, 1856-08-01
Mr. Duehanan's Letter OF Acceptance.
WHEAJLAND, NEAR LANCASTER,
JDne l6, 1856.

knowledge the receipt Of your communica-
ton Of the 18th inst, informing me official
" of nv nomination by the democratic na-
tjonal convention, recently held at Cincin-
natl. as the democratic candidate for the
Office of president Of the United States
shall not attempt to express the grateful
feelings which entertain towards my dem
oeratic fellow citizens for having deemed
me worthy of this--ihe highest political
honor on earth--an honor such us the peo-
ue Of no other country have. the power 10
bestow Deeply sensible Of the vast and
varied responsibility attached to the sta
tiou, especially at the present crisis in our
affairs, have Carefully refrained from seek
inc the nomination either by worl or by
deed. Now that it has been offered by the
democratic party, accept it with diilidcnce
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 q manner as to allay domestic strife,
preserve peace aud friendship with foreign
nations, and promote the best interests OF
the republic.
In accepting the nomination, need
scarcelysa that accept in the same spir.
, il the resolutions constituting the platform
Of principles erected by the convention
To this platform intend to confne myself
throughout the canvass, believing that !
have no right, as the candidate of the dem
ocratic party, by answering intcrrogatories,
to present new and different issues before
the people.
1t will not be expected that in this an-
swer l should specially refer to the subject
Of each of the resolutions; and | shall there
fore con(ine myself to the two topics now
most prominently before the people.
And, in the first place, | cordially con-
cur in the sentiments expressed by the con-
vention on the subject Of civil and religious
liberty. No party founded on religious or
political intolerance towards oae. class of
American citizens, whether born in oar
own or in foreign land, can long continue
to exist in this country. We are all equal
before God and the constitution; aud the
dark spirit Of despotsm and bigo,ry which
would create great distinctions among our
fellow citizens will be speedily rebuked by
free and enlightened public opinion.
The agitation on tho question Of dOmcs-
tic slavery has too long distracted and di-
vided the people Of this Union and alicnat-
cd their affections from each other The
agitation has assumed many forms since
its commencement, but It now seems to be
directed chiefly to the territories; and judg.
ing from its present character, think we
safely anticipate that il is rapidly approach
ing "fnality." The recent legislation of
congress respecting domestic slavery, de-
rived, us it has been from the original and
pure fountain of legitimate political power,
the will Of the majority, promises ere long
to allay the dangerous excitement. This
legislation is founded upon principles as an
cent as free government itself, aud in ac-
cordance with them, has simply declared
that the people Of a territory, like those Of
state, shall decide for themselves whether
slavery shall or shall not exist within their
limits. .lg
The Nebraska Kansas net does no more
than give the force Of law to this elemenia-
ry principle Of selfgovernment, declaring it
10 be "the true intent and meaning Of this
act not to legislate slavery into any terrific
ry or state, nor to exclude it therefrom /;
but to leave tho people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domestic in
stitutions in their own way, subject only to
the constitution of the United States."-
This principle will surely not be controyert-
ed by any individual Of any party profess
ing devotion to popular government. Be-
sides, how vain and illusory would any 9TH
er principle prove in practice in regard to
the territories. This is apparent from the
fact admitted by oil, that after territory
shall have entered the Union and become
state, no constitutional power would then
exist which could prevent it from either
abolishing or establishing slavery, as the
case may be, according to its sovereign
will aud pleasure.
Most happy would it be for the country
IL this long agitation were at On eud. Dur
ing It's whole progress it has produced no
practical good to any human being, whilst
II has been the source of great and danger
ous evils. 1t has alenated and estranged
one portion Of the Union from the other,
and has even seriously threatened its very
existence. To my own personal knowl-
edge, It has produced the impression among
foreign nations that our great and glori-
Gus confederacy is in constant danger Of
dissolution, This does Us serious injury
because acknowledged power and stability
always command respect among nations,
and are among the best securities against
unjust aggression and in favor of the main
tenance Of an honorable peace
May we not hope that it is the mission
Of the democratic party, now the only sur
.yiving conservative party Of the country,
ere long to overthrow oil sectional parties,
and restore the peace, friendship and mu-
tual confidence which prevailed in the
good old time, among the different mem
bers Of the confederacy? Its character is
strictly national, and it therefore asserts
no principle for the guidance Of the federal
government which is not adopted and sus-
tainnd hu ite IlnInhars in -nach and nunrr