The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-05-24
Facts Concerning the Charleston
lES Convention.

@S Convention.
There are facts connected with the porceed-
ings of the National Democratic Convention
recently assembled in Charleston, which it is
important that the democracy Of the entire
Union should know and thoroughly compre-
bend, in order that they may truly appreciate
the acts Of that body, and regulate their own
future conduct accordingly to promote the har-
mony and union Of the party and secure the
best interests of our country. vf,f
We were present during tho ten days that
the Convention sat in Charleston. We watched
ftsproceedings with anxious care, and are: there
fore, in position to testify intelligently as to
what took place there. 5s- eAfss SIT
Every honest democrat who prefers principle
to men, and the welfare Of the Republic to pri-
vate interests or individual ambition, must re-
greet, as we do, the discord and dssension which
unhappily existed in that Convention which
compelled the representatives of eight States,
if they would not forfeit their constitutional
rights, their honor and their self-respect, to
withdraw from body in which all three were
assailed and which prevented, for a time,
the accomplishment Of the great and important
purpose for which the Convention assembled.
1t is right, however, that the national demo-
cracy should know by what agencies and for
what reasons this lamentable discord was fos-
tered and continued, that they may know to-
whom to attribute the fault, and on whom to
infict the weight of their censure. i..-r.
The subject Of contention, as our readers are
aware, was the platform Of principles which
was to constitute the creed of the democratic
party for the next four years, and on which the
democratic candidates for the presidency and
vice presidency of the United States we're to
stand in the coming contest against the black
republican enemies of the country.
On the one side the representatives Of ma
jority Of the States of the Confederacy and Of
all the States whose votes will surely be cast
for the democratic nominees. presented plat
form Of principles plain, just and susceptible,
of but one Interpretation. Warned by the ex-
perience Of the past three years. and by the
lamentable differences which have arisen in
consequence Of the two dramatically opposite
constructions which have been placed on the
creed Of the party, which was adopted at Gin
cinnat, in reference to the rights of the States
in the common Territories, the delegates Of the
seventeen democratic States in spirit Of har-
mony and patriotism reported platform Of
principles in which it was distinctly laid down
that under the Federal Constitution the several
States of the Union are equal that The people
thereof are entitled to the free and indefeasible
possession and enjoyment Of their personal and
proprietary rights in the common Territories /;
that neither Congress nor a territorial legisla-
ture has any power to impair or destroy this
equality of rights; and that in case such rights
are violated it is the duty of Congress to pass
cessary to afford due protection to the persons
and property of all the citizens of the Republic.
The doctrines which they thus enuncatcd were
identical with those for which every democratic
State in the Union has contended for the last
three years the justice of which the true de-
nocracy Of those Northern States in which the
black-republcans have the ascendency, have
always admitted which every democratic
Senator Of the United States, with but two ex-
ceptions, and large majority Of the demo-
cratic members Of the House of Representa-
tives, have approved which the present dis
tinguished head of the Executive Government,
has repeatedly enunciated and which the
venerable judges Of the Supreme Court of the
United States have declared to be alone In
conformity with the constitution Of which they
are the constituted expounders in the last
resort. ,5.lr ..-
Arrayed against those who reported the plat
form, and proposed its adoption as the creed o.
the democratic party, were the factious parti
sans of man who desires at all hazards to be
elevated to the highest office in the Republic
who for the past three years has occupied 9
position Of direct aud bitter antagonism to the
doctrines and principles of vast majority o
the democratic party, and who has advanced
and advocated the dogma of squatter sover-
eighty which fifteen States of the Union regard
as destructive Of their constitutional rights
hostile to their interests, and insulting to thcil
honor and dignity. The personal followers Of
the apostle of squatter sovereignty representing
but fourteen States of the Union, most of which
1t is certain, will not vote for the democratic
nominees, refused to concur in the majority
report, and presented another platform III
which the great principle of the equal rights
the States in the common domain was purposely
ignored, and the demands of a majority of thu
States we're insultingly disrcgardcd. The
minority report was adopted by the Con
vention and as an inevitable consequence
the delegations of eight States withdrew
refusing any longer to participate in the DELHI
erations of body in which their rights, inter
ests, and homer were thus unjustly invaded
How was this great wrong perpctrated? How
was it that the advocates of the offensive heresy
of squatter sovereignty, numbering not more
than third Of the Convention, defeated the
will of clear majority Of the States, and {
large majority of the delegates? 1t is impor
tant that the democracy should ponder well
the true answer to these questions. In the
State conventions where the friends of Judge
Douglas had . majority, the delegations to
Charleston were instructed to vote as unit
and the members Of those delegations who were
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