, 1860-05-21
ADDRESS TO THE CHARLESTON
SECEDEIkS.
An 1rrepreasifb1o Conflict Probable at
Baltimore

"AsH1stros. Mar Il. Isl.
The address to the Charleston ecceders is
published in the Cohs.itution Of this morning,
and cmbodies the views contained in Benniug's
letter which sent you last night. It is sisned
By R. w. johnson. A. 1verson, John Slidell,
jeff Davis, L. Q. C. Lamar, Martin Crawford,
Peter Z. Love, John Jones, james jackson,
John II. Underwood, u. Il. Garne1t. r. Toombe.
". L. Sebastian. Il. n. T. Hunter, j. II. Mason,
J. P. Benz pjamin. Lucius J. Gartrell, John r. Rea-
that the minority platform was adopted by the
majority Of states comprising all those ike1yto
vote for the Democratic candidate, and pointing
out but that for the unfair operation Of the unit
rule, it would have been adopted, the address
goes on to sustain the acion OF the eeceders,
and to point out the mode Of yet restoring the
harmony Of the party. 1t assumes that dispo.
stion has been erinced since the withdrawal Of
the seceders to adopt satisfactory platform
and thus secure the united action Of the party.
The address then proceeds as follows:
alt is plain that if the Convention shall at
Baltimore adopt satisfactory platform Of prin-
cip1es, before proceeding to elect its candidates,
the rea.on which dictated the withdrawal Of
the delegations Of eight States will hare ceased,
and no motive will remain for refusing, to unite
with their sister States, nor for holding m ad-
iourned meeting at Richmond. Tn the other
hand, ifthe Convention, on Fe'assembling ut
Baltimore, shall disappoint the expectat1ons Of
tions caunot fail to Withdraw and unite with
the eight States which hare adjourned to Rich
moud, In either event there would be uuaui-
nous action iu support Of our principles bJ all
the States which can be relied On for casting
Democratic electoral yotes..'
From this statement Of facts is it not eyi.
dent that the wise aud prudent course now to
be pursued by delegations Of the eight States,
i3to defer assembling in Richmond until ne.
cessity for such meeting shall become impera-
tiye? Ought they not IN view Of the already
altered condition Of affairs to return to the Con
yention at Baltimore to aid their sister States
ia the struggle for recognition OF sound DEM
ocralic p1lnciplesY May it not be that their
votes would now suffice 10 turn the scale, to
purge the party creed Of all heresies and en-
blazou on the party banner its houored device
or"Fidelity to the Constitution and the Union"
in characters SO clear Us to defy misconstruc.
tione Suppose for q moment that in this last
Struggle for the right they should again be
ove1borne, is it not then equally PLAN that
delegations of other democratic States con.
not fer IN instant be suspected of an ia
tentioa to refuse to redeem their pledge Of
Withdrawal from an assemblage which shall
persletentlg determine on the sacrifice Of u
principle which they themselves have de-
cared indispensable for their united action
to supposed expediency? Aud will not
| all democratic States thus Withdrawing and
adjourning to Richmond, be joined By true
| and faithful delegates 1rcm Pennsylvania and
New Jcr1sy, from Indiana and Maryland
| Az, from every one Of our sister States where
| delegates arc iound imbued with the living
| principles Of our party, but whose yolce has
| hitherto been stii1e1 in convention because Of
their being il minority Of their respective dele
| gationst The answer to all the foregoing ques.
tions seems to us to be clear aud plain. The
| line Of conduct we suggest leads in our judy
ment to q reconciliation Of differences Oh the
hu=is Of principle. 1t leads to united and bar
| monious action on our party; it does more, In.
tnite]F more: It secures vastly aided strength
| to that assertion Of principles which none OF rs
| for an instant thinks Of compromising. II
| cites tue action OF the seeding delegations
who thus will haze secured the object OF thei,
struggle, and hare merited the applause anG
gratitude Of their Democratic brethren. Tbs
contrary course would, We belierc, be- produc
tire Ct mischicyous consequences. Time doe:
not permit the action Of the regular organi
cations Of our party in respective States, ant
who could have no power to speak their will t,
meet in counci! and give Instructions to tlei
delegations. How is the voice Of Calfornln O.
| Of Oregon to he heard in tiu1ee uoy nre t1
constituencies Of Texas aud virgipia to NEE
in State Conventions, and give authoritative ex
precision of their will before tue middle Of June
How can the machinery be put in motion b.
Which the Democratic voters will direct attend
ance ct Baltimore OF Richmond in accprda,c
with their Judgment? Evidently this canno
be done. Evidently the delegations alrcad
elected arc the only ones that can act, and the
must net on their own Judgment in conjunt
ture which does not allow opportunity for In
struction By their constituencies. j refus.
then By the delegates Of seeding States to II
! turn 10 Baltimore, refusal to defer tue Rici
mond meeting until there shall be IN uuco1
troable necessity for holding 1t, would merit:
blY result in tile incurable division of our psrt
the sole conservative organization re,uainiog
cur country; in its final disruption; wor.
than all, in ihe endangering Of the success!
assertion Of its principles, compared ri,
which The success or q single electoral strure
is unworthy OF one moments consideration