Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-09-29


removed other candidates from the fieid Cor so
we thought); and Cass men, Dallas men, and
Buchanan men in PENNSYLVANIA made comm on
cause, and repaired to Cincinnati for the pur-
pose of putting this gentleman in nomination.
When we reached there, the first indication
that appeared was, that the extreme South had
resolved upon Mr.. Buchanan's annihilation
They saw in him the light of a moderate Con-
servative sentiment. They saw in him. for the
first time, public man who having been ab
sent from the country, therefore disconnected
from the exciting revalries of the day would
be compelled from his position, ,ot do Justice to
Northern feelings, and extingnish sectional
ism. They did not trust to him on the issue
OF the day. He was not good enough Kansas
and Nebraska man for them and they fought
us, as the history Of that Convention will show,
for five long days with bitterness and ami
mostly such political Conventions can
scarcely rival. But he was the only man to
rescue the Democratic party from defeat. He
was the only man TO prevent the election of a
Republican,. and the only man who could car
ry pennsylvania; for upon the contest of that
State did the entire tide of battle turn. From
your own State similar disposition was man.
ifested in certain quarters. In this quarter,
now, where this disease of Lecomptonism
RACES the most violently, and where the affec-
tion for the Administration is indulged the
most ardently, Mr.. Buchanan received nothing
but GOODNESS and contempt-but we nominated
him and returned to Pennsylvania for the first
time joyous in having achieved our long cher
ished wish. And when we returned there we
came with the full and confident hope that there
would be an end to the difficulty in electing
man whose nature was believed to be so con-
servativc, whose character was believed 20 be
so prudent, and whose entire record had been
national and constitutional. At that time
believe the Republicans themselves abandon.
4 FL,
ination as their death-blOw. They looked a.
round in vain for a candidate but events (and
there is no necessity for spinning out this de-
tail to greater lengthy brought on a series
of cxcitements such as we have never Witness
cd in our country, and by the middle of Aug
ust, 1896, the campaign was more than doubt
iui. Why did it become doubtful Because
the public opinion of the n North had been stir
red to its deepest depths by the cXcesses of
the Pro-Slavery minority, backed by Federal
power IN the Territory of Kansas. That was
the only question. 1t was not the Ostcnd Con-
ference, it was not the Pacific Railroad it was
nothing but The single issue-Shall the people
of Kansas be permitted to dispose of their
own affairs in their way Shall they vote
upon their domcstic institutions, not Slavery
alone, but upon all their institutions, ,unmolest-
ed by the bayonets of the Administration on
the one hand, and the on-slaughts of bands of
foreign maraudcrs on the otheri No man felt
more deeply in reference to Kansas than did
Mr.. Buchanan. No man talked more freely
about it. In his letter of acceptance of the
nomination and in the speech he delivered to
the Committee upon it in his parlor at Lancas
ter, cat which / happened to be presently he
laid stress upon the great principle that the
will of the majority should prevail. Why, he
said TO me Thousand times THE South r:Hsf
vote for me, and the North must he secured; ;
aud the only way TO secure the North is to
convince those gentlemen that when get in
the Presidential chair | will do right with the
people in Kansas. / am now Go Years of age.
have reached that time of life when | cannot
have any ambition for reelection and If !
have, the only way 10 secure 1t IS to he strong
with my own people ut home. ] witched this
struggle from my retirement in London /
have what | conceive to he the mistakes
of others. / am not responsible for the Adj
miuistration of President Pierce; therefore,
| will inaugnratc new system Will show
to those gentlemen that a Pennsylvania Presi-
dent will stand firm to the pledges of a Penn
sylvania gentleman and Pennsy ylvana Dem
ocrat'' Now, feiiow-citizcns, in that letter of
acceptance, if you will refer TO tit is not
necessary for me to produce 1t here-you will
find that he stated distinctly that the people OF
the Territory of Kansas should be protected in
the sacred right of suffrage, unawcd by any
influence whatever, and that the will Of the
majority should prevail.
We went into the canvass. 1t tell to my lot
TO be at the head of the State Democratic
Committee of Pennsylvania. All my afec-
tions were in that State; all the emotions of
my nature, ply steal and mental, were enlisted
on the side OF the candidate she had presen-
ted. His whole career, his character, my
personal attachment and the sincere devotion
felt for him, his family, his cause, and all
about him made me so anxious for him to
succeed. that indulge III no vain expression
of speech when 1 say to you that | would
have forfeited my life for him. Ny devotion
for him knew no bounds. Day and night,
night and day, | toiled in that campaign
And there are those here to-day from my own
State who will bear witness to the fact when
| say that all my own resources, all my for
tune, my every exertion, every aid that could be
enlisted was enlisted to produce the final re-
suit. And above all others in that campaign
was the great principle of popular sovereign
ty. GApplanse.l That was the standard which
marshalcd the way. That was the shibholeth
that was the cry. From Lake Erie to
the Delaware River-from Pittsburgh to Phil
adelphia-in every village and town in the
State-everywhcye that could induce pen
to write, or a tongue to speak, that was the
theme upon which those pens wrote and those
tongues spoke. Why, gentleman, Mr.. Bu-
chanan had no confidence or reserve upon this
subject. He was public, he WAS open, he was
unreserved in his declarations to rybody.
He sent to the tFaduced John Hickman, in an
adjoining county. He told him. through his
friends and agents; ssYou, Mr.. Hickman,
occupy peculiar relation you voted for the
Topeka Constitution you denounced the
Kansas \ Nebraska bill you were opposed to
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise line ;
the Democratic party of yonr district have
nominated you; the Republicans like yeu ;
thew believe in you. Now, want you to take
the stump and go before your people and
nIedce me, James Buchanan, that intend
standing by, and if necessary dying by this