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I hare sworn upon the Altar of God, etcrnfclJUostllUy tKBTery form .oiljj'f w?y aver the. Mind of Muu ThoniM Jeflmon
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
Volume VI. BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1843.
Number 40
(OMJIBIt
OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT
Opposite .St. Paul's Cnuncii, Main-st
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POLITICAL.
TO T11E PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
Fellow Citizens :
The Convention which has thia day as.
scmbled, meets tp.dYscliarge a. duty, of the
mbsl impressive, and monicntuous character.
Representing the, wishes of nearly the en
tire democracy of Pennsylvania, on a ques
tion so vitally important to the friends of
democratic principles in every section of the
country the question qf a candidate for the
next Presidency ,it' becomes us to urge with
all t)ie farce tfhich the oepasion demands,
the often expressed wishes ,of the people of
a state which has formed so important, so'
disinteiested, and sn effective an aid in the
repeatedly glorious achievements of the de
mocratic arms. The voice of the smallest
commonwealth, in our. cenfederacy, coming
at "the expjessnp of a sovereign slate, has
ever recaived ihe most respectful considera
,tjpn. Nor Is iibelieved that the usage will
bo departed front in the case of ll'C glorious
'old Keystone. Respect for her rich, inex
haustible, and inestimable resources her
Important geographical position her hon
est, enterprising and intelligent people the
clotious memories Which are tevived in the
history of her brave and great men of past
days will strengthen the expression ofher
citizens on any of the great questions W?nch
asitat'e the country. And when this ex
pression is made with that calm, undistur
bed, and conciliatory spirit, whioh should
ever distinguish the discussions, of tho
members of our democratic family when
the facts are laid before the country without
abuse of any of the statesman now urged
forward by their friends in various parts of
the country, as candidates for ihe Presiden
cyan appeal, thus aistained and thus ad
vocated, will be certain to meet with a fair
reception from the iemocracy of the other
parts of the Union.
Will it be urged that we are thus giving
undue importance to one slate that .wo are
presenting a ocacandidate to the suffrages
of the National Convention? Yet these
nrn nrmlmpnls which mlB It be Utgeil, aS
" o . "
we)l in relation to South Oarolina.to Mass
srliiisnitp. to New "iork. to Viietnta, to
Kentucky, as to Pennsylvania. All can
didates, are of necessity Iocsd at the start.
We aie all promt of Virginia, as theauthor
of much that is great and good in our politi
cal history; and although Virginia has given
five Presidents to the Union, yet Pennsyl
vania never objected to the repeated nomi
riaijon of Virginia's sons for the highest of
fices in the gift of the nation, that Virginia
did not deserve a monopoly of these public
honors. Never ws il alleged lhat we in
Pennsylvania had statesmen as great as
those of the Old Dominion that Pennsyl
vania wns more effective, in ihe ca'uso of
popular ri'ehts than Virginia lhat our soil
was, richer our position more Important, to
our claims 'greater? No! The response
whfch'Pennsylvinia made was in the demo
crat'm majorities'wliich she gave at the pnls
at'everv political contest, during a period o
more than forty years I Why.then, should
the first claim of Pentfsylvania her first
seriousahd powerful appeal to the justice
and magnanimity of net sis.ter stales be
discouiaged by an argument which she has
never raised against her sister states T
II ii t it is not only on (he broad and im
pregnable fuuhdatinn of (he claims of Penn
sylvania, that the present representatives ul
the people of this commonwealth base their
appeal to the whole democracy of tho Uni
on. The candidate in whom these ol-iims
are embodied tlio man through whom these
clai ns it is hoped will be res period is one
knoton to the whole country. and eminent
ly worthy of the support of the democracy
of the whole catlntry. The name of
JAMES BUCHANAN is not confined to
his native state, ilis friends are not limited
(o (ho disinterested democratic yeomanry of
Pennsylvania; but wherever the princtp'es
of democracy are understood and apprccia't.
ed, ihe name of JAMES BUCHANAN is
as well known, as his virtues as a man, his
honesty as a politician, and his services as
a democrat, are enthusiastically admitted.
Among the hardy and daring settlers of the
West, he is spoken of in terms' of familiar
gratitude as, the cajly and eloquent advocate
of pie-em ption rights, against'the power of
fcdeial eloquence, and federal persecution.
On the New J'ork frontier he is regarded
as the manly and featess enemy of the hu
miliating tergiversation; nf those who, with
all the right on their side, permitted the
blood of outraged innocence to go linaver.g-
ed,and would have, been rejoiced to instruct
oi r courts to pronounce fi, verdict in favor
of Uritish marauders. In Main he is ap
plauded as the unflinching statesman who,
even for peace, would noti see his country
dishonored by a tame tmrrender of
our tearilory mid inherent rights, to a go
vernment whose towering ambition and love
of dominion had just been rebuked by the'
opportune interposition of our representa
tive at the French court. In Michigan the
lioblo .effort nC Mn DccirAn..si,-1n loasC In.
favor of , the admission of that state into the
confederacy an effort distinguished by the
advocacy of the right of popular government
in its broadest, most universal sense will
lung be remembered to his honor. In Rhode
Island the friends of free suffrage regard
him as one of their most eloquent advocates
at a time loo, when the tempest or persecu
tion would have swept thenv from existence
and when the dungeons of the landholders
and Royal chartists were used to frighten
them into submission.. In the South, the
clear and perspicuous, and profound expo
sitions of Slate rights, by James Buchanan
aro recorded among the productions of their
ablest expounders. Each of these separate
acts is wed known 10 every section of the
rountty, and each, in rapid succession, has
won the applause of the democracy of the
country. J lies alone, without enumerat
ing the many other services he has rendered
to the people, and to the cause of populai
principles, are sufficient to show, that a
mong all our democratic statesmen, there is
no one whose course has been mure gener
ally known, nr more generally admired.
Triey will also suffice tu show how far his
pretensions are not based on locul consider
ations alone.
The example of nearly ,all our nomina
vindication
vjrjue, or patriotism, or taten s.
in the person of the several distinguished
individuals who have filled the Executive
Chair of tho Nation.
Thus have been honored the sublime and
high souled qualities of the immortal
Washington the liberal apd effective re
publicanism of Jeffekson ihe profound
wisdom and pure patriotism of -,Mad1son
the stern virtues and darine courage of
Jackson. These are bright examples , in
our histbryjand they will ever remain mon
uments alike of the gratitude and the ega
city of the American people, Y,ei.when;a
great Slate supeiadds to her own claims,
based on the long and faithful .and undev'iBl
ing adherence of her people o the princi
pies of democracy, apd rendered powerful
by her position, her resouices, her, popula
lion, the irrosistatjle claims of the man she
presents, we might, well suppose that the
nomination made, under such ciicumstancer
would not be ineffectual before the American
neoplo, Pennsylvania is this insUnce I
lions for toe Piesidency, is the
of valor,, or
Read over the list of Republican States
and whsreis the one Whose career has been
more steady, more self sacrificing, more
effective in the. democratic cause? Hei
history is one that leflccis honor equally
upon herself and her country her states
men and her soldiers have contributed to
many of the most glorious events in our
annals. Her prowess was signally exhibit
ed iq the war. of the Revolution, in nearly
all the struggles of our infunt .people; and
also on tho Northern frontier, on the shores
of the Chesapeake, and on the ocean in the
war of 1812. Her civic fame is equally
honorable to her. The name of her Penn
has itself established for her, the character
of peace and humanity.
Pennsylvania has been also contributed
(6 Art arid to Science, some of their
proudest triumphs. 'Pennsylvania is the
Slate of the lightning tad and the steam
boat.' Such names as Franklin, and Ful,
ton & Riltenhouse.are not the productions of
every centniy, and wo in Pennsylvania
rejoice to know,' that the first spent almost
I. is entire life in Pennsylvania, and two
last were the offspring of our noble, coin,
mnn we'jlih.
The, position of Pe'nnsylvania( is one
that is beautifully typified in Ier distin
guished Buchanan in the national legisla
ture. In his own expressive language.
her Democracy holds the balance with
steady judgment rfnd enlightened patriotism
between the opposite extremes of consnla
lion and disunion' repeling, on the one
hand, the meretricious advances of nionied
prostitution, and on the other, keeping
down' the impulsive excitements that arise
from the question of slavery. Herself one
of the very first to abolish slavery, and pc.
CHDVimr'a position, ga !.,......'...--.u:-
instilution and its misguided enemies, she
has ever thrown her weight of rharacier and
counsel and position with signal success on
the side of tho country. This position has
been admirably represented in the national
councils by Mr. Buchanan. His profound
disquisitions on the doctrines uf state rights,
and his consistent opposition to the mad
dened excitement of fanatical zeal, while
pursuing an imaginary evil, regardless of
the very existence of our country and our
constitution, have become memorable in
our political history, and have given his
name a warm place, (not only, among his
ftnnntrymen in that region which' he has
befriended) hut tvtry where else, in the
effecttonsof all friends of the country.
Pennyelvenia thus stands as a barrier he
tween the North and, the South, and her
gigantic interposition has always been fell
with effect, to her disgrace and contusion of
ihosc who plotted out common downfall in
the name of philanthropy'.
Patiently and even willingly, has this
great Slate borne the burdens of the democ.
ratio party. Seronu, in population only, to
all the rest, sho has seen the honors and the
distinctions of the government borne away
by others, and seemed to know no duty but
the dulv of compliance, .She has on all
occasions sustained the democratic nomina
lions for the highest otlices in the govern
ment, and her support has always be,en
necessary 'to insure the success of the dein
ocratic candidates. To her, the post of
obedience was the post of honnr;and, though
in other places disaffection might reign, the
spirit of self denial, which always animates
the democracy of Pennsylvania, has preser
ved her in the path of allegiance to- (he
party. What has been there wardof this patri
otio diainterestedness, Nothing, but thethauks,
of those who carried away the honora of
tho government? Nothing, but the approv
al of those Who rejoice 10 see the submissive
sprit which alWays actuated Pennsylvania,
While they could not but condemn tho easy
good nature which mrde this great rmnrnun
wealth" yield soTeatlily her claims to others.
Tho man presented to the country as a
candidate for the Presidency by the greal
state, so'long anu cotuty negiecieu, is ine
appnibriafe repieseiitati've of Pennsylvania.
Calm iu'denafe, safe and steady h his ptin
ciples, and strong and overwhelming in his
in commanding the respect and admiration
of his countrymen.' He has occupied a pnsi
lion in Congress uf pre eminent distinction
His defences and illustrations of democratic
doctrine?, powerful in ilieir eloquent aim
plicity, and convincing l-y iheir earnest
sincerity, have always caused his felhm
citizens to feel proud of having such a repre
sentative In the loftiest legislative body ol
the world. Among the foremost in the
front rank of democratic champions,
JAV1LS BUCHANAN is a statesman thai
Pennsylvania presents, with proud confi
deuce to her sister states, as her candidate
for the Presidency.
The name of Mr. Buchanan has been so
intimately connected for the last twenty
years with the diplomatic and legislative
hlslury of the government.that it is unneces
sary to.8prcad, in detail the vatious acts of
his public life or his high qualifications for
the first office in the gift of freo people.
From tho lime lhat he, marched. as a volun
teer o Baltimore during the last war, until
the present moment; the caidinal dhject ol
his l.fe, has been the prosperity and, hap,
piness' of'tlic people of Amerjca, and we,
who are his immediate fellow citizen?,
believe and know that his' administration ol
the government, would ho characterised by'
the same 'untiring devotion to the , interests
of our beloved country.
In the Senate of which he lias been a
most distinguished member for the last'
-ighl years, he has uniformly opposed the
bunk and a Bank of the U Slates a profuse
expenditure of the public revenue or the
creation, of an unnecessary public debt.
a. government bank of discount, circulation
and deposiie under the British name o
an Exchequer;, Jhe substitution op paper !
money inr ine consuiiiuuuai uuircimj, gum
and silver coin;,'tho surrender of ,M Lend
upon the insulting demand of opium-selling
England; and an unjust distribution of an
essential part of the public revenue alike.to
the states of this confederation. He sus
tained ihe honor of the nation by his unan
swerahly demonstration of the right of each
state to punish a foreign inurdetcr, who in
time of peace, kills an American citizen
upon its own soil, although American Sec
retary of Slate had basely surrendered ii
upon a throat, after threo days deliberation'
His masterly expositions of our unques
tamable title to the North Eastern boundary
line, were upheld by the decisions ol'Cin.
gress, and he deserves high honor for his
opposition to a treaty; which gave a large
portion of American territory to a foreign
government.
The following sketch, coming from those
who know him best, and have known him
longest;' will serve to place before the peo
pie of the country; a , brief memoir of
statesman, who is treasured in their ardent
afffctions and who is now presented as the
candidate of democratic Pennsylvania for
the Presidency.
Mr. BUCHNA'S first appearance in
public life was in 1814, a short lime after
the capture of Washington by the British.
The highhanded and daring procceeding
lighted up a
'But it.wjll be seen that Mr. BitchanmV
active fnondohip in beholf of his country
did nnt stop here He was elected ifi Ocj
tuber of 1814 to the Legislature of Pennsy
lvania fmm the county of Lancaster. Hero
the some fearless and patriotic spi rit ;dislin-'
guished his career. An, attact was . threa
tened against the city of Philadelphia.-The
General Goernment was nearly reduced to
a state bf bankruptcy, and could scarcely
raise. sufficient money to maintain the re
gular troops on the remote frontiers of tho
country. Pennsylvania wes obliged to
rely upon' her own energies for her defence,
and the people were ready to do their, ut
most in the cause. Two plan; were pro
posed in the Legislature. The one -was
what was called. 'The Conscription Bill,'
and similar to that which hail been rejected
by Congress, by Which it was proposed to
divide the white male inhabitants of' the
State above the age of eighteen year? frito
classes of twenty-two men each, and to
designato one man, from the members be
tween the ages IS and 45 of each class, who
hould serve one year, each class being
(impelled to raise a man not exceeding
$200, as a bounty to the conscript.. This
army was to be paid and maintained at, tho
flame off patriotism which
pervaded the whole, country. A publio
meeting was called in Lancaster for the
purpose of adopting measures to obtain vol
unteers to March for the defence of Balti
more' On that occasion Mr. Buchanan ad
dressed his fellow citizens in a speech of
great spirit, in favor of a .vigorous protec
tion of the war, which he followed up by
registering his name as a volunteer among
a company of other young&patriol'tc hearts:
A company of draguond was formed on the
spot, of which the late Judge' H. Shippen
was elected Captain, They marched to
Baltimore, and served under the command
of Major Charles Stcrret Ridgely.untll they
. ii i . i ni i
w ere ttnnoriniy oiscnargeu. i n ear.iy
stand of Mr. Buchanan in favor of the late
wiar, will serve to show what his feelings
U.t.l.-, ,,.., ...A-a n, lima luliAll fllA f-nillt.
expense of "the Slate, and its estimated
con would have been between three &Jone-
lialf millions of dollars per annum. Tho
officers were appointed by the Goverpor.by
and with the consent of Hie Senate. -The
other plan was to raise six, regiments. under
the, authority of the state, io serve for three
years, or during the war, and to pass jeffi
cient volunteer and militia laws.
During the discussion of these two plant
Mr. Buchanan-took au active, and highly
patriotic stand.
IJdnrig tlieri8be ,-,-.fltii.- '7mcbv "inert
Congress have 'deserted us li. our yim f
need; ihereis no alternative, bu.. ejtier
protect ourselves by someefficierit'meaku.f-(
or surrender up that independence w'nich
has been purchased by the blood of our
forefathers. No Aro"lcar cn" hesitate
which of these alternatives ought to be ad
opted The.invading enemy must be ex
pelled. from our shores; he must be laugh
to respect ttie" rights of freemen.
Mr. Buchanan opposed the Conscript
hill, because of lis too palpable injustice.
Speaking of this measure he said. 'This
law is calculated to be very unequal in lie
effects. Whilst it will operate as a Con-1
scription Law upon the poor, man. in the
western parts of the Stale, whose property
is not in danger, it will be but a militia law
with the rich man in the eastern part uf the
State whose property it contemplates de.
fending. The individuals in each.class.sre
to be sure, to pay the two lufndred !ollarit
in proportion to their comparative wealth, as
a bounty to the substitute ur conscript. It
will therefore be just in its operation
. , : i-
amnng ttlO inuiviuuais L-uuij'iiaiiig eacu
cla'is, But how will it be with respect to
entire i lasses? Tweniy-two men in th 1
citv of Philadelphia, whose, united fortunes
would be worth S2.000.000 would be com
pelled to piy no more than Iwenty-two
men in the western country who may not
be worth the "one thousandth part of that
try needed the strong arms and stout hearis. patriotism
of her citizens. . Hundreds of his political
opponents in Lancaster city will bear lesti-
sum.
After all,' ho continues, 'I confess that
in my opinion, an efficient volunteer atid
militia bill; together with tho troops which
can be raised under tho voluntary enlistment
bill, would be amply sufficient for the de
fence of the city of Philadelphia. a 1
need not be afraid to trust to the patriotism
or courage of the people of this, country
ivhen thev aro invaded. Let them have
pood militia officers, and they will soon bo'
equal to any troops in the worldf Have
not the volunteers and.milita tindef ' lQen.
Jackson covered themselves with glory?
Have not oil; volunteers and militia ;on tho
Niagara Frontier fought in such a manner
as to merit the gratitude of lite naliont Is
it to tie supposed that tho same spirit , of
sdvoeaey of them, he his ever succeeded jmony to ihJ fads juit named.
would animate the name who ,
is drugged out by a conscription law to
defend his country, that tho volunteer or
militii man would fstll
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