Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-07-18
From I tha Wilmine,on Journsl.

81 80
To tie Peters Of the Sd Congressional District Of
!. North Carolina.
FRLEow- CIrIzENs: The Democ, attic party of this
District, in Convention assembled saw fit to place
my name in nomination for the position Of Electer
several weeks prior to the meeting of the Demo-
cratic National Convention in Charleston No for
NAL acceptance has ever been asked of me by the
Convention, having received no communication on
the subject either from committee Of correspond
ence or the President of the Convention. You will
perceive, therefore, that have had no opportunity
of placing my views before you in relation to the
great political events through which we have been
passing since the meeting Of the District Conven-
ton, even if had desired it, without appearing to
do so in rather an officious manner. 1t occurs to
me, however, that the time for silence on my part
has passed by. No one who has any regard for his
independence as citizen can longer refuse to
speak out. Nearly all the Democratic Editors of
the State have boldly and fearessly taken their po
sition, and, thank God most of them have taken
the only position under existing circumstances, in
my estimation, consistent with Southern honor and
our Constitutional rights, in favor of John C. Brock
inridge, of Kentucky, for President, and General
Joseph Lane of Oregon, for Vice President. Some
or two Of the Electors have also indicated pub
licly their opinions. With great unanilnity the
sentiment of the State, far have been able to
gather it. seems to be for the Breckenridge ticket.
At this late hour therefore, after everybody seems
to have expressed themselves one way or the other
hope it will not be considered presumption in me
to indicate to the people, some of my friends at
distance may desire to know my position, the
course shall deem it proper to pursue in the ap-
preaching canvass. This | feel at liberty to do
even though Convention may be called, as de-
sire the party to be fully informed as to my posi-
ton, in order that such steps may be taken as the
party may deem appropriate in the event of a diff
nfn lot,a
The delegates sent to the National Democratic
Convention have placed before you two Presidential
tickets After an ejectment of a large number of
the Southern delegates from the Convention upon
its re-assemblng in Baltimore, for no other reason
than because they had, at Charleston felt it their
duty to withdraw from the Convention upon the
adoption of the Platform to ask the advice of their
constituents, and the additional reason perhaps the
most potenD that they had indicated a feeling
against Judge Douglas for the nomination more
than onethird of the Convention (including nearly
all Of the regular Southern deegaes) adopted what
is called the majority platform of the Charleston
Committee on resolutions, and nominated Mr. Brock
nridge for President and Gen. Lane for Vice Presi-
dent The remaining delegates casting according to
the most favorable calculation, for Mr. Douglas friends
that have seem only 1874 Electoral votes ess than
twothirds) nominated Hon. S. A. Douglas for Presi-
dent and II. V. johnson for Vice President upon
the platform dictated by Mr. Douglas himself.
months before the meeting of the Convention, when
some prominent individuals in our State, now appa-
rently for him, complained seriously of his position
Under these circumstances We are called upon as
democrats to select between these two tickets, I
presume no one whatever sentiments he NAV en-
terrain, individually, ask candidate fer Elector
to go before the people advocating no particular
ticket Should there be that one cannot consent
to crafty him. We must necessarily choose one or
the other, and while frank to say that prefer
either of them to any other Presidential ticket row
before the people of the United States, have
very decided choice between them for many and
obvious reasons and I choose to express that pre-
ference even at the risk of being called disunionst
which charge, if ever made, / shall repcl in be-
coming and proper spirit.
shall advocate, fellow-citizens the election of
the Breckenridge and Lane ticket and am determined
to do whatever my physical and mental ability en-:
ables me- to promote their claims before the people
of North Carolina. I shall do so for the following,
among other reasons: =,
First, We have regularly organized Democratic
party in North Carolina and that organization has
laid down platform Of principles, in Convention
assembled, which has been incorporated into the
Breckenridge platform, by which mean to stand,
and has spoken out authoritatively through its dele
gates for Breckenridge and Lane.
Secondly, No man can advocate Mr. Douglas
election n0w without taking his doctrine of "squat
ter sovereignty" along with him, and the doctrine
practically carried out is "interpention," which,
with my present convictions, can never advocate
Thirdly, Where principles lead l follow, regard
less of men; and find inscribed upon the Breck-
nridge platform the living principles of the old and
time-honored Democratic party, with the only Con-
stitutOna and legal construction thereof set forth in
plain and unmistakable language, that my sense of
duty to the country and our rights can ever allow
me to advocate.
F6urthly, 1t is demonstrable, that Mr. Breckin-
ridges nomination is as regular, according to the
usages Of the party as that of Mr.. Douglas, to say
nothing of Mr.. Johnson's nomination on the Doug.
las ticket IN Washington City, where the Conven-
ton never assembled, unless am misinformed'
And Filthy, because will never be found SOW
ing the seeds of political dssension by opposing or
embarrassing the only portion Of the democratic
party which manfests disposition to respect and
maintain the Constitutional rights Of my injured
and insulted section Of the country. and this as
sert without fear Of assaults from Union Croakers
or Lincoln submissionists.
am as much an Union man while the Constitu-
ton of my country is preserved in It's integrity as
any man. Ny love for the Union goes no further.
will never cowardly tell my oppressor that love
and admire him for his exhibition Of power exerted
against me; and those who love the Union, not be-
cause of its beautiful proportions under the Const
tuition but because they that it can be manuac-
tured into powerful engine of oppression and
cruelty without the Constitution, and tower in
strength and might under Black Republican rule
have no political sympathy with me and while
shall always part in sorrow with any portion Of my
Southern brethren, must in frankness say that if
get the cooperation of those whose sympathies are
against the South in the great battle for the Consti
tuition, can never expect their approval march
under the old Democratic Flag and battle for the
principles of our fathers, without any regard for
this or that man. By that old Flag, with the Con:
stituton well as the Union inscribed on it. mean
to stand and if go down must, will die at least
bravely, and only desire that it may be my winding
! sheet.
have thus, fellow citizens, laid before you some
Of the views that influence me to declare unequivo
cally my preference for the Breckenridge and Lane
ticket should have done 80 at an earlier period
| hut for the reason that did not desire tn annear