The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-18
Distinguishing of Presidential Lights

The Fillmore light which at one time at.
tanned slight dimness, arriving almost to
the dignity of the lrishman's candle which
was SO good in its way, as to require dog
en- decent candles to see it burn, " fading
still fading" fllckcrcd and went out, some
time ago, and the public are fast forgetting
that 1t ever had an existence.
Within the past week another Prcsiden.
tial light has been nearly, If not quite ex'
tinguished, by the remorselcss breath of the
Presidential bellows at Washington. 1t i,
interesting to watch the fight going on be.
tween the blowers for the different Presi
Dental candidates for the Cincinnati nom.
nation. a short time since, Forney left the
Washington Union, and returning to the
Pennsylvanian, commenced most vigorously
to blow into full flame the Buchanan light
and pointing to it as the only light by which
the Democracy could be safely lighted thro
the perils of the Presidential paths. 1t wa,
a kind of Northern light, by which even the
hopeful mariner in search of freedom nigh,
safely guide his bark. The Pennsylvania
to attract northern attention to this light
talked big about Southern insolence, South.
ern dictatiOn, and intimated, all for north.
ern consumption, and the manufacture OF
northern capital for use in tho Cincinnati
Convention, that Southern dominecring was
not to be borne forever. Freedom was not
always to seccumb to slavery. Their light
was quite Independent, and could burn with.
out Southern air. Indeed the Buchanan
light was just the one for friends of free ter
ritory to recognize and worship.
While all this was going on swimmingly
in Pennsylvania, tho Washington Union
slyly prints letter written in December last
by Mr.. Buchanan, and addressed in the con.
fidence Of friendship no doubt, to Mr.. Slidell
Of Louisiana, which shows the writer to be
about the meanest of all the Presidential
lickspittles that have yet turned up. Ii
does up most cfTectually all of the prcten-
tions of his friends that he has any leaning
towards the side Of freedom, and places him
in as unenviable light as Frank Pierce him.
self. The letter was no doubt intended as
private assurance to be used down South
with good effect, while his friends in the
North were indulging in little show of in
dependence, Of Southern arrogance. The
publication of the letter by the Union, was
most unkind, and as intended by that paper
will about finish Mr.. Buchanan's chances
for the nomination in the Cincinnati Con-
vention. Buchanan says that she laborcd
in company with Southern men to have the
Missouri Compromise line extended to the
Pacific ocean," and now he is for sustain
ing measure which abolishes the Compro-
mise forever. We now know where he is,
the seeming Independence
of his friends. His letter, not intended for
publication, shows him to DO among the
worst of toad caters. rs eager as Frank Pierce
himself, to curry favor with the South, by
to all their demands, with this
that while Pierce does the mat
ter up boldly, the federal blue light Of Penn
sylvania, gives private assurances Of his
readiness to obey all the requirements of the
Southern masters.