Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-06

paign-they looked to his nomination as then
death blow. They looked around in vain for q
candidate, but found none But there is no ne
cessity for spinning out these details to unnec-
essary length. Bet later, however, was brought
on a series Of excitements such as believe, were
never before witnessed in our country. By the
middle Of August the campaign became more
than doubtful And why did It become doubt
iul Because the people of the North had been
stirred: because the opinion of the North had
been stirred to its deepest depths, by the ex
cesses of the Pro-SlavcTy minority, backed by
the Federal power in the Territory Of Kansas
That was the only question. 1t was not the
Oslend Conference. 1t was not the Pacific
Railroad 1t was nothing but the single issue,
shall the people Of Kansas be permitted 70 dis
pose Of their own affairs In their own wayl Shall
they vote upon all their domestic Institutions,
not Slavery alone, but shall they vote upon all
their domestic institutions, unrnolested by the
bayonets Of the Administration on the one hand,
aud tie presence OF band Of foreign marauders
upon the other! No man felt more deeply in ref
eTence to Kansas than Mr.. Buchanan. No man
talked more freely about it. In his letter OF ac-
ceptanee, and in the speech which he delivered
TO the committee appointed by the National Con-
vention, to inform him of his nomination-and
he received them-he laid stress upon the great
principle, that the will of the majority of the
people of that Territory should prevail Why,
be said to me thousand times The South must
vote for me; 1t is Fremont or Buchanan; they
must 90 Tor me; the North must be secured,
and the only way to secure the North Is TO con-
vince them that when 90 into the Presidential
chair, viii do right to the people of Kansas
ut
that time Of life when have no ambition for a
reelection, or if have, the only way to secure
it. is TO be strong with my people at home.
have watched this struggle from my quiet re-
treat in London. l have seen what conceive
TO he the mistakes Of others. | am not respOn-
sible for the administration OF President Pierce;
therefore, l will inaugurate a new system; l
will show TO these gentlemen that Pennsyiva-
MA President will stand firm to the pledges Of
a Pennsylvania gentleman and Pennsylvania
DemOCrIt" Now, fellow citizens, in that letter
of acceptance, If you will refer TO tit is not
necessary for me to produce it 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, unawed by any in
fluenec whatever, and that the will the majority
should prevail.
We went into the canvass It fell to my lot
to be at the head of the State Democratic Com
mittee OF Pennsylvania. All my affections were
in that State; all the emotions of my nature,
physical and mental, were enlisted on the side
Of the candidate she had presented His whole
career, his character, my personal attachment
and the sincere devotion ielt for him, his fami-
ly, his cause. and all about him, made me so
anxious for him to succeed, that indulge in no
vain expression of speech when l say to you
that would hare forfeited my life for him. My
devotion for HIM knew no bounds. Day and
night, night and day, ! tOiled in tha. 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 fortune.
my every exertion, every aid that could be en-
listed, was enlisted to produce the final result.
And above all others in that campaign was the
great principle Of popular sovereignty. Zap
plause That was the standard which mar
shaled the way. That was the shibboleth-ihat
was the war cry. From Lake Erie TO the Del
aware River-from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia
in every village and town in the State-eve-
" where that l could induce pen to write, or a
tongue to speak, that was the theme upon which
those pens wrote and those tongues spoke
Why, gentlemen, Mr.. Buchanan had no conf
dence or reserve upon this subject. He was
public. he was open, he was unreseryed in his
declarations TO everybody He sent to the ira
duced John Hickman, in an adjoining county,
be told him through his friends and agents
you, Mr.. Hickman, occupy peculiar relation:
YOU voted for the Topeka Constitution; you de-
nounced the Kansas-Nebraskab bill; you were op-
posed to the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise line; the Democratic Party of your district
have nominated you; the Republicans ike you;
Hk.awH kaNrn 7 - tai
the stump, and go before your peope md pledge
me, James Buchanan, that intend standing by,
and if necessary dying by this principle OF Pop
ular Sovereignty For myself if l could de
seend TO the baseness of republisning private
letters, 1 might fill Z volume with similal
pledges from similar authority. Why, gentle
men, when the distinguished Secretary Of State,
Mr.. Cobb-who from having been supernne
Union man, has been converted into FIRE
eater, equal To Mr.. ChauoerJ nImseI-wneI
Mr. Cobb came into Pennsylvania, and ira.
versed our State from end to end, and from
County TO County, talking to delighted audiCn
ces all the time, what was the burden Of his
thcInei Why-Popular Sovereignty Il woult
take the Army and the Navy, Iwo1ld use eve
" power of the Federal Government, would
surround the Territory, but what the people o.
Kansas should vote, and by their vote the des
TIMES Of the future State should be decided
Whenever a Southern orator came into Penn
sylvania and called upon me, said to him -
Now, Sir, l have but one thing to say to you
we have but single thing before the people
every day is making the campaign more am
more doubtful; every day Is making the popula
feeling more and more intense Mr.. buchanan
himself feels that everything depends upon th'
prudence, the sagacity, and the spirit of con
ciliation by which this campaign is conducted
and for Gods sake take care what you sal
about Kansas; lease your violent Southern feel
ings at home; you must not come here tothreat
en-: you Governor Johston, and you Mr.. Scott
Of Richmond, and you Extra Billy Smith, ant
you Mr.. Secretary Floyd, all Of you, must re
member that If you lose this battle here, yoI
lose it altogether; it will be your loss, anS
therefore you must allow US TO manage It II
our way, And they did accede to that policy
without any hesitation, and gladly. There wa
no deception in that fight, al least so far as
was concerned. sowed the State with pri
vate letters and private pledges upon this ques
tion There is not County in Pennsylvani;
in which my letters may not be found, Amos
by hundreds, pledging Mr.. Buchanan, in hiI
name, and by his authority, to the full, cOmpieti
and practical recognition OF the rights Of th'
people of Kansas to decide upon their own al
fairs. [APplause-l
Gentlemen, he was elected. He formed hi
Cabinet He issued MS Inaugural Address
And here, at this point, let me say, that th'
public confidence, inspired by his nomination
in the Democratic Party, aud the apprehension
Of his election inspired In the Republican ranks
that public confidence in the man was renewed
and revived by the publication of his Inaugura
Address. The Republicans, many of them wh'
had voted for John c. Fremont, said, ave be
lieve in Mr.. Buchanan; if he stands by the doc
trines Of this Inaugural Address, we will stanC
by him" Now, had he done so, the Repubi
can and the American Parties, in my opinion
would have been e1tinguished; we should hav,
been one great, happy national family. Aitel
all, what the great mass Of the people in thu
country desire IS good Government EveTy
man in this country is not on Office
Nine out Of ten are disinterested in their rela
tons to this Government. and they are ready tc
f..-I Ionu u &. III 4