The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-07-11
:
MISCELLANY,
Col. Orr's Letter to the Charleston Meeting.
WAsnINGroE, June lG, 1856.


Gentlemen: 1 cherished the hope, up to
this day, that 1 would be able to accept
your invitation to attend the ratification
meeting on Thursday.next. have however,
been constrained to abandon the purpose, as
have not yet recovered my strength sufii-
'ciently to undergo the fatigue of the trip to
Charleston. I regret it the more, because of
the indispostion Of Judge Douglas, who had
completed his preparations to visit your
City, and address the Democratic party of
Charleston, and is now forced to abandon
it by sickness, which confines him to his
lodgings.
1 concur fully in the objects of your
meeting, and avail myself of this occasion
to say, that I checrfully endorse the nomi-
nation of Buchanan and Breckenridge.
MIR. buchanan is an able and accomplished
statesman, and in all the public positions
in which he has figured, he has fully
maintained himself and oftcntmes reflected
the highest honor upon the country, Ills
public career has educated him more thor
ohghly than any man in America in the
Legislative and Executive departments of
the government. lie has proved himself
the able legislator, the wise counsellor, the
skillful diplomatist. Ills public and private
character is pure and unsullied ; and il elect
cd, he will give lis an administration marked
by prudence, moderation and firmness in
our foreign relations, and by justice, right
and'a stern, strict devotion to the constitution
in our domestic affairs. All the great in
forests of the country will reposo in the
consciousness Of security, so long as he re-
mains at the helm. But if he were want
ing himself in these high qualities, should
still support him, as the candidate of the
Democratic party, standing on the platform
adopted at Cincinnati. He accepts the nomi-
nation on that platform, and as all honorable
man, he is bound to sustain its tencts. That
portion of the platform upon which this Presi-
dental contest at the North will certainly
turn,is entirely satisfactory to our section,
and oughtato be so in every locality in the
Union, where men intend to sustain the
Constitution. Tam gratiied to know that
it is entirely acceptable to the Democratic
party, North as wellsas South. The vote
upon its adoption in the Convention is a
triumphant response to all those at the
South who pretend to doubt the fidelity of
Northern Democrats to the constitution on
the slavery question. The following reso-
lutions meet the issue boldly and squarely,
and the unanimous cote of every delegate
in the Convention in, their .taaer, refutes
,..,spicion of unsoundness in every cam
did mino:
20. Resolusa, That Congress has no
power under the constitutions 10 interfere
with OF, control the domestic institutions of
the several States, and that all such States
are the sole and proper judges OF everything
appertaining to their own affairs, not prohib;
dtea by, tic constitution that all efforts Of
the abolitionists os others made to induce
.Copgressto interfere witt, questions of slave
ry,. on 10 take ineipient steps in relation
theteto,sare calculated to Lead to the mos,
alarming and dangerous consequapces, .anG
thatall such efforts have an inevitable ten.
deueysto diminish the happiness of th,
people, 9nd endanger the stability and per
{. manensy of the Union, and ought not to b,
copgss slsnced by any friendof our politiea
90. RsstS,a, That foregoing prope ls,
sition covers and was Intended to embfac
the whole subject of slavery agitatiodst5
Congress, and, therefore, the Democrat
party Of the Union, standing on the nations
platform, willabids BY and adhere sfaitl
fulexecution ofths acts known as the con
promise measures settled by Congress, Il
act for reclaiming tfugitiyes from service,
labor included; which act designed to car,
o,r .n nynross nrovision of thc< cotstii n, IN