The Van Buren press., 1860-07-20
WAsHINGIux june -

WAsHINGIvx. june -
UESTLLSES In accordance with the YER
bal assurance which gave you when you
placed In my hands the authentic evidence
oi my nomination for the Presidency by
the national convention of the Dem ocraric
party, l now send Won my formal accept
ance.
Upon careful examination OF the plat
iorm OF principles adopted at Charleston,
and re-affirme,l at Baltimore. without an
additional resolution, which is in perfect
harmony with the others, l find it to he
faithful embodiment, Of the time .lonored
principles of the Democratic party, as the
same were proclaimed and understood by
ali parties in the Presidential contests of
1913. %, and 80. Upon looking into the
proceedings OF the Convention, also, | find
the nomination was made with great una
nimity, in the presence, AMI with the CON
curremre OF more than two-thrds of the
whole number Of delegates. and in exact
accordance with the long established usage
II the party.
Ny inilexiblc purpose not to be q caEdi
date, nor accept the nomination under any
contingency except the regular nominee
ii the national Democratic party, and in
tha, case only upon condition that the usa-
gcs as well as the principles OF the party
shonld DC strictly adhered to, had been pro-
Claimed for a long time and become we'll
known TO the country.
These conditions having all been compli-
ed with by the free and voluntary action of
the Democratic masses and their faithful
representatives, without any agency, inter-
ference, or procurement on my part, l feel
touni in honor and duty to accept the nom
nation.
Il. taking his step ain not unmindful
Of the responsibility 1T imposes, bs. r,iih
finn reliance upon Divine Providence, l
have the faith that the people will con,pre
teita the true nature of the issues involved
ana eyeutuaily maintain the right. The
peace Of the country and the perpetuity Of
the Ugon have been put in jeopardy by the
attempt to interfere with and control the
domestic affairs Of the people i. t'rc Terri
tories. through the agency of the Federal
Government. Ii the power and the duty
Of the Felleral interference is 10 be conced
ed, two hostile sectional parties must b-
The inevitable result-thc~ one intiaming
the passions and ambitions OF the North,
and the other Of the South, and each strug
Cling 10 use the Federal power and author
ity tor The acgraniizemcnt Of its own sec
tion at the expense Of the equal rights o.
the other, and in dcrogation of these fun
damental princip plcs-the principles OF self
government, which were firmly established
in this country by the American revolu-
tion-as the basis Of our entire republican
system
Durins the memorable period or oar po-
litical history, when the advocates Of fcder
al intervention upon the subject of slavery
in the Territories had well Aigh prcciptated
the country into revolution, the northern
interven.ionists demanding the Wimot
proviso for the prohibition Of slavery, and
the southern interventionists, though few
in number, aud without a single representa-
tive in either house of Congress, insisting
upon Congressional legislation for the pro-
lection of slavery Tin opposition to the
wishes OF the people in either casey, it will
be remembered that it required all the wis
dom of Clay and Webster, and q Cass,
supported by the conservative and patri-
otic men of the Whig and Democratic par
ties of that day, to devise and carry out a
line of policy which would restore peace to
the country and stability to the Union.
The essential, living principle of that poll
cy, as applied in The legislation of 1858,
was, and now is, non. Intervention by Con-
ggess with slavery in the Territories.
The fair application of this jast and equi-
table principle restored harmony and fra
ternity to q distracted country. If We now
depart from that wise and Just policy which
produced these happy results, and permit
the country TO be again distracted and pre-
cipitatei into revolution by a sectional con-
test between pro-slavery and anti-slavery
intcrventiOnists, where shall We look for
another Clay, another Webster, or another
Cass, 20 pilot the ship OF State over the
breakers into a haven of peace and safety :?
The Federal Union must he preserved :;
the Constitution must be projected by law
in all cases where the legislation Is ncceS-
>ary to its enjoyment the judicial author
isy III the Constitution mu>t be sustained,
AMI its decisions implicitly obeyed and
faithfully executed the laws must be adj
minis;eTeA. ami the constituted authorities
EfhelI. and all unlawful resistance to these
things mnst be me; with firmness, imparti-
ality and t:,ielitv, if we expect 10 enjoy and
transmit nuimpaired to our rostefity that
hies>c,; Inheritance which we have received
in trust from the patriots and saSes oi the
revolution.
With sincere thanks for the kind and
a,rueable manner in which YOU have made
known to me the action of the convention
| have the honor to be. very respectfully,
your friend and fellow citizen,
S. y. DoucLAs.