But two full sets of Delegates appeared from New York, and claimed their seats; these were _Hards_ and _Softs_--Pierce and _anti_-Pierce--Nebraska and _anti_-Nebraska--pro-Slavery and _anti_-Slavery, _Filibustering Foreign Catholic Democrats_! Being unable to agree among themselves, and the Convention not wishing to _offend_ either of these wings of the "great Harmonious Democratic Party," they rejected both delegations! This was having a bad effect, as a portion of each delegation was out of doors cursing the majority, and making threats as to what they would do. So the Convention reconsidered their cases, and ADMITTED BOTH DELEGATIONS TO SEATS. They then progressed "harmoniously," much after the style of a rickety old cart on a hill-side, drawn by a balky horse, whose driver curses him when at fault, and curses him when faultless.
Frequently the scenes of confusion and excitement were alike disgusting and alarming. The friends of Dougla.s.s, Pierce, and Buchanan, were alike bitter, and each disposed to ruin the party if they should fail to get their man nominated. The anti-slavery portion of the Convention were much incensed against the South for the "_lam-basting_" given to _Senator Sumner_ by _Representative Brooks_, for words spoken in debate.
One of Buchanan"s men boasted that the a.s.sault of Brooks on Sumner had gained _twenty_ votes for "Old Buck!" And others of the Buchanan wing, out of doors, were stating that they had reliable evidence that "Old Buck" did not approve the a.s.sault, while Pierce and Dougla.s.s did! We have no doubt that this sort of influence, added to Buchanan"s _known hostility to slavery_, secured for him the nomination. And, as if desirous to atone for the sin against the South of nominating an old _Anti-Slavery Federalist_, they came into a Southern State, Kentucky, and selected a young and inexperienced politician, Mr. Robert C.
Breckenridge, for the Vice Presidency. As Breckenridge is brave, and has challenged his man for a _duel_, they can now turn about and appeal to the Church-going folks to sustain their ticket _for what_ they implored them to repudiate the Whig ticket in 1844! Besides, Breckenridge _approves_ the basting of Sumner by Brooks, and this will _offset_ Buchanan"s opposition to that _Southern Democratic measure_!
Breckenridge has another virtue, which aided in securing his nomination.
Though the nephew of those _able Know-Nothing Presbyterian Preachers_ of that State, he has the independence to come out in opposition to them, and the insulting claims set up by _Protestants generally_, and to advocate and defend the Roman Catholics.
The "rich and racy" scenes that came off in the Convention, we will leave our several friends from Nashville, who were there as reporters in the Convention for the American papers, to set forth. With more truth than poetry, the "unterrified Democracy" convened at Cincinnati can say, "Our army swore terribly in Flanders!" And how could it have been otherwise? The Convention was large--composed of several hundred delegates, drawn together from all sections of the country, East, West, North, and South--"held together by the cohesive power of public plunder"--and representing every variety and shade of opinion known and held under the much abused but comprehensive name of Democracy! Nor was the moral and personal character of the Convention less mixed and many-colored than was its politics.
In looking over the proceedings of this coalition and combination of Bogus Democrats, Foreign Pauper Advocates, and anti-Protestant lovers of Religious Liberty, we have looked in vain for the names of distinguished Tennesseeans, who ought to have been second best, to say the least of it, in the ballots for a nomination! It was that Aaron V. Brown, "the son of a now sainted father," was put in nomination for the office of Vice President, by a Mr. Brown, supposed to be his nephew; but making no run at all, he was taken off the track instantly--rubbed down and salted away!
But Andrew Johnson, who was to have been nominated for the first office within the gift of the American people and no mistake, (!) was not even named, and some say he was not even thought of for the position. We had supposed that there existed among the leaders of the self-styled Democracy, a determination to doom to utter extinction the light that has guided the children of Political Reform in Tennessee, and throughout the known world, and now we know it! The opposers of intellectual emanc.i.p.ation, of "Jacob"s Ladder Democracy," so superior to Christianity, have triumphed at Cincinnati, and trampled under foot, with impunity, the soul-stirring doctrine of "converging lines." The next steps with these "enemies of righteousness" will be the rack, the gibbet, and a second edition of the infernal inquisition! Will the friends of the "White Basis" Governor of Tennessee tamely surrender their dearest rights to these Cincinnati _crusaders_, without a single struggle? Will they allow the saddle of Federal domination to be quietly thrown on their backs? Ye Greene county delegates forbid it!
But Johnson is doomed to an inglorious retirement from public life. He can console himself with the reflection, that rank only degrades--wealth only impoverishes--ornaments but disfigure him! The man who discovered that the Bogus Democracy of the nineteenth century leads fallen sinful man to the throne of G.o.d, needs no office to elevate him. These Johnson Democrats enjoy the pure religion of Democracy--a religion which enters the closet--pours forth its supplications in private, feeds the poor, clothes the naked--inflames not the prejudices of Protestant sects--is modest and una.s.suming in its demeanor--is charitable and kind to the persecuted and pious Catholics--bears with the infirmities of Foreign Paupers--is not ambitious and designing, seeking to accomplish vast schemes by doubtful means!
While Old Federal Buck was nominated on the seventeenth ballot, after much excitement, wrangling and abuse, young Breckenridge, whose only merit is his having challenged the Hon. Francis B. Cutting, of New York, to fight a duel, two years ago, was nominated on the second ballot. The ballot for a candidate for the Vice Presidency resulted as follows:
John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, 55 John A. Quitman, of Mississippi, 59 Linn Boyd, of Kentucky, 33 Benjamin Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, 11 Aaron V. Brown, of Tennessee, 29 Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, 31 Thomas J. Rusk, of Texas, 2 Wm H. Polk, of Tennessee, 5 J. C. Dobbin, of North Carolina, 13
A second ballot was entered into, when Hon. John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, was unanimously chosen.
Tennessee, in voting for a Presidential candidate, voted SIX times for Pierce, and EIGHT times for Dougla.s.s, and never came over to old Federal Buck until they could do nothing for Pierce or Dougla.s.s. Buck seems to have been a fill for Tennessee! But now, the Tennessee Democracy say:
"With hounds and horn, At rosy morn, We _Bucks_ a hunting go!"
Well, we Americans will get after Old Buck"s venison too, and between this and November next, many will be the steak we shall eat out of his old Federal carca.s.s. It is venison worthy of the chase, for
----"Finer or fatter Ne"er roamed in the forest, Or smoked in a platter."
So--
"Hi, ho, Chevy, Hark away, hark away, tantivy, Here rests the burthen of my song, This _time_ a stag must die."
But Democracy have commenced their old game of brag, by puffing their ticket as a national and conservative ticket, the very thing they denied. Now let us look into the soundness and nationality of the HEAD of the ticket. We have before us a copy of a work published in 1839, by Robert Mayo, M. D., ent.i.tled, "Political Sketches of Eight Years in Washington, in four parts." This work has gone through various editions, having been published by Fielding Lucas, Jr., of Baltimore; Garret Anderson, of Washington; J. R. Smith, of Richmond; Carey, Hart & Co., of Philadelphia, and by others in New York and Boston. On page 38 of this work, which Mr. Buchanan has never contradicted, he is reported to have denounced the visions, patronage, and corruptions of the Democratic Administrations, while he, Buchanan, was a member of the Old Federal Party.
On page 6 of this work, in the preface, the author says, in speaking of Buchanan before he turned Democrat:
"The declarations of some of these new disciples of Democracy in past times are striking enough. MR. BUCHANAN of PENNSYLVANIA, while he acted in his true character, DECLARED THAT IF HE HAD A DROP OF DEMOCRATIC BLOOD IN HIS VEINS, HE WOULD LET IT OUT! He put his royal declaration on paper, and it has risen up against him."
A recent brief memoir of Mr. Buchanan, put forth in Pennsylvania, states that he was elected to the Legislature in 1815, where he distinguished himself by those exhibitions of intellect which gave promise of future eminence. The Lancaster _Register_, published in the immediate vicinity of Mr. Buchanan"s residence, asks _by whom_ was he elected? and thus supplies the record for 1815:
a.s.sEMBLY.
For JAMES BUCHANAN, Federal 3051 " Molton O. Rogers, Democrat 2502
The memoir sets forth that Mr. Buchanan was elected to Congress in 1820, and that he retained his position in that body for ten years, voluntarily retiring.
The Lancaster _Register_ inquires if he were elected as a _Democrat_, and answers the inquiry by the following historical facts:
CONGRESS.
1820--James Buchanan, Federal 4642 " Jacob Hibsman, Democrat 3666 1822--James Buchanan, Federal 2153 " Jacob Hibsman, Democrat 1940 1824--James Buchanan, Federal 3560 " Samuel Houston, Democrat 3046 1826--James Buchanan, Federal 2760 " Dr. John McCamant, Democrat 2307 1828--James Buchanan, Jackson 5203 " William Hiester, Adams 3904
The Lancaster _Register_ then pursues its criticism as follows:
"On the 4th of July, 1815, Mr. Buchanan, when he was a candidate for a.s.sembly on the _Federal ticket_, delivered "an oration" in Lancaster, in which he showed his _love_ of Federalism and _hatred_ of Democracy, by attacking the Administration of James Madison. He said:
""Time will not allow me to enumerate all the other evils and wicked projects of the Democratic administration."
"And again, in the same oration, he said:
""What must be our opinion of an opposition whose pa.s.sions were so dark and malignant as to be gratified in endeavoring to blast the character and imbitter the old age of Washington?
After thus persecuting the saviour of his country, _how can the Democratic party dare to call themselves his disciples_?""
And who does not recollect, in Tennessee, with what force and effect JAMES C. JONES used to point out JAMES BUCHANAN as one of the _rank old Federalists_ who had come over to the Democratic ranks, and was battling with _Col. Polk_, side by side, while he was consuming half his time in abuse of the Federal party? When the Democratic candidate for Congress in this District, JULIUS W. BLACKWELL, charged _Federalism_ upon the Whig party, who does not recollect with what effect and spirit JOHN H.
CROZIER ran over the list of ODIOUS OLD FEDERALISTS, then fighting under the Democratic flag, among them naming out JAMES BUCHANAN? And will not the files of the KNOXVILLE POST, edited by Capt. JAMES WILLIAMS, show how he held up JAMES BUCHANAN and others as an _old Federalist of the first water_?
On the subject of _Slavery_ the memoir is not definite, and the Lancaster Register comes to its aid by publishing the following proceedings of a public meeting held in that city on the 23d of November, 1819:
"WHEREAS, the people of this State, pursuing the maxims and animated by the beneficence of the great founder of Pennsylvania, first gave effect to the gradual abolition of slavery by a national act, which has not only rescued the unhappy and helpless African within their territory from the demoralizing influence of slavery, but ameliorating his state and condition throughout Europe and America; and whereas, it would illy comport with those humane and Christian efforts to be silent spectators when this great cause of humanity is about to be agitated in Congress, by fixing the destiny of the new domains of the United States: therefore,
"_Resolved_, That the representatives in Congress from this district be and they are hereby most earnestly requested to use their utmost endeavors, as members of the National Legislature, to prevent the existence of slavery in any of the Territories or new States which may be created by Congress.
"_Resolved_, As the opinion of this meeting, that as the Legislature of this State will shortly be in session, it will be highly deserving of their wisdom and patriotism to take into their early and most serious consideration the propriety of instructing our representatives in the National Legislature to use the most zealous and strenuous exertions to inhibit the existence of slavery in any of the Territories or States which may hereafter be created by Congress; and that the members of a.s.sembly from this county be requested to embrace the earliest opportunity of bringing this subject before both Houses of the Legislature.
"_Resolved_, That, in the opinion of this meeting, the members of Congress who at the last session sustained the cause of justice, humanity, and patriotism, in opposing the introduction of slavery into the State then endeavored to be formed out of the Missouri Territory, are ent.i.tled to the warmest thanks of every friend of humanity.
"_Resolved_, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the newspapers in this city.
"JAMES HOPKINS, WM. JENKINS, JAMES BUCHANAN."
"The foregoing resolutions being read were unanimously adopted, after which the meeting adjourned. (Signed)
WALTER FRANKLIN, Ch"n.
"Attest--WM. JENKINS, Sec"y."
The "Perry County Democratic Press," for April 9th, 1856, an able paper published at Bloomfield in Pennsylvania, shows up the _Federal anti-slavery, anti-Democratic, turn-coat character_ of Mr. Buchanan, after this fashion:
JAMES BUCHANAN"S SOMERSETS.
"No man in the United States has turned his political coat as often as James Buchanan. He has espoused the principles of every party that has had an existence since the memorable Hartford Convention, and has been on all sides of political questions.
"A brief reference to his history will establish conclusively our a.s.sertions."
HIS FEDERALISM.