Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-07-05
Judge Douglas Letter Of Accept.
anCo
wAsHrroros, June AZ, 1860.

ohOO.
WASHINGTON, June AZ, 1860.
To the National Democratic Convention:
CEuTLKmEN: In accordance with the ver'
bal assurance which gave you when you
placed In my hands the authen .ic evidence
OF my nomination for the Presidency by the
National Convention OF the Democratic par
~, now send you my formal acceptance.
Upon q csrful examination Of the platform
of principles adopted at Charleston, and re-
affirmed at Baltimore, with an additional
solution. which is in perfect harmony with
tile others, I fud It to be a faithful embodi- |
ment Of the time honored principles Of the
Democratic party, which were proclaimed
aud understood by all parties in the Presi-
j tial contests OF lS48, 1852 and 1866
UJ,u looking into the proceedings of the
Convention, also, find that the nomination
was made with great pnannity. In the pres
ence, and with the concurrence Of more
than two thirds Of the whole number of dele
r ties, and In exact concordance with the
long established usages of the party.
My iDfexible purpose not to be csndi-
date, nor accept the nomination under any
contingency, except as the regular nominee
Of the Notional Democratic party, and in
that case only upon the condition that the
usages as we!l as the principles Of the party
should be strictly adhered to, have been pro-
claimed for long time, and become well
known to the country. These conditions
having all been complied with by the free
and voluntary ,clon of the Democratic
masses and their faithful representatives,
without any gency, interference, or procure-
ment on my part, feel bound in honor and
duly to accept the nomination. In taking
tins step, | an not unmndful OF the respon-
sL1lny it imposes, but with firm reliance up
on Divine Providence, I have faith that the
pc, pie will comprehend the true nature Of
tie issues involved, and eventually main
tain right.
The peace Of the country, and the per-
pctu,y Of the Union have been put in jeor-
pardy by attempts to Interfere with and to
control the domestic affairs Of the people in
yhe territories, through the agency of the
federal government. If the power and the
du,y OF the federal interferences is to be
conceded, two hostile sectional parties must
be the inevitable result, the one inhamng
the passions and ambition Of the North and
the other Of the South, and each strugg ling
10 use tie federal power, and authority for
tie aggrandizement Of its own section, a,
the expense Of the equal rights of the 9th.
or, and In derogation of those fundamental
principlesj the principles Of self govern
rnent, which were firmly established in thii
country By the American revolution, as the
Basis OF our Republican system. During
the memorable period Of our political his
tory, when the advocates Of federal inter
veniion upon the subject Of slavery in thu
territories, had well nigh precipitated tn,
country into revolution, the, Northern inter
ventionists demanding the Wilmo. Provst
for the prohibition Of slavery, and the South
ern interventionists, then few in number an'
without a single representative in eithe
House Of Congress, insisting upon Congress
sionnl legislation Tor the protection Of slav
cry. in opnnsiiinn To the wishes of the peo
pie 10 either case, II will be remembered
that 1t required oil the wisdom. power an,
influence Of a Clay, and n Webster, and
Cass, supported by the conservative and pa
triutic men OF the Wing ana Democratic
parties of that day, to devise and carry ou
- line Of policy which would restore peuc'
to the country, and stability to the Union
The es ential living principle Of that pol
icy, as applied In the Legislation of 1850
was and now Is uon.intervention by Con
gress with slavery in tho territories. Th,
fnir application of this just and equitable
principle restored harmony and fraternity
to distracted country. IL we now dcpar
from that wise and just policy which pro
duced these happy results, and permit th,
country to be again distracted; If precipita
ted into revolution by sectional contest be
tween pro-slavery and anti slavery interven
tionists, where shall we look for anothe
Clay---another Webster or another Cass
10 pilot the ship Of State over the breaker
into haven Of peace and safetyl The FED
crsl Union must be preserved-the Const
tuition must be maintained inviolate In a
its partsi every right guaranteed by tn
Constitution must be protected by law
all cases where legislation is necessary
it's enforcement. The judicial authority. q
provided in the Constitution, must be sul
tanned. and Its decisions implicitly obeys
aud faithfully executed. Tho laws must b
administered, and tho constituted authoritit
upheld, and all unlawful resistance 10 thes
things mus, oil be met with irmness, impa
tiali,y and fidelity, II we expect to enjoy ar
transmit unimpairod to our posterity, tn
blessed Inheritance which we have receiv,
in trust from the patriots and sages Of Il
revolution!
With sincere thanks for the kind Al
agreeable manner IN which you have maj
known TO me The action Of the Conventio
have the honor TO be, very respectful
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