powers
Of Congress and Of the Territories in relation
thereto In 1919, as is well known, Mr.. Buchanan
was opposed to the admission Of Missouri into the
Union without some restriction Of slavery, and in
favor of Congressional interference to prevent its
extension into the new States and Territories. In
1920, however, his polarity was disturbed by the
agitations Of the Missouri compromise and he
came round, as the only mode Of rectifying them,
to the latitude Of &c deg. 30 min. In letter to
VIM. L. Yancey, Of Alabama, dated as late as
May Is, ls4s, he declares that he adhered TO the
Missouri Compromise, and says it is the best if
not the only mode Of finally and satisfactorily
adjusting this vexed and dangerous question. /
cannot abandon the position which l have thus
deliberately and conscientiously taken and assume
any other that can be presented We now per-
ceive of what value are the conscience and de-
liberation OF Mr.. Buchanan on this subject how
fast and how long he can stand upon any position
when his interests point to another platform, and
how infexibly he can resist any other plan that
can be presented, when his interest is not
at stake. But let us observe his stability
on another point and that which IL at present
the great source Of the mischief which has be-
fallen the country-Territorial legislation on the
subject Of slavery. II is in evidence under his
own hand His opinion was that the inhabitants
Of a Territory, as such, had no political rights |
although they possessed private rights as Anne
rican citzens); that they had no power whatever
over the subject Of slavery, and that they could
neither interdict nor establish it. except when
assembled in convention TO form State consti-
tutionr In the same letter he asserted that Con-
gress possessed the power to legisate upon the
subject Of slavery in the Territories But let us
place these declarations alongside Of his letter
of acceptance Of the Cincinnati nomination, and
see how they look together
rxrpAt1 IRON MI. HucHa. Ns. BrcHA.
MANS IErTER, Aro. II, MANS tErrEB or ACcEFr
1sIS, TO Z. SANFORD, oF AScE ~ CINCINNATI
kfAnANA CONFIRMING cFR. NOMINATION, mEssRs
TAIN CONVERSATIONS Win WARD AND OTHERS.
THAT GENTLEMAN. The recent legislation OF
The inhabitants Of Ter Congress respecting domes
ritory such, have no po- tic slavery-derved II
ntcai rehs-have pow. has been from the original
er whatever the sub and pure fountain OF iegt.
iect Of slavery that they mate political power-the
can neither nterdct will OF the maority-pro.
establish A. except when misses ere long TO alay the
assembled In convention 70 dangerous excitement This
form n state constitution, leg aii0n s founded upon
principles ancient az free
Having urged the ad0r- government ITSELF and in
ton Of the Missouri compro. accordance with them has
misc the inference is ire simply declared that the
ssble, that Congress, ~ people Of Territory, ike
my opinion, possesses The those OF State, shall de-