Daily national Democrat., 1859-07-17
Stephen A. Douglas not with them.

Inc administration press would nave 1t
appear that the Douglas organization in this
State is cut loose from its Douglas moorings,
has no part or lot with Douglas, and is float
ing off into the Black Sea of Republicanism.
They say that it is an evidence of this, that
Judge Douglas is known to be determined to
abide by the action of the Charleston Con-
vention and submit to whatever it may do,
cheerfully supporting its nominee for the
Presidency. Now, let us see whether they
are justified in any such reckless and sweep
ing assertion. Here is Il recent dispatch from
Washington, to which we beg leave to call
especial attention:
WAsHTNGToN, June 23d.-The friends of
Judge Douglas are in possession of the fol-
lowing letter, explaining his position in re-
gard to the Presidency
WAsHINGroN, June %, 1859.
J. B. DoRN, ESQ.,, Dubuque, Iowa-My
Dear Sir: have received your letter inauir-
ing whether my friends are at liberty to pre-.
sent my name to the Charleston Convention
for Presidential nomination. Before the ques
| tion can be finally decided, it will be neces-
sary to understand distinctly upon what issue
the canvass is to be conducted If, as l have
full confidence they will, the Democratic
party shall determine in the Presidential eec-
tion of 1860 to adhere TO the principles en-
bodied in the Compromise Measures of 1850
and ratified by the people in the Presidential
choice of 1852, re-affirmed in the Kansas
Nebraska Act of 1854, and incorporated with
the Cincinnati Platform in 1856, as eXpoun-
ded by Mr.. Buchanan in his letter accepting
the nomination, and approved by the people
in his election, in that event my friends will
be at liberty to present my name to the Con-
vention if they see proper to do so if, on the
contrary, it shall become the policy of the
Democratic party, which cannot anticipate,
to repudiate their time-honored principles,
on which we have achieved SO many political
triumphs, and in lieu of them, the Conven-
tion shall interpolate into the creed of the
party such new issues as the revival of the
African slave trade or q Congressional slave
code for Territories, or the doctrine that the
Constitution of the United States, either es.
tabishes o. prohibits slavery in the Terri
tories, beyond the power Of the people legal
ly to control it as other property, it is due to
candor to say that in such an event could
not accept the nomination if rendered to me.
Trusting that the answer will be deemed suf
feiently explicit, am very respectfully,
our friend, S. A. DoUGLAs
What is the meaning now, of this letter
Simply this, that he will not recognize the
Convention at Charleston as binding upon
him, unless it sustains the principles for which
he has been contending. He would not ac-
cept his own nomination for the Presidency
at the hands Of Convention which refused
to interpret the Kansas n ebraska Bill as Mir
Buchanan interpreted it in his "letter of ac-
ceptance :" and every body knows that he in
terpreted it1n that letter precisely as Judg,
Douglas interprets it, for Judge Douglas ha
quoted the letter in question frequently
since the Kansas issue arose, as illustrative o
the position which he himself occupies on th,
subject, and as showing how Mr.. Buchanan
has belied his own words, and abandoned hi
former ground. To make himself the NOR
plainly understood, he further says that h
would not accept a nomination from tn
Charleston Convention, if that body under
took to interpolate into its creed the doctrin
''that the Constitution of the United State
= either establishes or prohibits slavery in tn
Territories, beyond the power of the peopl
legally to control it as other property" Her
is the very essence of Popular Sovereignty
The people Of the Territories, and not Con
gress must regulate and control slave prop
erty as well as every other species of proper
ty. Congress must neither establish nor Pre-
libit slavery, but the people must have tn
entire control of the subject.
Who is adrift from Douglas now?