Daily national Democrat., 1860-07-18

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fer to the circumstances which inrari tLo
National Democracy. The Alabama delega.
ton went to the Convention at Charleston
instructed to demand the incorporation into
the platform Of the party Of the proposition
that Congress should intervene for the pro
teeuon OF slaves in the Territories, and TO
Withdraw if the demand should be refused
nat delegation did retire, and with them n
large portion from the cotton States WHY
should they have retired? The record shows
that II they had ed at their post they
had the power to have prevented the nomi
nation OF any candidate who might be OBJ
noNlous to the South. Thus reduced bv So
eessions, the Convention adjourned to Balti-
more, and requested the States to fill the va
cancies in their respective delegations The
Convention reasssembled on the 18th inst
The seeding delegations were returned. some
accredited to Richmond, and others to Balti-
more 10y the way of Richmond, and instruct
cd to take the same demand and to wiz
draw II 1t should be refused Delcr .tes ware
appointed in Louisiana, Alabama and Coon
Sla oy the National Democrats ofthosoStotos
70 MI the vacant seats of the seceders Those
oi Alaoa'Ha and Louisiana were admitted to
scars. They all took umbrage at the decis-
ION OF the Convention touching the various
contests for seats. They retired organized
and nominated candidates for the Presidency
ana ice Presidency, and they claim to be
lne National Democracy of the United
states Now, il they were actuated bv
cP?tinclPle' ii 1t was their purpose, in good
'Ti'n 70 OBTAIN the recognition Of the princi.
! Pc 0i Congressional protection for slavery in
the Territories, why not wait until a proner
! fn bpi b,4 L
convention, and then according to their in
structions, withdraw from the body? Tho
reason is palpable: they were waging war
against distinguished man, not for the
maintenance of "principle; ;" they were wills
ing to leopard the integrity of the Demo
cratic party and the triumph of its cherished
principles rather than see its will proclaimed
IN the nomination of its fvorite. Admit
tlhg, for the sake of argument, Mr. Douglas
TO be as obnoxious as they allege he is, there
never was time when the South united
could not have defeated his nomination.
"hy then, should they have seeded Why
not remain at their post? Why seek to
dIsmemOer and destroy the party? | ques
tlon not the patriotism Of any, but the peo-
pie viii hold them responsible, sooner or
later, for all the ills that may flow from their
errors. | said the demand for Congressional
Intervention was properly rejected at Charles
ton, and why do | do SO Because it was
the agreement between the North and South
that the slavery agitation should he removed
from the halls of Congress, and the people of
the Territories be left perfectly free to resu-
late their domestic institutions in their own
way sui ject to the Constitution of the United
States.
This was the principle of the Compromise
measures of 1850, and practically applied in
the Nebraska Kansas Act in 1854. 1t was
adopted 10y both the great political parties of
the United States in 1852. 1t triumphed in
the election of Franklin Pierce in that wear,
and Of James Buchanan in 1856 1t is per
haps the best ground of compromise between
the North and the South which human inge-
nuity can devise, and by it the Democratic
party at least, of all sections, of all sections,
should be willing to abide 1t gives advan-
tage to neither section over the other, be-
cause it refers all questions in dispute be-
tween them, either as to Congressional or
Territorial power over the subject of slavery,
to the final arbtrament of the Supreme
Court of the United States. 1t is therefore
safe for the South. Its practical working is
notwthout satisfactory results. Where the
people of territory desire slave labor, and
the soil and climate are suited to it, slavery
will go-where these conditions do not exist
it will not go. This finds an illustration in
New Mexico, where slavery is established,
and that in those territories where it is ex
cluded. Only few days ago, propositions
to repeal slavery laws of New Mexico were
made and rejected on the one hand, and the
anG-slavery law Of Kansas on the other was
made and rejected in the Senate Suppose
these propositions, or either of them, had
prevailed, is it not ceGtain the country would
have been thrown Into the highest excite
ment? But by their rejection uon-interven-
ton was practically adhered to-, and the pub
lie mind is satisfied and quiet. Let us main
tain it firmly and faithfully. We are bound
to it by every consideration of interest and
obligation OF compact. Its abandonment will
prove fatal to the National Democratic par
", and ultimately to the Union itself 1t
will drive the South into intense sectional
ism. and the North into the ranks of Black
Repubiicanism. | do not say every man of
the North fer know that the great body Of
the Northern Democracy will remain true to
the Constitution, despite the overwhelming
food of its relentless foes. But the free Ia
bCr States would be controlled ly Black
Rcpublicanism, and would not be able to re-
tain single member to either House OF Con
8Iceo lIICuulN 10 lIlc AohalllullOIu4 TlgIlto -
the South. | trust that such condition
of things may never exist; but if it should,
know of no way by which the Union can
be saved Hence the doctrine of Congress
sional Intervention, as advocated by this
newborn sectional party, is fraught with
peril TO the country The question is now
distinctly presented to the people, whether
they will adhere to the doctrnce of non
Intervention, or whether they will abandon
it, whether they will reopen the slavery ag-
itation by requiring Congress to take juris-
dction over it, or whether they will give
repose to the public mind and security to the
Union by leaving it where the compromise
leaves ito the free action of the people OF
the Territories under the Constitution Of the
United States The issue is fairly made up.
1t is intervention or non-inter> cnton Its
decision involves the destiny of this great
| Republic, and the highest interests OF the
civilized world. Compared with it. the as
pirations of men and the fate Of political par
ties sink into utter insigniteanee. Where
shall we look for deliverance from these
threatened evils 1t has been the mission
Of the Democratic party of the Union, in
thousand perils to rescue our country from
impending calamilies Its past career
aOounds with heroic passages and is lllustra-
ted with the most glorious achievements in
the cause of constitutional liberty 1t is the
party Of Jefferson and Madison, and Jackson
and Polk, whose administrations constitute
grand epochs in our national history. 1t is