The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-06-30
Douglas, Position.


day with declaration of principles on
the Presidential question. He has
written political letter, explaining his
position in regard to the Presidency.
The letter was written to Mr.. Dorr,
of Dubuque, Iowa, and was doubtless
provoked by recent frequent giving out
of the Administration organs, that Mr..
D. was sutton for forgiveness by Bu-
chanan and his faction. Whether this
was so or not, we think this letter will
tend rather to widen the breach now
existing between Mr.. Douglas and the
administration, than otherwise. At all
events there is not much repentance
about this letter Mr.. Douglas appears
to stand upon his old ground, and is
firm and frank in stating his position.
While this letter will, doubtless, i'm
prove Mr.. Douglas standing at the
North, it will, it seems to US, render
his chance of the nomination by the
Charleston Convention not worth
toss-up, for if his position is adopted as
q basis for the Northern wing to act
upon, the party must be hopelessly
ruptured at Charleston; and we can
not see how this can be avoided, as
after this declaration of principles, Mr..
Douglas cannot expect to stand upon
any platform at Charleston at all. He
could never get by the two-third rule
with this letter in his hand. We can
not see how it is possible for him with
such an elucidation of opinion to gain
any support from the South, for though
it may be Of some little benefit to him
at the North, at the South it would seem
to run counter to every shade of polis-
ical opinion. 1t is as follows:
WAsHINGToN, June %.
"MY DEAR SIR-I have received
your letter inquiring whethermy friends
are at liberty to present my name at the
Charleston convention for the Presiden-
tial nomination. Before this question
can be finally determined, it will be
necessary to understand distinctly upon
what issue the canvass is to be con-
Quoted. If, as have full faith they
will, the democratic party shall deter
mine, in the Presidential election of
1850, to adhere to the principles EN-
bodied in the compromise measures of
1850; and ratified by the people in the
Presidential election of 1852, and re-
affirmed in the Kansas-Nebraska act of
1854, and Incorporated into the Gin
cinnati platform of 1856, as expounded
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 convention, if they see
proper to do so. Ii, on the contrary,
it shall become the policy of the demo
cratic party, which cannot anticipate
to repudiate these their time-honored
principles, on which we have achieved
so many patriotic trinmphs, 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 Congressional slave
code for the Territories, or the doctrine
|, that the constitution of the United
!, States either establishes or prohibit:
slavery in the Territories, beyond tn,
power of the people legally to contro
/, it as other property, it is due to cando
to say that, in such an event, 1 coult
: not accept the nomination if tenderet
to me. Trusting that this answer viii
: be deemed sufficiently explicit, IT,
y al am very respectfully, your friend.
D - (Signed) s. A. DOUGLAS"