Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-13
From the Pennsylvania Inlelligencer and Lancas-

terrain.
The Secret OF the strength OF James Bu-
chanan IN Pennsylvania and I'm the
Union.
We congratulate the country upon the pre-
vailing good feeling of the Democratic party
on the subject of the Democratic National Con-
venton and the selection Of candidate for
the Presidency, who IS TO be supported by the
Democratic party in November next Living
in this quiet and retired spot, away from the
great political and commercial centres, and
therefore an undisturbed if not disnterested
spectator of the events of the day, we may not
be able to take as comprehensive view of the
political present and future, as some Of those
gentlemen who occupy more elevated positions,
and who can sweep the circuit OF human obser-
walton; but, if a constant commingling with
the people Of this popnlous region, and an
almost daily intercourse with men from different
parts of the State, entitled whatever humble
opinions we may express to attention and re-
spect, we are free to give utterance to them.
The prominence which MIR. Buchanan's
name has attained as a candidate for the Pre-
sidency, resulting entirely from spontaneous
movement, without the aid Of the machinery of
politics, and almost without the aid of politi-
clans, has suggested, in various quarters Of the
Union, the overriding necessity Of selecting
such man, in order to achieve success. The
fact that he has become formidable without
effort, has gone far TO inspire a wide and almost
universal confidence in his strength as the fit.
ting an.for the coming time. His friends are
not limited to those who, for the last sixteen
years, have gathered under his banner, when
ever a Presidential nomination was to be made,
but include the great body of those in his own
party who have heretofore hesitated to support
m "a nin tnn for 10 IL
should he be selected by the Cincinnati Con-
vention, he will receive the votes Of the reflect
ing and conservative men Of other parties in
greater degree than has ever happened to any
candidate since the days of General Jackson
The foundations of other parties have broken
up and the temporary and clandestiue organi-
cations which have been constructed upon their
ruins, have completed the work of alienation
and dscord among our former opponents. The
only party left in the field, to which honest and
patriotic men, not identified with the Democ-
racy, can turn for safety from these secret and
proscriptive organizations, is the Democratic
party and in these times, when repulsive doe
trines are openly advocated, and when the
safeguards of law and order are publicly pros.
trated, and when the Constitution itself is not
Secure against the inroads Of sectional IA
natcism, such a man as Mr.. Buchanan appears
upon the stage, strong in all the elements Of
popular leader, and realizing the idea Of a
judicious and enlightened Chief Magistrate.
lnvlncibly strong in his own party, his attitude
IS such, that he comes up to the expectations
Of all those men of other opinions who are
now DESTROYS of cooperating with the Democ-
racy, and gathers around him those who have
stood by him in the past, no less ardently than
those who are anxious to support him in the
future. This state of public feeling, not the
offspring, as we have said, of political ma
nGuvres, cannot probably be understood by
those who are not as near to the people as we
are. We have drawn no fancy sketch. We
speak not for this locality alone, but for all the
interior OF Pennsylvania, and we trust, that in
giving this opinion, we shall be understood as
using neither the language of exaggeration
nor of Partially. So lar as we can, it is our
honest purpose to contribute all that is within
our power to secure the strongest and the best
man Tor the coming canvass; and we should hold
hlm hght-nay we should hold that journalist
IN sovereign contempt, who, no matter how
narrow his sphere or how contracted his infu-
ence, should deliberately set himself to work
to misrepresent, to mislead, or to betray public
opinion, in view of the duty that is before us.
1t is an irnmeasurably subordinate thing to
the American people how politicians may like
= ii
discharge his obligations to the Constitution,
and resolved to do his duty in the face of every
emergency; and hence, when such sentiment
as that to which we have referred, VIGOROUSLY
Pervades the country, it would be guilt, it would
be madness to deny, as it would be treason to
attempt 10 pervert it.
Mr.. Buchanan is absent from the field of ac-
tion his own character has quietly operated
upon the public mind and has produced the
sentiment TO which we have alluded Without
effort against his will--nay in the face of his
protests-while many of his hest and truest,
aud Oldest friends were reposng upon their
oars, the people have placed him in the fore
ground, and they demand of him that he should
submit to the decision OF the convention, at
the same time that they respectfully ask Of the
convention that he should be the candidate of
the Democratic party. No man living can
charge, therefore, that the existing preference
Tor Mr.. Buchanan, so widely diffused has fol-
lowed after his own efforts in his own behalf,
or has been produced by the exertions of others
to the same end.
Another reason why the cause of Mr.. Buch.
anan has grown to this towering height, has
been the Indispensable avoidance, on his part.
both because he has been absent and because
he has been disinclined TO become candidate
Tor the Presidency, Of all collisions and antag4
onlsms, OF any kind whatsoever 1t is said
that whenever an American citizen passes into
foreign land, he ceases TO remember the par
les he has left behind. He cherishes only the
idea Of his whole country, and the names and
memories which make it sacred. While no
events could transpire that would ever induce
James Buchanan TO blot from his remembrance
bis friends and his principles, yet representing,
as he has represented, the interests and the
honor OF all the people Of the United States,
ana engaged IN controversies with the grand
nteiieets OF European diplomacy, constantly
plotting against our institutions, be has had
ittle time, and less dispersion, to be party 10
he conflicts waging in political circles at home.
IN the same proportion as his figure doomed up
20 the public eye, as the conservator of the
rational interest and honor, in foreign lands,
20 did he himself seem to become imbued with
hat universal sentiment Of Aniericanism,
Which he has so signally illustrated in the last
hree years of his career; and in proportion as
ms fitness and his patriotism, in the sphere in
Vhich he has been placed, displayed them
elves to his countrymen in broader and
brighter charaptarp have .I,o Late. 5000