The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-15

The consistency of President Buchanan, upon
the Slavery question aud the constitutional
rights of the South, is one of the characteristics
of his long pablo career. 1t may be safely as
serted that no other Northern statesman Of
whatever political party, has been so uniformly
true in these regards. Last year the challenge
was rendered in every part of the South to the
opposition, TO find one single instance where
Mr.. Buchanan had voted or spoken against the
South. Notwithstanding he had taken part in
all the great questions and controversies since
1920, and in Congress, and in his seat, too, near
ly all the time, still his record was found to be
singularly in accordance with the Constitution,
especially when the rights of the South were In
volved. So firmly convinced were the people
of the South, after months of the severest in
vestigation to which the public life of any man
IN this country ever was subjected, that they
voted for him with unanimity unparalleled in
the history Of our Presidential elections.
His Inaugural on the 4th of March was SO
sound, 30 full of the clesrest, truest constitu
tional sentiments, that the conservative men
everywhere responded at once to it. 1t dis
sipated the objection on the score of Squatter
Sovereignty with many who had conceived that
As the only obstacle to their support of him in
the Presidential election. 1t was a document
so plain, 50 frank, so patriotic SO fair and Just
TO every section, that Constitution-loying cit.
zens could but endorse and applaud. Alike
creditable to their patriotism, intelligence, aud
honor, some of the prominent supporters of Mr.
Fillmore did not hesitate to range themselves
upon the side of the only National party in the
country, led on by President Buchanan, with
his Inaugural as the chart of principles That
Inaugural only reiterated the opinions which
Mr.. Buchanan had always held, and without
a. If, Al =
out of it, at home and abroad. Nothing has
occurred since to alter his decided position in
a single point, let the opposition misrepresen
as they may.
The instructions to Gov. Walker contain
nothing obnoxions or violative of the principle
of the Nebraska Kansas bill. They do not CO.
incide With the declarations of the Governor il
has Inaugural, or in his Topeka speech. They
simply look to protecting the bona fde citizens
in their franshise against all interference wher
the Constitution is submitted, if the Convention
should elect to submit it. Mr.. Buchanan I'm
derstood too well the real meaning and intent
of the Kansas act, and too well appreciated hit
position as the President of the United States
70 violate his duty in the premises. In view
too, of the unanimous support of the South
last year, he was not so silly as to commit the
blunder which has been rung upon him now
for several months.
His late letter to the New England politico
ecclesiastics enabled him to put on record
again the soundest sentiments, while it afforded
him an opportunity to rebuke those oficiou.
Black Republicans. Whatever may be though
of the propriety of deferring so much to theil
wishes as to reply to them, no true conservative
or Southern man can but admire the ground
he then enunciated, in such plain, strong, IN
mistakable language. 1t will be seen, by tn,
extract we subioin, that he holds the position
that Slavery existed in Kansas under the Con
stitution of the United States, independent o
local lao. This point, he says, has at las
been finally decided by the highest tribuna
known to our laws" Then he expresses as
constituent show it could ever have beer
seriously doubted" Then look at the predi
cate-what right has one section to attemp
TO exclude another from equal participation in
territory obtained by the blood and treasure
of both? What better Southern or constitu
tional ground, than that our common Con
stitution recognises the right of property il
men, in the African slave as he exists at the
South Let the late expressions of Mr.. Buchan
ans sentiments shame his Southern opponents
as well as the Black Republican fanatics:
"Slavery existed at that period, and still ex
lists in Kansas, under the Constitution of the
United States. This point has at last beer
finally decided by the highest tribunal known
10 our laws. How it could ever have beer
seriously doubted, is q mystery. If q con
federation Of sovereign States acquire new
Territory at the expense of their common blood
and treasure, surely one set of the partners car
nave no right to exclude the other from it,
endowment, BY prohibiting them from taking