The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-30
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
The Replies Of the Presidential Candi-
dates to Captain Scott.
THIRTEEN AspIRANTs IN THE FIELD.
from the Richmond Enquirer May cyl
Democratic Platform
TO The Editors Of TIC Eaqui,rr:--

/
| RICHMOND, May 81 1852
| GENrLEMEN-It was the pleasure of the Democratic
Convention Of this State held here the oath of March
last TO nominate Of the electors to be voted
by the people of the State at tho approaching Presden
sl election was absent at the time this nomination
was made attending to an important and interesting
teesiona engagement; and sincerely grateful for
this second honorable distinction of likc character be-
slowed on me by my political friends, have not been
mindful Of the responsibilities attending tho faithful and
dilsen performance of the duties which attend this
lection. 10 my friends and associates have frankly ex
planned my views and wishes in reference the selection
Of him who ought to be chosen the candidate of the
| democratic party for the Presidency We have many
good atle, faithful and distinguished mon in party,
TO whose wlsdcm statcsmanship and patriotism the d
recton a the government might be safely conddcd For
many Of the could most checrfuy vote aud render
aid with all hearty good will to promote their election
But orr country has bcon seriously and sadly agutcd
great and disturbing question-one which. unless
and for ever settled must painfully apprehcnd at
distant day rend in twain the union of people, and
destroy our existing government.
To know. then openly and distinctly and to have
tho record for reference hereafter the opinions this
subject Of those who stand by The favor OF their friend
prominently before the nation as competitors for thu BAL
tmoie nomination. very early it occurred to to be
only most desirable but demanded by every consdatipn
of iaakness, public duty and patriotism to havo thcsc
opinions. i Ind sincerely hoped that better
known to the country and having higher claims in'ti-
tutc this inquiry would have undertaken the task of
making it, porceiving that this not done and that
the Baltimore Convention would assemble in few days,
have proceeded to address the enclosed letter Messrs
Kusk Butler Pierce Marcy, Dickinson, Buchanan Dal-
las King Houston, stockton Douglass Cass, Lane, Boyd
and Wool.
hove received the accompanying replies. Other
swtrs may yet be received and when they reach will
be furnished for publication For the present ask that
now transmitted. am gentlemen most cordially and
truly yours ROBERT G. SCoTr.
LETTER FROM ROBERT g. SCOTT. ESQ. ~
RICHMOND. May II, 1852.
SRA short fortnight will barely elapse before the
convention of delegates Of the democratic party from every
State ia Union will assemble at Baltimore nominate
two Of most worthy and distinguished statesmen to
be voted for President and Vice Pre- dent of tho nation
Your name has been associated with the proposed rom
Ntedt n he Go
venon us 1t already has been to the country for its
support Marked as has been your past political
life by fearless fankness and devotion the great priu
cples OF the democratic party take leave to inquire of
| you, should you be nominated by the Convention and
elected TO the Presidency by the people in your admn
traton Of the government will you sustain and by any
means within your power enforce and have executed in
all their parts the various acts Of Congress constituting
what is known the Compromise unexpectedly the enact
mcns Of that law relating to the BY their
ers offugtive sayes And again whether should you be
elected President Of the United States would dscoun
e ance by every proper means all attempts to disturb
change the provisions Of that law whereby those pro-
visions might be made less ectua for securing to the
people Of the South their constitutional rgAts the pos
session and enjoyment Of their slave property And
should unfortunately bill be passed by Congress- modi-
flying changing the law referred to- to impair its
present valuable cnacments would you as President of
the Republic veto any such bill? 1t is due to candor to
inform You that reply to this communication i desired
before the meeting OF the Baltimore Convention, and,
when received Is intended for pulction and that COPY
Of this will be sent to every other gentleman whose
las been moptionod in connection with the nomination
ROBERT G. SCOTT
LETTER FROM WILLIAM r.. KING. ESQ.
SENATE CHAMBER, May 20. 1852.
siRI have The honor to acknowledge thp receipt of
your letter and hasten to reply have little expccato
that my will you suppose bs presented to th
Baltimore Convention for the high Office to which you
fer but as have no wish TO withhold my opinions upon
any question Of public character comply. without
hesitation, with your request
As respects the series Of measures Of the last Congress,
commonly known the Compromise. most of them
beyond tho reach Of ogsation and although consd-
cred some of them most unjust TO the South,
he
who publicly took ground in favor of acquescencc and
an g,aticd to IND that such is now the determination
Of all the Southern States. The Fugitive Slave law
oEaeted to carry out express provision Of the coasti
tuition aud therefore does not stand the footing OF
orduagy lerilation and. should IL happen that l
should he Placed in the Presidential Office, should feel
myseii bound by every obligation of duty to NEGATIVE
any act for its repeal TO modify change would
your obs servant, WILLIAM H. KING.
To EoBrhT G. Scolr, Esd.
LETTER FROM II. + STOCKTON ESQ.
SENATE CuaNnae. WAsuNGToN, May 20 1852
S,nI have M morning received your letter post
marked s;cil,nen. Eth Of May, 1852 thank you for
the compliment of considering my opinions Of any i'm
rottance have hesitation in replying to each and
all OF your ntcircgatorits afirmatively.
Ny views in Ielaton TO those questions will fully appear
from my letter to the Hon Danel Webster of the 25th
a March 1885, and also from my speech of the 9TH Of
July 1T Ezabethtoyn N. j. Of the year. copies Of
winch are herewith erciosed :
This answer to your inquiries Is given however, in no
expectation Of the event anticipated by you am not
candidate for the Presidency. will not be such by my
j
unite ono oi those distinguished statesmen whose
ramcs will probably be submitted the Democratic Ma
IL r. STOCKTON
" LETTER FROM SAN HOUSTON, ESQ. "
WILLATp's Iiorrl. WASHINGTON Cry, May 20, 1852
s-Your letter Of the 18th (pos marked 10th instanD
reached me this morning. in which you address to
several inquiries. feel 10 hcsitancy in saying what my
opinions on the various points presented.
My course the subject Of the bills which constitute
the Compromise prior to and at the time they became
laws, would seem to supersede the necessity OF any fur
her than to say voted for each and every
When voted for there regarded them. and
sti regard them final adjustment OF all the questions
which they embraced further regarded them as con-
stutona and deserving the stricct adherence to the
principles which they contain. Such my views and
opinions, when acting under the obligations of official
duty enforced by an cath. have seen no reason to
change them but desire to see them executed as whole
occupy priv ate or an official station.
After having, as believe answered your two first in
placed in potion by the will of the American people,
where ii would be rendered necessary for me to act in
the contingency would not hesitate to veto
any BILL imparing the law for the protection of the
constitutional rights which guarantees to the people of
the South the possession and enjoyment Of their slave
You at liberty to this letter you may deem
proper for in this matter as well as all others which
the national veal hold concealed opinions
Ronr. G. soorT Esq. SAM HOUSTON
LETTER FROM LINN BOYD ESQ.
WasHlrcroy May 20, 1852.
4
SR-Your letter Of the 18th inst is before In which,
after assuming that am candidate for the Presidency
you proceed in substance to inquire whether IL elected
to that Office would endeavor to maintain and execute
the series Of measures passed by the last Congress known
the Compromise and. especially whether would veto
any bill passed by Congress TO repeal in any way
change the existing Fugitive Slave law to weaken
IS efficiency means of securing to the Southern pco
pie the right, under the constitution, to their
/ slaves escaping to other States?
These certainly very important questionsto each
and all of which, hope every candidate for Presidential
honors will give ON explicit affirmative The pub
lie necessity which induced the adoption Of those
be appealed to with greater force in behalf
/ Of their maintenance and faithful execution
In assuming however that am a candidate for the
Presidency proper for to say you greatly mistake
my POSITION certainly am not candidate, nor can
readily conceive state Of things In which any such use
ofmy name is likely TO be made in convention. have
the honor to bc most respectfully your obdcnt servant
| LINN BOYD.
| LETTER FROM ID g. DICKINSON, ESQ.
J BiNGHAMToS, y. Y, May 20, 1852.