The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-05
THE MESSAGE-BUCHANAN AND
BRECKENRIDGE.


There is a remarkable similarity between the
tenor of the message and the speech of Mr.
Breckenridge delivered at Frankfort, as it re
CARDS the Slavery question. They make theii
appearance about the same time, they both af
feet greet GOODNESS and moderation of tone, anc
they arrive at precisely the same conclusions
as it regards Slavery in the Territories They
agree in taking the bred Scott decision as the
starting point and insist that shareholders have
the same right to move to the Territories with
their slaves that other citizens have to go with
their focks and herds. They agree in denying
that the Territorial Legislatures have the righ
to exclude Slavery; while Mr.. Breckenridge in
sists strongly, that if the rights of stakeholder
are not protected by the local Legislatures
Congress is bound to step forward and extend
to the institution the necessary support. Mr.
Buchanan intimates the same thing cautiously
but refers the shareholders, in the first place, tc
the courts for redress.
This coincidence of views between the Presi
dent and Vice President is remarkable in these
times of Democratic " turmoil. With the am
bilious views of the Vice President, it is hardly
probable that he would willingly consent to run
we are at a loss to understand the cause of the
apparent concert. The opinion is prevalent
that Mr.. Breckenridge will be the candidate Sc
lected by the Charleston Convention, as com
promise between the extremes represented by
Douglas on the one hand, and Wise on the other
Mr.. Buchanan is known to be inimical to botl
those gentlemen, and it is not improbable that
as between them, he would greatly prefer The
Vice President. But there is reason to believe
that, notwithstanding his declaration to the
contrary in his inaugural, he is laboring for &
denomination, and will leave no stone unturneC
to retain power in his own hands.
Besides taking high Southern ground, as i
regards Slavery in the Territories, the Presi
dent has several other cards, which he has
PLAYED with no little skill in his message. l
would be difficult to conceive Of platform bet
ter calculated to reconcile the conflicting inter
ests which will be represented in the Charles
| ton Convention, than the President has put to
gether in the message.
decision, and declares, with that decision, tina
neither Congress nor the Legislature of a Ter
ritory can exclude Slavery therefrom, and tina
the right of slaveholding in the Territories mus
be protected. This is ultra Southern, but tt
offset it, he is entirely opposed to the repeal O
the laws which prohibit the African slave trade
AS bait for the West, he insists upon Pa
ci6c railroad but the West is too intelligent Il
be imposed upon by it, since he has already in
dictated that his influence will be given in favo
! of road through Texas and Arizona.
This plank, therefore, is delusion, but it wa
designed for the West, and is distastefuI to tn
Virginia politicians.
To counterbalance this offence to Virginia
the President recommends the acquisition G
Cuba, Mexico, and Central America, by pun
chase or conquest, and thus holds out to tn
entire South the hope of the indefinite exten
sion of Slavery and to the North immense com
mercial advantages.
We doubt if any of the politicians of the pal
ty to which the President belongs will be abb
to patch up platform better adapted to tn
exigencies of the occasion than is afforded b
the message. The North is in the majority
but at Charleston the South will rule on tn
Slavery question, and will compel the party t
accept candidate at least as strongly commit
ted to Southern views as the President. Th
name of Douglas in that body will be fire
brand, and he will be spurned by the Sout
with Indignation.
The eccentricities of Governor Wise woult
alone be sufficient to extinguish his chances,
he were otherwise acceptable. But bis extrem
views on the Slavery question, and his Virgin
ian repugnance to Pacific railroad, and othe
measures of Western policy, will be as fatal t
him as popular sovereignty" has been to MI
Douglas.
On the whole, we shall not be surprised
the Charleston Convention renominates Nj
Buchanan, and we doubt if it could do bette
than to place Mr.. Breckinridge's name upo
the ticket with him. Possession is said to b
nine points of the law, and the present incum
bents have these decided advantages over the
rivals.