The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-08-03
President Buchanan and the Succession.


A recent article in the Pittsburgh Post,
bringing forward the name of the President
for denomination and election as the only
mode for quieting distractions in the Demo.
cratic party, is the subject of much COM
ment by the Press of all parties. We refer
to the subject with view, if possible, Of
putting at rest all such speculation. There
is no point upon which Mr.. Buchanan has
expressed his determination more freely
and unreservedly than his fixed purpose
under no circumstances TO be candidate
for re election 10 the Presidency; and We
are satisfied that there is none upon which
his miid is more unalterably made up. In
accepting the nomination of the Democratic
party in 1856 he took occasion TO say
'Under these circumstances, most cheer
fully pledge myself, should the nomination
of the Convention be ratified blythe people,
that all the power and influence 'constilu-
,ionally possessed BY the Executive shall
be exeried in firm but couoiliatory spirit,
during The single term Il shall remain in office, to
restore the same harmony among the sister
States which prevailed before this apple Of
discord, in the fopm OF slavery agitation had
been cast into ther midst, ,";agaiH, in his in :
augural at the time of entering upon the du.
ties of'his Office, he said: "Having 'detef-
mined not 10 become a candidate for re-.
election, ! shall have no motive 10 influence
my conduct in administering the Govern
ment, except the desire ably and faithfully
TO serve my country, and 10 live in the
grateful memory of my countYmen." Du-
ring the Presidents recent visit 10 North
Carolina, he avaied himself of the opportu.
nifty TO repeat, in The most emphatic man.
ner, this determination which he had so
early formed and SO formerly declared and
TO which he has SO firmly adhered. He an
nounced in one of his speeches in North
Carolina, when addressing the immediate
neighbors Of the late Nathaniel Macon, that
like tlrea own veneratet Macon, and inhu.
enced in a considerable degree by his ex.
ample, he had long since determined TO re-
tire from public life at or before the age of
three.score and ten; when he thought every
wise man ought TO desire TO pass the last
years of his liie-should kind Providence
prolong his days-in tranquility and retire.
ment, and in preparing for his last account;
that al The end of his term he woald have
completed his seventeen year, and that he
would return at that time to his quiet home
with far greater pleasure than he had enjoy.
ed in coming to Washington to enter on the
administration of The Government. Thus
has Mr.. Buchanan availed himself of every
opporsuai.y--both public and private-to
announce and ueiterate to the country his
fixed and irrevocable purpose 10 retire
from public life at the end of his present
presidential term and we feel fully author.
lied to declare that under no circumstances
will he consent TO be a candidate for re-
election. Whatever course the "Opposi-
tion" press may see proper to pursue here.
after on this subject, we trust that our Dem.
ocratic contemporaries will, in justice 10 the
known wishes and repeated announcements is
Of the President, unite with US in discour-
aging for the future, all speculations on the
subject And why should not Mr.. Buchau.
an desire to retire at the end of his present
term He will have devotedth bes: yea If
of long and and useful life in the service
of his country. He has been called tc
many positions of trust and sreponsbility
In all of Them he has done well. He will
leave behind him record Of which any
statesman and patriot might feel proud. He
will have accomplished the great desire o
his heart, so earnestly expressed in the ex
tract we have quoted from his letter of &C
ceptance. He will, indeed, have "restored
the same harmony among the sister States
which prevailed before this apple o
discord, in the form Of slavery agitation
had been cast into their midst" He enter
ed on the Presidency in the midst o
bitter sectional controversies. The storm
had reached its height, threatening tn,
peace of the country and the integrity %
the Union. He brought to the helm th,
strong arm of a statesman and stout heart o
patriot. True and faithful, firm and stead
fast, he has spoken quiet to distracted
people, and has before him now the brigh
prospect Of retiring to private life at tim,
OF universal peace, harmony and prosperity
Not only the domestic but the foreign poll
| CIV of his administration will have been at
tended with eminent success, and it will
only require the harmonious action Of thu
Democracy to insure 10 the country tn
election oil q successor pledged TO the sup
port of its principles Waskingiton Const,
tiition.
Two Prisoners, confined in the Jail of thi
county--Franklin Haas, committed for steal