Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-07-02

made most prominent before that bouy=by their
own merits and the attention of the people.
the choice for Presidency fell upon Mr.. Bu-
/ chanan. as a becoming tribute to his long
public services and his pre-eminent abilities.
| The annunciation of his name begets conf
! denee IN every part of the Union For forty
years he has lived in the public eye. He has
the largest experience in political affairs, and
| from his long services IN the executive and
Legislative departments of the government ne
| possesses perfect familiarity with every branch
of administration. In the discharge of his
| public duties, his great talents have been uni:
Tersally recognized. aud the purity Of bis
/ character commands the respect of bis coun-
trymen without distinction of party In 9TH
er countries he is the most distingui he'd living
representative of the intellect and character
of the United States; aud none of us, am
sure, have forgotten the signal ability with
which, on recent occasion, he vindicated the
just Claims of his country against the most
eminent diplomatists of Europe.
! MIR. Buchanan belongs to class OF states.
/ men nearly all of whom have passed from the
stage of action He was long associated in
the public councils with jackson, Gay, Cali
! houn, Webster, Wright. Forsyth and others.
whose names are cherished as portion of the
treasures of the country-and be was not the
least star In that galaxy. His great COM
! peers are gone, yet he remains, In the Vigor-
Gus possession of all his faculties, standing
IN the midst of the defendants of those with
whom he commenced his career-respected
and honored by all classes of his countrymen.
Like all public men, he has been the victim,
of distraction; but he has outived Its infu-
ence, nor can the calumnies thrown out in the
party contests long passed be more success
fully revived against him than against the
Z -.,TA
Of myself, gentlemen, it does not become
me to speak. especially here, in the midst of /.
people among whom l wes born and reared
Ny principles and course of life are known to
you all. -
Gentlemen. the platform of principles a.
dopted by the Convention will attract the at
tention of the country, and exert the most
important influence upon public affairs
Without entering into discussion Of that
platform, may remark that it re-asserts the old
and well recognized creed of the Democratic
party, and then applies the principles of tha.
party to the great questions of the times
Upon the two issues which 90 now most aR.
itate the Union. the position of the Democracy
cannot hereafter be misunderstood or nisrep.-
resented.
They have defined in explicit terms thei.
construction of the guarantees of civil and re2
hgious liberty which are contained in the
Constitution of the United States
Upon the distracting question of domestic
slavery their position is equally clear. The
whole power of the Democratic organization il
pledged to the following propositions:
That Congress shall not interfere upon this
subject in the States, in the Territories, or in
the District of Columbia, -
That the people of each Territory shall de-
termine the question for themselves, and be
admitted into the Union upon footing of
perfect equality with the original States, with
out discrimination on account OF the allow.
ance or prohibition of slavery
That the law of Congress for the return Of
fugltyes from labor. passed in pursuance of
the requirement Of the Constitution, shall bs
faithfully executed.
Upon all these vital questions the Conyep.
ton WIS unanimous. every delegate from evo-
ry State giving them his cordial approval.
Gentlemen, If these principles can be main
tanned, every obstacle will be removed to tho
peace and prosperity of our country. More
than this you ought not to ask--less than this
you will not consent to take. / know ron
well enough to be assured tina. there is not
man within the sound of my voice who Goes
not feel that this settlement is Just, .nd tha,
in no other mode the rights of the respec.
tive members of the confederacy be preserved.
and the peace of the Union secured
In the maintenance of these principies ara
pledged the united efforts of the strongest pc-
litical organization Ia the United Sta:as You
are not called upon now 10 decide subordinate
questions of policy You are brought face to
face with issues which rock your country 10
its centre, and involve the principles upon
which your institutions are founded. Henes
a high personal responsibility is imposed on
every citizen, which cannot be discharged by
blindly herdiug beneath party banners, or ut
tcring fierce rallying cries, or surrenderihr
the Judgment to the dominion of the preiudi-
ces and the passions.
He who shall examine carefully and tenn
perately the platform OF the National Democ.
racy. compare it with the platforms of other
parties, investigate the issues before the coun
try, learn the strength and purposes of other
and then prefer the decisions
of his judgment to tue temptations of his pas
sions, will have performed his duty in a nan
ner answerable to the high claims of his coun-
try upon the patriotism of her sons.
NJ Y only purpose in appearing efore you.
upon the invitation of your committee was to
render my sincere acknowledgements for the
kindness which prompted YOU to desire nv
presence. If have been betrayed into re-
marks more extended than the occasion seem
ed TO demand. You must share the blame with
me. and place the error, in part at least to
the account OF your warm welcome and friend
ly attention.
In one sentiment am sure We can ali con-
cur That the great issues involved in this
contest may be de,,lded as TO preserve the Con-
stitution advance the general prosperity, and