Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-07-18
ACCEPTANCE OF HON. j. G. BRECKENRIDGE
I OF THE NOMINATION FOR THE PRESI-
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DExocRAr1c NATIONAL CoSvENrf0N,l
Z = Baltimore, Nd, June g. 1860. I
J SIR; I am erected. by vote of the Democratic
National Convention, to inform you that yon have
been. this day, unanimously nominated by it as the
candidate of the Democratic party for the office Of
President Of the United States and in their behalf
to request you to accept the nomination
beg leave, at the same time, to enclose to you
copy of the resolutions adopted by the Convention
as to the political platform on which the party
stands. -: -f~
--. have the honor to be- =
Very respectfully.
C. CUSHING, Pres't.
Hon. j. G. BREcKINRIDGE.
WASHINGTON CRY, July 6, 1860.
DEAR SIR: have your letter of the 23d ultimo,
by which am officially informed of my nomination
for the office of President of the United States by
the Democratic National Convention, lately assem-
bled at Baltimore The circumstances of this NOM
nation will justify in referring to its personal
aspect.
have not sought nor desired to be placed before
the country for the Office of President. When my
name was presented to the convention at Charleston,
it was withdrawn by a friend. in obedience to my
expressed wishes. NV views had not changed when
the convention reassembled at Baltimore; and when
heard of the differences which occurred there, my
ndispostion to be connected prominently with the
canvass was confirmed and expressed to many
friends.
Without discussing the occurrences which pre-.
ceded the nominations, and which are or soon will
be, we'll understood by the country, have only to
say that ] approved, as just and necessary to inc
preservation Of the national organization and the
sacred right of representation, the action Of the
convention over which you continued to preside;
and thus approving it. and having resolved to sus-
tain it, feel that it does not become to select the
position shall occupy, nor to shrink from the re-
sponsibilitics of the post to which have been as
signed. Accordingly, accept the nomination from
a sense Of public duty. and, as think, uniniuenced
in any degree Ivy the allurements Of ambition.
| avail myself of this occasion to say that the
confidence in my personal and public character i'm
piled by the action of the convention will always
be gratefully remembered and it is but just also to
my own feelings to express my qualification at the
association of my name with that of my friend
General Lane, patriot and soldier, whose great
services in the field and in council enttle him to
the gratitude and confidence of his countrymen.
The resolutions adopted by the convention have
my cordial approval. They are just to all parts Of
the Union-to all our citizens. native and natural
ized-and they form noble policy for any admin
istration
The questions touching the rights Of persons and
property, which have Of late been much discussed,
find in these resolutions constitutional soution.-
Our Union is a Confederacy of equal, sovereign
States, for the purposes enumerated in the federal
constitution. Whatever the common government
holds in trust for all the States must be enjoyed
equally by EACH 1t controls the Territories in trust
for all the States. Nothing less than sovereignty
destroy impair the rights of persons or prop
erty. The territorial governments are subordinate
and temporary, and not sovereign; hence they can
not destroy impair the rights of persons prop
erty. While they continue to be Territories they
under the control of Congress but the constitution
nowhere confers on any branch of the federal gov
eminent the power to discriminate against the rights
of the States the property of their citizens in the
Territories 1t follows that the citizens of all the
States may enter the Territories of the Union with
their property, of whatever kind and enjoy it dur.
ing the territorial condition without let or hinder
ance either by Congress or by the subordinate ter
ritorial governments.
These principles flow directly from the absence o.
sovereignty in the territorial governments and FROM
the equality of the States. Indeed they are essen
tal to that equality which is and has been the
vital principle Of our constitutional Union. They
have been settled legisatvely -settcd judicially-
and are sustained. by right reason. They rest or
the rock of the constitution. They will preserve
the Constitution They will preserve the Union.
1t is idle to attempt to smother these great issues
or to misrepresent them by the use of partisan
phrases which are misleading and delusive Tit
people will look beneath such expressions as "in
tervention," Congressional slave CODE" and tn,
like and will penetrate to the real questions nvolv
ed The friends of constitutional equality do no
and never did demand congressional slave code,
nor any other "code" in regard to property in tn
Territories. They hold the doctrine of non-inter
vention by Congress or by Territorial legislator,
either to establish prohibit slavery but they as
sert Certified by the highest judicial tribunal in tn
Union) the plain duty Of the federal government il
all its departments, to secure, when necessary, t
the citizens of all the States the enjoyment Of thei
property in the common Territories as everywher
else within its jurisdiction. The only logical an
swer to this would seem to be to claim sovereign
power for the Territories, or to deny that the con
stution recognises property in the services of ne
gro slaves, to deny that such property can exist
Inexorable logic, which works its steady wa!
through clouds and passion, compels the country t
meet the issue. There is no evasive, middle ground
Already the signs multiply of fanatical and grow
ing party which denies that under the constitution
or by any other law, slave property can exist; an
ultimately the struggle must come between thi
party and the national democracy, sustained by al
the other conservative elements in the Union.
think it will be impossible for candid mind t
discover hostility to the Union q faint of section
aism IN the resolutions adopted by the convention
The Constitution and the Union repose on the equal
ity Of the States which lies like broad foundatio
underneath our whole political structure. As
constrne them, the resolutions simply assert thi
equality. They demand nothing for any State o
section that is not cheerfully conceded to all tn
rest. 1t is well to remember that the chief disol
ders which have afflicted our country have grow
out Of the violation Of State equality, and that a
long as this great principle has been respected "
have been blessed with harmony and peace. Nc
will it be easy to persuade the country that rcsolt
tions are sectional which command the support of
majority of the States and approved by the bon
and body of the old democracy, and by vast mas
of conservative opinion everywhere, without regar
to party.
1t has been necessary more than once in our hi
tory to pause and solemnly assert the true chara
ter of this government memorable instance o