Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-03-21
Desha County Democratic Convention

Desha County Democratic Convention.
 In pursuance to previous notice publish ed in the Napoleon Planter, the democrac, of Desha county assembled in convention at the court house in the city of Napoleon on Monday, the 9th day of March, 1860. On motion of Col D. T. Johnson, O Y Chester township, Dr. R. $. Parish wa called to the chair, and Dan J. Murphy appointed secretary.
 The chairman, in few we'll timed and appropriate remarks, explained the object o the meeting, which was called for the pur- pose of appointing delegates to represent Desha county in the State convention, to be held at Little Rock, to appoint delegates o the Charleston convention, and also to
 congressional convention to nominate candidate to represent the second congress sional district in the lower House of Con- gress, and further to express the preference of Desha for Governor.
 On notion 1t was resolved that all per sons who intend acting in good ialth with the democracy in future, are invited to par ticipate in the deliberations of this conven- tlon.
 OH mOllOfl, lHe Clliii "PpNiiANCa 'ilc iOI- lowing gentlemen a committee to draft re- solutions expressive of the sense of this meeting, to-wit: Mai. T. B. Flournoy, Col. D. T. Johnson, w. G. Weatherford, Calvin Stroud, Robt. H. Tucker, Jas. A. Knuckles and D. II. c. Moore, who retired to their room to prepare their report.
 Upon the unanimous call of the conven- tion, Mr. J. P. Barnes addressed the meet ing in an able and eloquent manner, on the political issues of the day
 At the conculson of the speech of Mir.
 rnes, the committee returned and report ed the following resolutions, towit:
 Resolred, That this meeting recongnzes the right of national democratic conventions to settle and de- termine all conf cting opinions, both as to policy and principles, and that such adjustment is binding the party, and it becomes the duty of every true democrat to cordially acquiesce therein.
 Resotoed, That the Cincinnati platform is such embodiment of the principles and policy of the par ty, and that it is long enough, broad enough- and good enough for any democrat to stand upon; and that all attempts to widen it, by interpolating plank, or to narrow it by abstracting one, alike meets with the disapprobaton of this meeting.
 Resoiped, That the doctrine of ofcongressional non- intervention with slavery every where and under all circumstances, was the platform of the fathers, when they framed the federal constitutions for they had the wisdom to loresee that at some future day Congress mi ght attempt to interfere with this do nestle institution, and they wisely restricted it's ton to three single points: lst. The atlixing the federal basis of representations 2d. To the passage ofa fugitive slave law; and 3rd, The suppression of the African save trade, after given time (lS0 ; The restriction of the action of Congress to these three points most especially the plat form of South Carolina and Georgia. It wasa sine que non with them, for they refused to come into the contederacy on any other terms Non-interven- ton was the plank in the Bltim- re platform on which the great battle under Pierce was fought and won. It was the plank in the Cincinnati platform on wbch the great contest of '56 turned that car ried MT. Buchanan into power
 Resolyed That We believe there is not a stronger plank in the platform, than this off intervention, and that it's abstraction would greedy weaken and mar its beautiful symmetry and fair proportion ii it did not entirely destroy and Overturn the whole fabric for 1t Is the opinion, that our brcahren at the North Gas good and true men as ever drew d blade or broke a lance) cannot Committed as they are to non n ervention) now change front and sus- tain themselves or the party, with the masses at home; it would be to them q political death; and to the democratic party certain defeat and probable ruin.
 ResoIped That for the southern people to rely for protection their slave property, the tender mercies of an abolition Congress would be the con summation of human folly; they could only expect q of his satanic majesty the devil.
 ReS0lped That the doctrine of popular sovereign ty is the great principle which the fabric o this government rests, and comments itsef to our judg- ment as not only safest but eminently just and right and the best solution of the slavery question; " that the people of Territory, like those of q State shall be lett free to regulate their own inter- nal policy suit themselves" subject only to the constitution of the United States as expounded through the courts; "in whose decision We have reason to have the utmost confidence"
 ReSotoed, That in favor of leaving the question of slavery the determination of the peo- pie interested, believing it much safer than in abo- lition hands, believing further that when so left 1t at once becomes question of interest, turning on three considerations: lst. congenial climate; 2i. rich soil 3d. ready means ot trlnsportat on of the products of slave labor to a foreign market. If these things conspire slave labor will pay and the population will, of certainty, be pro-slavery; but if these elements do not exist, they will as cer- tany be antislay ery and in each case they will fix the status of the State Territory in accordance with the existence or otherwise of the above ele- ments and that too in spite of all the slave codes that could be enacted by Congress; for enactments enforcing slavery people hostile to it, Will not and cannot be enforced, when 1t must ot necessity be enforced, if enforced at all by the very people opposing it.
 Resolued, That it has been the operation of these elements, going to make slavery valuable or its re-
 
 " single organized government in this conetcrIcy, from it- origin to the present moment, and whilst the existence of these elements amongst us has made Arkansas slave State, the absence ot these causes in Oregon has made her free Stae, anl the same reasons have determined the status of all the others.
 Rrsolred. That whilst we of Arkansas, by virtue ofour State rights notions claim the exclusive git to fix up everything, not federal, to suit our own private wishes, so in like manner are we cheerful to grant the same exclusive right to others, so that whilst we ill consulting our own good, have deter mined that ArllansIs shall be slave State, we would not five could determine the status of others contrary to their wishes, even ii could do so (to use the expression of the gallant Rust, by uttering the monosylabe-yes.)
 ResoEped That we regard it as most solemn and sacred duty of the convention, when met at Charles ton honestly to inquire into and determine the re- ave strength of the different aprants, and to give to the party us its standard bearer, in the terrible conflict now approaching, the name of that asplrant mb)dying the greatest strength as aSalnst aooir tionisrn.
 ResoIred, That we, as members of the great de- mocratic party. have no to ike on any dis- tinguished member of the party asp ring to ohce' on old, dead and buried issues, nor care we rom whence he comes, for we glory in the antecedents of the party which has ever been national and scoring sectionalism; and we now pledge ourselves to the support of the nominee of the convention,
 
 comes.
 ResoIred, That all attempts to forestal the free and unbiased action of the Charleston convention, come form whence it may, should be met by every member of the party with undivided scorn and con tempt as an impuden effort at dctation to the party and these selfconstitued dctators should be taught that when the party acknowledge they need dicta- tors they will be of their own appointment.
 Resolped, That recent developments now leave but little doubt that the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas will be the nominee of the conventions at least it is rertan that the wo-thirds rule alone can prevent st and in the event of his nomination, We hope to see the name of our eminent and respected tel low citizen, Hon. R. W. Johnson, presented to the convention for the second postion-that of Vice President of the United States -t.+-t-
 Rcsolred That it is opinion that no two nam es would combine more strength, be hailed with more joy, or awaken more enthusiasm in the democratic heart of the nation, or be received with more de spondency by the enemy, than the names of such distinguished patriots as Douglas and Johnson; un der such banner democracy could not fail to car " the nation and exterminate black repubiicanism
 ResoLued, That the Hon. JnsOn P. Johnson has