Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-06-02
Friday, June ,, 1S4S.
NATIONAL CONVENTION, AND ITS NOMI
NEES

J
Presidency and Vice Presidency. We have at least
two good reasons for il. We do not consider them
in the first place, legtinatey the candidates Of the
Democratic party of the naticn and under such cir
cunstances feeling absolved from all obligation to
support them in virtue of party requirements we
in the second place do not consider them at least
the Presidential nominee, as a fit representative Of
Democratic principle.
/ They are not legtimately the candidates of the
PARTY, because the convention which nominated
them, violated at the outset, essential principle
of democracy. When the duties of an agent are
we'll defined and he transcends the authority under
which he acts the principal is not bound by his IN
authorized acts No more should the democratic
party be bound by the acts OF their agents when
their well-dehned powers have been violated. We
contend that the adoption Of the two thirds rule was
such violation OF the fundamental principles OF
democracy, as at once absolved the democracy OF
the nation from any obligation 10 recognize the do
ings of the Convention. 1t is entirely immaterlaI
whose prospects, among the candidates, were bene-
fitted or injured by this rule, the principle is the
same. By it, the majority are made subject to the
minority The principle upon which our institu-
tons are based, and upon which democracy rests
and exists was entirely set aside and the opposite
principle the Ultimate OF which is absolute dictator
ship was substituted II simply taking the
principle of the Russian or Turkish government
for their rule Of action, instead Of that of our own.
! The south as we ali know, has property repre-
sentation in the national legislature, and IN our par
~ conventions; but this does not give them strength
sufficient TO accomplish at all times their ends,
and this two-thrds rule is an invention OF theirs By
the help OF northern doughaCes who were afraid or
ashamed to betray their constituents outnght by
which the power is thrown completely INTO their
hands They are an organized, united, and stub
born minority; the majority can do nothing, unless
il be to dissolve the ention as IN 1874 come
TO their terms and take the man OF their choosing
II does not seem TO us that the democracy OF the
north ought again to sanction this outrage by rec
ognizing the doings of this convention. II we do
let us acknowledge ourselves sold neck and heels TO
the south, and make no further effort to be free.
Besides this violation Of essential principle, tie
action of the convention with reereuce to the New
York delegates, was not of a character, calculated
to challenge either admiration or respect Two
sets of delegates appeared from New oTk, cach
claiming the right to represent that state. 1t was
tue business of the convention to decide between
them,nnd they had the facts before them upon which
to base decision But they feared 10 decide, and
adopted the ridiculous resolution 10 admit them
both, allowing TO each man half vote, or SO votes
to the "a delegates neutrallzing the vote OF New
York and virtually depriving her OF a representa-.
ton. This Yves & wrong and insult to the demo
cracv Of that state and to the Union at large. And
whist tine great state of New York was thus de-
priyed Of her representation the delegate from one
district in South Caroliaa was allowed to cast nine
votes for that state This IS the manner in which
this nomination is presented to US and we, as demo
Gratis, asked and expected to sustanit. A conNen-
ton of the democratic party must conduct It's busI-
ness according to well-undentood democratic prln-
ciples or it ceases TO represent the party, ard ITS
action becomes void and Of no binding effect. Such
we contend was the case here, and virtually there
is no nomination by the democratic party before
the country.
But if the nomination were ever so regular ard
valid the nominee is not one that the democracy OF
this region can support very cordially; certainly
that we cennot support with any show whatever OF
consistency 1t will not be denied that the absor-
bing question now before the country is that OF the
= c,- bich rs a
party we have heretofore conended have by thc.E
success become in measure obsolete as party ques-
tions, and the only practical question now before
the country is. whether under this republican go
vernmcnt, slavery shall be extended into territory
now lree-whether lrom being local state institu-
ton slavery shall become national institution, eX
stug by the sanction of the National Legislature
in territory which belongs rluch to Wisconsin
as to South Carolina. This is the question, and It
would hardly seem necessary TO argue where the
democracy belongs with reference to it, or at least
on which side Of the question is the deinotra'lc
principle. The question does in reality incoIve the
continued existence of the republic; for il must be
confessed il an evil so great as that of slavery be
territory now free that Il must overcome what Of
good there is and destroy the foundation OF the IA
brio OF our government In all probability In
few years, we shall have acquired in one way and
another, territory in extent equal TO that Of the
whole Union at present What is TO become OF
freedom If there is TO be no barrier to the progress
OF slavery in all this territory. The question is
now clearly between freedom and slavery. The
crisis has arrived and one the other must die.
We know not whether the democracy Of this dis
TIC, mean TO stand by the principle which they
have SO often declared to he essential in their creed
but for our own part have honestly believed all
we have been heretofore saying on this subject, and
do not feel like playing the hypocrIte now, by
the support Of this ncrmatior,
Every man knows, who knows any thing wheth-
or he Acknowledges itor not that Cass ha, been for
years intriguing for this nomination, and that he
has in his efforts clearly shown himself man not
TO be trusted. But without considering what he
has been il is sufficient to know what and where
he is now on this important question at issue He
is put iorvlrd as the democratic candidates. he
lit representative Of the prin ,ipIe' II we under