Butte record., 1856-07-19
Mr. Buehanau-s letter of Acceptance.
WHEATLAND, near Lancaster, !
lime Is. 1854

tional Convention. recently held at Cincin-
natl, as the Democratic candidate Tor th5
/ Office Of President Of the United States !
shall not attempt 10 express the grateful
/ feelings which l entertain towards my Dem
ocr4tic fellow citizens for having deemed me
worthy Of this-the highest political honor
on earth--an honor such as the people Of no
other country have the power to bestow.-
4 Deeply sensible Of the vast aad varied re
sponsibilty attached to the station, especial-
| ly at the present crisis in our affairs. ] have
carefully refrained from seeking the nomi-
nation either by word CT deed Now that
/ IT has been offered by the Democratic party.
accept it with d.fhdence in my own abili-
ties, but with an humble trust that in the
event Of my election may be enabled to
discharge my duty il such manner as 10 al
lay domestic strife, preserve peace and
friendship with foreign nations, and pre-
serve the best interests Of the Republic.
In accepting the nomination. need scarce
y say that acceptin the same spirit the re
solutions constituting the platform Of priu-
cipies erected by the Convention To this
platform | intend TO confne myself through
out the canvass. believing that I have no
rlght, rs the candidate Of the Democratic
party, by answering interrogatories. to ure-
sent new and different issues before the
people.
1t will not be expected that il this answer
| should specially refer to the subject Of
each Of the resolutions: and shall there
fore conine myself to the two topics now
most prominent before the people.
And IN the first place ! cordially concur
n the sentiments expressed by the Conven-
ton on the subject Of civil and religious
liberty.
No party founded on religious or political
intolerance towards enc class Of American
citizens, whether in cur own or a foreiru
land, can long exist in this country. We
are all equal before God and the Constitu-
tlon, and the dark spirit of daspotism and
bigotry which would create odious distinc-
tons among ou1 fellow citizens will he spee-
Oily rabuked BY free and enlightened pub
lie opinion.
The agitation on the question Of domestic
slavery has too long distracted and divided
the people Of this Uuion, and alienated their
affections from each other. This agitation
has assumed many forms since its commence
ment, but it now seems to be directed chiefly
10 the Territories; and judging from its pre-
sent character, | think we may safely anti
cipate that i is rapidly approaching a II
nahty The recent legislation Of Congress
respecting domestic slavery, derived. as it
has been, from the original and pure foun-
tain Of legitimate political power. the viii Of
the majority, promises ere long TO aliay the
dangerous excitement This legislation is
founded upon principles as ancient as fl ee
government itself; aud in accordance with
them, has simply declared that tie people
Of a Territory. like those Of a State, shall
decide for themselves whether slavery shall
or shall not exist within their limits.
The Nebraska-kausas act does no more
than give the force Of law TO this elementary
principle Of self-governmeut declaring it to
be '.the true intent and meaning Of this act
not to legislate slavery into any Territory
OF State, nor to exclude It there1rom; but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free 10
form and regulate their domestic irstitu-
tions in their own way. subject only to the
Constitution OF the United States This
principle viii surely not be controyerted BY
any party protesting devotion to popular
government Besides. how vain aud illuso-
ry would any other principle prove in prac-
tice in regard to the Territories. This is
apparant from the fact, admitted by all.
that when a Territory shall have entered
the Union and become State. no eonstitu-
tional power would then exist which could
prevent 1t from either abolishing or estab-
fishing slavery, as the case may be, accord
ing to its sovereign will and pleasure
Most happy would it be for the country
if this long agitation were at an end. Du-
ring It's whole progress it has produced no
practical good to any human being, whilst it
has been the source Of great and dangerous
evils. II has aienated and estranced one
portion Of the Union from the other, and has
even seriously threatened its very exist
ence. To my own personal knowledge, it has
produced the impression among foreicn ua-
tons, that our great and elorious confeder- I
aey il in constant danger of dissolution. -
This does US serious injury. because ac-
kno1ledged power and stability always com !
ma nd respect among nations, and are among
the best securities against unjust aggres- /
sion and in favor u the maintenance Of hon /
orable peace.
May we not hope that it is the mission Of
the Democratic party, now the only survi- !
wing conservative party Of the country, ere
long t0 overthrow all sectional parties and
restore the peace, friendship and mutual cen
fdence which prevailed in the good old time.
among the different members Of the confed-
eracy' Its character is strictly National.
and it therefore asserts no principle for the
guidance Of the Federal Government which
is not adopted and sustained by its members
in each aud every State. For this reason II
is everywhere the same determined foe Of all
geographical parties SO much and so Justly
dreaded by the Father of his Country. From
its very nature it must continue to exist so
long as there is a Constitution and Union
to preserve. A conviction Of these truths
has induced Of the purest, the ablest and
most independent Of cur former opponents,
who have differed from Us in times gone by
upon old and extinct party issues, to come
into our ranks and devote themselves with
US to the cause of the Constitution and the
Union Under these circumstances | most
cheerfully pledge myself, should the nOmina-
ton Of the Convention be ratified by the
people, that all the power and influence con-
stitntionally possessed by the Executive shall
be exerted in a firm but conciliatory spirit
during the single term l shall remain in
Office, to restore the same harmony among
the sister States which prevailed before this
ample Of discord, in the form Of slavery agi-
tation, had been cast in their midst. Let
the members Of the family abstain from in
termeddling with the exclusive domes-
tic concerns Of each other, and cordially
unite, on the basis Of perfect equality
among themselves, If promoting the great
National objects Of common interest to all,
and the good work viii be instantly accom-
plished.
In regard TO cur foreign policy, 70 which
you have referred in your communication,
it is quite impossible for any human fore-
knowledge to prescribe positive rules in ad-
vance, to regulate the conduct Of a future
administration in all the exigencies which