Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-04-30


lean statesman rising above personal or politi
cal considerations, we avail ourselves of the
earliest opportunity of ex pressing our high ap-
probation of your services.
Mr.. BUcHANAN's REPLY.
scarcely know how to express my feelings
upon the present occasion. | feel that my
foot is upon my native heath, and that in the
opinion of my kind fellow citizens [ have not
discredited my native State in serving my
country abroad. Applause.
have been absent now nearly three years.
You address me, as Committee Of Merchants,
not as party men. I respond, with all my
heart, to the sentiments which you express.
have been party man but, when an Amer
lean, with a proper heart, goes abroad, all 10
cal political questions sink before his love OF
his native land. The Great Republic looms
up in the distance, and his heart swell with
honest pride that he is an American. Those
things which agitate, and very properly agl-
tate, and divide the people at home, he feels to
be of secondary consideration abroad, when he
is maintaining the good faith, the interests,
and the honor of the whole country.
| confess, that l have been astonished at the
reception which the good people of my country
have given me, since L landed upon these
shores. Without distinction CT party, l have
been received at New York as an American
citizen-the p1oudest title in the world. (CoL-
tinued outbursts of aprlause.) The same
course has been pursued towards me In nay pas
sage through New Jersey, and, now, here.
where my heart nestles in its warmest and
tenderest emotions, have received the most
cordial welcome of all.
l have been abroad in trying times-it is
true; but the great principles which have gul-
IoI
Peace, commerce, and honest friendship
with all nations, entangling alliances with
none.
Ask for nothing that is not clearly right In
our intercourse with foreign nations, and sub
NIT to nothing which is wrong.
These are the two leading maxlms OF the
great political apostles of our country, and, as
long we act upon such great and glorious
principles we are sure, always, to be IN the
right (Applause.)
Gentlemen, it is hardly proper for me to
speak of the diplomatic business In which
have been engaged on the other side of the
Atlantic; butt have been asked, repeatedly
IS there dang er Of acar2 think not.
But it is, simply, because l believe our
country to be SO clearly and decidedly in the
right on the questions involved between the
two countries, that the British people never
will consent to irritate them into dangerous
condition for both parties. Our commerce
now covers every ocean; our mercantile ma
rine is the largest in the world. We have the
greatest Interest of any nation on earth IN
preserving peace. We ought to cultivate
peace with all nations But there is an inter
est superior to all these conslderatlons-and
that is-Our National Honor If war should
ensue-I feel, however, no apprehension of
Al Z Off mol
honor of this people should ever be insulted
by any government-upon the face of the
earth, I know that the merchants themselves,
who would have the greatest sacrifices to
make, would stand by the Country at the ex-
pense of everything human. Expressions of
approbation.)
can perceive no danger. Our example is
great and glorious example. There are
those within the sound of my voice who share,
among the millions of human beings on this
vast Continent, the privileges and immunities
of the most free and enlightened government
that ever existed. Our example is a '' Star
IN the Vest" guiding the hopes of the free
men of every land. We eare no propagandists,
except by our example; and yet our example
is destined, in future time, to carry free and
liberal institutions over the face of the whole
earth peacefully, quietly, without danger, and
with the appreciation of iho wise and vigtuous
in every cline.
But, gentlemen if this great and glorious
republic, now one,-the great and glorious re-
public, cemented by the blood Of our forefath-
ers and preserved by the Constitution and the
Union,- this great and glorious Republic
should be shattered into Insignificant atoms,
it would be the contempt and derison of the
virtuous and the good over the whole face of
the earth. God forbid that this glorious star
should ever set in discord and in blood 1t
never will. a kind and over-ruling Provi-
dence, which has, heretofore preserved us as
a nation, has not brought US to this length
that it shall exist no longer. This is my con-
fdent prayer-and it is my solemn conviction.
| ought to say, gentlemen, that have hon
estly maintained the instructions received from
my country in the negotiation which l have
had with England, and whilst have never
hesitated boldly, but courteously to express
my opinions, l have never found anything but
personal kindness in my intercourse with the
British people. (Approbation.
| do not believe that any American can in
gratiate himsIf into the good opinions of any
people in Europe, by concealing his honest
sentiments upon all proper occasions. I have
acted upon that principle. and have no rea-
son to repent it.
Here, then, am in your midst I have
received from you greater honors than de-
serve. [ can only account for it, because l
am a citizen of that important old Common
wealth which, though often unpretending. is
| always true; and, whatever differences of
opinion exist among US, in regard to mere po-
ltical questions, the Constitution and the
Union have ever been the polar star of the
people of all parties in this noble old State.