The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1859-07-07
DoEglas's P0Sitl0E.--lliS Chances for
the Next Presidency.

Mr.. Douglas mas written letter 70
his friends in New York, and also one
to j. Il. Dcrr, of Dubuque, in answer to
inquiries whether he would permit his
name to go before the Charleston Con-
vention. The following is his letter to
Mr.. Dorr.
Washington, June -, 1893
My DEAR Sir II have received your
letter inquiring whether my friends arc
1T liberty to present my name to the
Charleston Convention for the prcsidcn
tial nomination.
Befor, this question can be finally DC
,crmined, it will be necessary to under
stand distinctly upon what issues the
canvass is to be conducted. If, as |
have full faith they will, the Democratic
party shall determine in the P.csiden
tial election of 1860 to adhere to the
principles embodied in the Compromise
measures Of 1850, and ratified by the
people in the Presidential election Of
1852, and re affirmed in the Kansas Ne,
braska Act Of 1854, ard incorporated
into the Cincinnati platform in 1856, as
expounded by Mr.. Buchanan in his let
ter accepting the nomination, and ap-
proved BY the people in his election,-
in that event my friends will be at liber-
ty to present my name to the Conven
ton if they sec proper to 90 SO. If, on
the contrary it shall become the policy
Of the Democratic party, wVich cannot
anticipate, to repudiate these, their time
honored principles, on which we have
achieved so many patriotic triumphs,
and in lieu Of them the Convention shall
interpolate into the creed Of the party
such new issues as revival Of the AZ
rican slave trade, or Congressional slave
code for t.,c territories, or the doctrine
that the Constitution Of the United
States ever established or prohibited sla
very in the territories, beyond the pow
CIR Of the people legally to control it as
property,--it is due to candor to say,
that in such an event could not accept
the nomination if rendered to me-
Trusting that this answer will be deemed
sufficiently explicit, | am, very respect
fully, Your friend,
S. A. DOUGLAS.
Having thus openly taken this
position, he evidently stands no chance
whatever Of becoming the Charleston
nominee. No matter which Of the two
Southern wings Of tho Democracy is III
the ascendant, the party in favor OF
opening the Slave trade, or the party op.
posed to the traffic, lie may as well bury
his presidential hopes first as last, for
&c is equally offensive to both, and with
out tho aid Of one Of them he cannot
secure the nomination.
All branches of the Southern Democ
raey denounce his principles Of Popular
Sovereignty as once proclaimed and now
reiterated by him.
Thc Administration organ, the Wash
ington Constitution, regards his letter as
declaration Of purpose to oppose the
Charleston nominee.
The leading paper Of the South, the
Charleston Mercury in its issue Of the
10th Of June speaks thus Of him.
two advocated Buchanan election in
preference to Mr.. Douglas, before the
Convention had nominated candidate.
What word since that time have we said
in Mr.. Douglas favor? We believed
him demagogue from the beginning
If there is journalin the country that,
within the last three years, has !abored
to expose his treacherics and hostile de-
signs against the south, we claim to be
that journal. Throughout the Kansas
controversy, after his motives and real
policy became evident to US, and long
before many claiming 10 be true south
ern men could or would perceive it, we
denounced him as shutting, sclfseek-
ing political trickster.'
X 4: X X X
GAS for an alliance" with Douglas,
we will here state that the Mercury will
sustain or countcnance him under no
o;rou n, 6 "a noos ,uhotovor Ho 10 traitor