The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-07-02
Letter of Judge Douglas on the Presiden-
CIV in 1860.


The following letter of Judge Douglas,
as tolegraphed from Washington a week
ago, is exciting Il large amount of newspa-
per comment The letter is generally
commended as manly straightforward and
explicit by the untrammeled democratic
republican papers, while by the lower
grade of republican papers, and by the
anti-Douglas administration organs, 1t
is assaulted in gross and indecent language,
and its plain sentences twisted and perver-
ted to mean everything but what it says.
The Washington Constitution (the official
organ) for instance, interprets it to mean
that Judge D. sees in the signs of the
Charleston Convention will erect a plat
form upon which he cannot stand-that
he if therefore unwilling TO be the nomi-
nee of that body, and as he is not willing
himself to accept its nomination, so he
will not support the Charleston nominee
Now no man of common sense on read
ing the letter below, can honestly ex-
tract from it any such meaning Judge D.
simply means, and in plain English says,
that if platform is adopted at Charleston
not in harmony with his own opinions and
views, he would not be disposed to accept
nomination for the presidency from that
body. There is not a democrat in the
country fit to receive that nomination who
will not say the same thing. If James Bu-
chanan, for instance, was asked, whether,
If the Charleston Convention made oppo-
sition to the acquisition of Cuba, on any
terms, democratic test, would lie be its
nominee? would he not Indignantly say
no? So Judge D. has right to say, with
ont being chargeable with dictation to
that body, that he will not accept its nom
nation if re-openieg the slave trade, and
slave code for the territories are made
democratic tests. But us to the other
point, that he will oppose the nominee OF
that body, if its resolutions are not in per
feet harmony with his own views, Judge
letter. In all he has ever said-in his
whole political histor. he has ever pro-
fesscd himself 10 be devoted to the prin-
ciples of the democracy, and We under
stand his position to be that in no concei-
vLble contingency-in no possible eventu-
atty, can he be influenced to bestow his
vote and influence adverse to those princi- |
pies. Under all circumstances he will |
contribute his aid to support the candi- |
dates who stand upon a platform which |
may have but solitary Objectionable slip
ulation in it, rather than to support such |
a platform as must be erected by the OPP |
ponents of the democracy, which will as
suredly be destitute of a solitary stipula-
ton that can command his appreciation.
WASHINGTON, June %.
The friends of Judge Douglas here are
in possession of the following letter, ex-
planning his position on the subject of the
Presidency, and of which they have per-
United a copy to be taken for publication:
.-- WAsHISGroS, June 81, 1859
MI DEAR SIR: l have received your let
ter in9uiring whether my friends are ut IL !
berty to present my name to the Charles !
ton convention for the Presidential nomi-
nation. Before this question can be final
~ determined, it viii be necessary to I'M
distinctly upon what issues the
canvass is to be conducted. IT. as | have
full faith it will, the Democratic party
shall determine III the Presidential cleo
ton OF 1860 to adhere to the principles
embodied in the compromise measures Of
1870, and ratified by the people in the
Presidential election of 1852, and re-affirn-
ed in the kansas-N ebraska act Of 1854 and .
incorporated into the Cincinnati platform
in 1896, as expounded by Mr. Buchanan in
his letter accepting the nomination. and
by the people in his election
III that event my friends viii be at liberty
{" present my namc to the convention if
they see proper to do so. If, on the CON
Srary, 1T shall become the policy Of the De-
party, which [ cannot anticipate,
10 rcpudiate 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
the revival of the African Slave Trade or a
Slave Code for the Terrific
rIes, or the doctrine that the Constitution
of the United States ever establishes or
prohibits slavery in the Territories beyond
the power of the people legally to control
II IS property, it is due to candor to saw
that in such an event | could not accent
the nomination if rendered to me.
Trusting that this letter will be deemed |
sufficiently explicit, l am, very respectful
ly. your friend, s. a. DorGLas.
u. =. Agricultural Fair.
At Chicago SEPT l2-17.
Al, 4