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From the Bangor Evening News.
JAMES BUCHANAN A MYSTERY TO HIMSELF.
President Buchanan now says it is a mystery how anybody could over have doubted his president position on the subject of Slavery—that the Dred Scott decision is right, that the extension of Slavery is legal, and that it constitutionally exists, and Congress has no power to prohibit it in the Territories.
Below will be found a series of resolutions, drawn up and signed by Mr. Buchanan and others, and adopted at a public meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the year 1819. They are taken from the Lancaster Intelligencer of that year. “Consistency is a jewel; “ but all jewels are not equally bright or well set, and, by a figure of speech, have been sometimes located “in a swine’s snout.” Mr. Buchanan’s consistency will speak for itself:
“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 ameliorated 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 United States: therefore,
“Resolved, That the Representatives in Congress from this district be, and they are hereby, 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 its most zealous and strenuous exertions to inhibit the existence of Slavery in any one of the Territories or States which may hereafter be created by Congress; and that the members of the Assembly from this county be requested to embrace the earliest opportunity of bringing this subject before both Houses of the Legislature.
“Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the newspapers of this city.
JAMES HOAKINS.
WILLIAM JENKINS.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
The foregoing resolutions, being read, were unanimously adopted; after which, the meeting adjourned.
WALTER FRANKLIN, Chairman.
Attest: WM. JENKINS, Secretary.
