The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-07-09
pouelas, Reeent Letter.

the former place by the illuess Of his wife,
IL Il IN answer 20 enquiries whether he would
permit hIs name 20 30 before the Charleston
Convention, az a candidate for the preslden-
ey. IL Il brief aid explicit, ,ifitFu the re-
lponses Of political aspiranls generally 10
this respect Il contrasts wonderfully with the
iaterminable manifesto Of Gov, Wise which,
though more eo'erllY, yel % truly, intended
10 define the writer's position % candidate
before that convention, Mr., Douglas am
swsrs by practically making bis determination
depend upon the party creed which that con
yentiun shall put forth az orthodox Demo
cracy. Here are his own Words
Elf a. have full faith they will, the Dem
oeTatio party shall determine in the fTehlden-
tial election OF 500 10 adhere 10 the primer
pics embodied IN the compromise measures
of 1850, and ratified by the people IN the
Presidential election Of 1882, aud reailrmed
ia the kanaas-NebraskH act Of 1884, and in-
corporated into the Cincinnati Platform 10
1885, a. eXpnunded hy Nh, Buchanan in his
letter accepting the nomination, and and up-
proved by the people IN his election In that
event ms friends will be ~ liberty 20 present
my name 10 the convention, II they see pro-
per to do 30. II, on the contrary, IL shall bee
come tho policy Of the Democratic party
which cannot anticipate, ~ repudiate those,
their time honored principles on which We
have achieved 40 many patriotic ,trlumphs,
and in lieu Of them the convention shall IN
tcrpolate into the creed Of the party such new
iAsues as the revival Of the African slave
trade, or Congregational slave code for the
territories, or the doctrine the constitution Of
the United States either establishes o. pro-
hibits slavery In the territories beyond the
power of the people TO control IL, aa other
property, IL Is due 10 eandor 20 say that 10
Auch an event could not accept the nominh.
ton If rendered TO me.
Notwithstanding this affected confidence,
thus repeated, q, TO the creed That body will
establish, a confidence which the very appear
nnce OF his letter at this time, az well as its
terms, forbid our regarding as real We re-
gard this document rs a virtual withdrawal
from the contest. Coming events will soon
show whether we are right or not in this.
The Illinois senator took prominent part
in the memorable debate towards the close
Of the late session Of Congress, defining his
position upon Kansas affairs, and bringing
into high relief the pointa on which he felt
compelled by consistency TO break with the
administration, with force aud clcarness
SeitaiuIy never surpassed by liHscir When
he perceived the almost entire Democracy Of
that body break ground squnfely ia cPPosi-
ton TO his views, utterinF, as he well knew,
et-taore their individual opinions, than the
opinions Of their respective states he could
not NJ n roiitirinu uf-rumuuu, EuEucityi-tutt
to see that his chances for even nomination
were scattered to the winds. II any doubt
could then have existed, as TO whether these
adverse uttcranecs by Senators would receive
the sanction OF their constituents, that doubt
must have been dissipoted by the public dis.
cussions which have since ensued Not only
has the great body Of the Southern Demo
cracy repudiated Mr.. Douglas peculiar sent.
ments, NO the doctrine Of Congressional
non-interyention, on the subject Of slavery,
and more especially as to the underived con
troll over that subject by the people of the
territories; but many Of his most influential
southern friends have deserted him and gone
over to his odversaries.
II it were of any importance in this regard,
we might add that large sections of what Isl
mingled theft voices with those of his anita
gonists in swelling the grand chorus Of pro
lection"
Mr.. Douglas is not so shortsighted as not
to see that he stands no chance to become
President without the aid Of southern votes
The results of the last presidential election
are too pregnant of instruction on that sub
ject. Indeed, he understood that perfectly
when in 1854, as chairman Of the territorial
committee, he consented, at the solicitation
of D. r. Atkinson, against his often repeat.
ed convictions TO remove the Missouri re-
striction to the advance Of slavery into Kan
sas. He foresaw that the measure would be
popular ut the south-he did not foresee that
II would produce perfect paralysis OF his
party at the north, and hand his name down
TO posterity as a viuator of compacts, and an
enemy of good faith. lie is now about to
reap the reward of his perfdy, in the tri-
umphant opposition of his en- cmies, and the
abando nment of his friends. lie will not be
able to secure the united vote in convention.
of single slave state, nor Of any state of
whose electoral veto he can have any assur-
ance. Does he then, or do his Vermont
friends, who, at their late state convention, !
have selected delegates at large favorable to
him, suppose that n nomination made by the
delegates of states, none of which can carry
through an electoral ticket in his behalf in |
opposition to the votes Of delegates whose
states, though democratic, lciW not vote for
him would avail auUht p Tho idea 10 pra- |
posterous. If nominated under such csr---
cumstanees the chances would be against his
receiving The electoral vote of a single state
His letter anticipates, what no doubt will
prove TO be the case, that the convention af
ter becoming organized which from double