M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-07-03
WHrATLAND, NEAR LANCAsTER,)

| .. June 10, 1866.
GENTLEMEN Il have the honor to ac
knowledge the receipt Of your communica
ton of the 18th inst. informing me officially
of my nomination by the Democratic Ma
tional Convention, recently held at CinCin-
natl, us the Democratic candidate for the
office ofPresident of the United States.
shall not attempt o express the grateful feel
ings which ] entertain towards my Demo-
cratic fellow-citlzens for having deemed me
worthy of this-the highest political honor
on earth--an honor such as the people of nc
other country have the power to bestow.-
Deeply sensible of the vast responsibility at
! tached to the station, especially at the pres
ent crisis in our affairs, have carefully re
Trained from seeking the nomination eithe
by word or by deed. Now that it has beer
offered by the Democratic party, | accept il
with diffdance in my own abilities, but witt
an handle trust, that in the event of my
election, may be enabled to discharge my
duty in such manner as to allay domestic
strife, preserve peace and friendship with
foreign nations and promote the best inter-
ests Of the Republic.
In accepting the nomination, | need
scarcely say that accept in the same spir-
it, the resolutions constituting the platform
of principles erected by the convention
To this platform | intend to confne myself
throughout the canvass, believing that |
have no right, as the candidate of the Dem.
ocratic party, by answering interrogatories,
to present new and different issues before
the people.
1t will not be expected that in this an
swer, l should specially refer 10 the subject
Of each of the resolutions and shall there.
fore confnc myself to the two topics now
more prominently before the people.
And in the first place, cordially concur
in the sentiments expressed by the Conven-
ton on the subject OF civil and religious lib
erty. No party founded on religious or
political intolernCe towards one class of
American citizens, whether born in our own
or in foreign land, can long continue to
exist in this country. We are all equal be-
fore God and the Constitution and the darl,
spirit of despotism and bigotry which would
create odious distinctions among our fellow
citizens, will be speedily rebuked by free
and enlightened public opinion.
The agitation on the question of Domes-
tic Slavery has too long distracted and diyi-
ded the people Of this Union and aienated
their affections from each other. This aeit-
alton has assumed many forms since its com
niencement, but it now seems to be directed
chiehyto the Territories; and judging from its
present character, | think we may safely an
ticipate that it is rapidly Approaching
"finality." The recent legislation of Con-
gress respecting domestic slavery, derived, as
thas been from the original and pure
fountain of legitimate political power,
the will of the majority, promises ere long
to allay the dangerous excitement. This leg
islation is founded upon principles, as
ancient as free government itself, nd
in accordance with them, has simply
declared that the people of Territory, like
those ofa State shall decide for themselves
whether slavery shall Or shall not exist with,
in their limits.
The Nebraska-Kansas Act does no more
than give the force of law 10 this eemcn tary
principle of seil-govemment; declaring it to
be "the true intent aud meaning of this act
not to lcsislate slavery into any Territory or
STATE, nor to exclude 1t theIclIom but 10