Washington sentinel., 1856-05-24
From the Daily Ledger, New Albany, Indiana
The Pre- sid entiQl Nomination.

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Since Senator Bright has declined to permit
his friends to use his name in connection with
the Democratic nomination for the Presidency,
it will become the duty of our delegates to the
Cincinnati Convention to consult their constit-
uents for the purpose Of ascertaining upon
what gentleman they shall confer their suf-
frages. That each and every delegate will en-
deavor to carry out what he conceives to be
the sentiment of the Democracy Of the State
we have not the least doubt !; and If his person
al feelings shall conflict with what appears to
be the wishes of the people, each will sink his
own preferences and endeavor to carry out
those of his constituency.
1t seems to be conceded that the three promi-
nent aspirants before the convention will be
President Pierce, Senator Douglas, and Mr..
Buchanan. Others are spoken of incidentally,
but those we have named are by far the most
prominent, and between these the delegates
from Indiana will have to choose. Although
Mr.. Pierce has many warm friends and ad
mirers in Indiana, who approve the general
policy of his administration, yet it is generally
understood that he is not the choice OF the State
as a candidate in 1856. The contest will, in
all probability, lay between Mr.. Douglas and
Mr.. Buchanan, and it is pleasure to know
that, whichever may be nominated, the Demo
CThCy Will HdVe u ChUuluhlG upOH WUOu lUt1
can look with pride and vote for with conf
dence.
As the author and able champion Of the
Nebraska bill, and the doctrine Of giving to the
people of every State and Territory the right of
regulating their own domestic institutions Mr..
Douglas has endeared himself to the Demo
cracy of all sections of the Union and acquired
name of which any statesman might well be
proud. Although this great measure was mis-
represented by some and misunderstood by
others, there can be little doubt but that it
will--indeed has-become the settled policy Of
the country, and will be almost universally ac
quiesced in both by the North and the South
Those who urge the nomination Of Mr.. Douglas
do so principally from desire to have this
question fairly and finally tested before the
grand inquest Of the nation, fully, and we be-
lieve correctly, thinking that both the measure
and its author will be triumphantly sustained
The friends of Mr. Buchanan urge that his
long public services, his great talents, his uni
form devotion to and support Of Democratic
principles, and the confidence which moderate
men of all parties repose in his integrity and
his ability to pilot the ship of State through
the breakers which surround her, are sufficient
reasons why be should be preferred at this
time. From the inquiries we have made, we
are satisfied that large majority Of the Democ-
raey of Indianna, for the reasons we have
given, prefer Mr.. Buchanan over any other
gentleman named. In this portion OF the
State this feeling is all but unanimous, and we
do not think we would be discharging our duty
as conductors Of Democratic newspaper did
we not give expression TO ii.
Mr. Buchanan has been often named in con-
nection with the Presidency, but although
every Democrat has been ready to admit his
pre-eminent ability for the position, and his
great services to the country and the party, he
has not been nominated, principally because he
was supposed not to posses those qualities
which serve to excite popular enthusiasm in
behalf of a candidate Whether or not there
is any ground for this supposition, we do not
know but even if there were, they are not such
consideration as should operate in making
choice of candidate at the present time. In
the great majority Of our presidential contests
during the last thirty years. the efforts of all
parties seems to have been to get up hurrah
over some real or supposed popular quality Of
their candidate, and upon this rush him into the
Presidential chair.
| At times when the only questions in dispute
affected our domestic policy-when it was only
question whether National Bank was or was
not necessary for the financial operations Of the
country, or whether high tariff or low one
was better for our prosperlty-the social and
personal qualities of candidate might be
looked to more closely than at present. Nor