Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-05-12
ble to enforce their decrees at the ballot

The undersigned are confirmed in thi
 opinion by reference not only to the history
 of the past, which shows that in all instan ces the sovereignty of the States, and no the electoral votes of the States, has uni formly been represented in the committee on platforms, and that the report of tht committee has invariably been registered as the supreme law of the democratic party by unanimous consent of the entire conven- tlon, without changing or in any manner altering any part or portion thereof. It is asserted, as part of our traditional policy and confidently believed, that the democra- cy of the United States, by peculiar sys- tenn of checks and balances, formed after the fashion of the federal government, were contracted and bound themselves to fully recognize the sovereignty of the States in making the platform, and the population or masses of the States in naming the can- dldate to be placed on the platform. That many States have been uniformly allowed to vote the full strength of their electoral college in these conventions when it was we'll known that said States had never here tofore, and probably would never hereafter, give single electoral vote at the polls to the candidate which they had so large a share in nominating, cannot be accounted for on any other principle than that it was intended only as a recognition of the sover- eighty and equality of said States.
 Would it be right at this time for the numerical majority to deprive all the black republican States represented on this floor by their representatives, which by custom they have so long enjoyed, simply because 1t is now evident that they are or wills be unable to vote the democratic vote in the next Presidential election?
 By common consent we say, that reck- less numerical majority shall not thus De allowed to tread under foot the vested rights of those States and the we'll estap- lished usages and customs of the party.
 If thus it be wrong for the numerical ma . jority to deprive the black republican States of this long vested right, how much more unjust is 1t for the numerical ma aiority to deprive oU the States of their vested right to make and declare the platform in the usual and customary manner? and when we call to mind that the numerical mrority re- sides chiefly in the black republican States, to whom the south has uniformly accorded so large privilege in naming candidates who were alone to be elected by southern votes, we have much reason to believe that he, to whom you gave an inch seems em- | boldened thereby to demand an ell.
 The undersigned beg leave to state that many patriotic states rights democrats in the south have long contended that these conventions of the democracy, representing in fact the whole consolidated strength of the Union, acting through party sympathy upon the individual members of society, would ultimate in despotic, colossal cen tlalism, possessed of power to override and destroy at its will and pleasure the consti- rutions and reserved rights of any and all the States The south, however, has here tofore felt safe because of the checks and balances imposed upon the machinery of the conventions The south felt that where she retained an equal power to write the creed of faith, she could trust her northern sisters, with their immense populations, to name the candidate; and all would alike support the creed and the candidate.
 The undersigned well knowing the hos tillty of the northern masses to the "pecu- liar institutions" of the south, and calling to mind the relative numbers of the north ern and southern States, assert with conf dence that no southern State in the Union would ever have consented to surrender so abiectly and hopelessly, all their fortunes to the numerical majority who have just now voted to set aside the platform, unless upon the full assurance that the States were en- titled by agreement to make and establish the creed of faith and prescribe the rule of action This violation of plighted faith on the part of the numerical majority-this violation of the well established usage and custom of the party-drive us to the con clusion that we can not longer safely trust the fortunes of slaveholding States to the chances of the numerical majority in a con- vention, where all the black republicans of the Union, the immense populations of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and other northern States, are fully represented, on the. one side, against the small populations from the slave States on the other. Had these populations ad- hered strictly to the usages and customs of the party, longer association might have been practicable; but annihiliation iS staring us in the face, and we are admonished of our duty to stand upon our'reserved rights
 We declare, therefore, that we believe our mission to this convention at an end
 lst Because the numerical majority have usurp- ed the prerogatves of the States in setting aside fl. . o,l,l II, I .I
 settled the basis of this convention. and thereby permanently dsorganized its constitution. Its de crees therefore, become null and void
 2d Because we were positively instructed by the democracy of Arkansas to insist on the recognition of the equal rights of the south in the common ter ritories, and protection in those rights by the fed eral government, prior to any nomination of can ddate; and this convention has refused to recog- nze the principles required by the State of Arkan- sas, in her popular convention first, and twice sub sequently re-asserted by Arkansas, together with all her southern sisters, in the report of platform to this convention; and as we cannot serve two masters, are determined first to serve the Lord our God. We cannot ballot for any candidate whatsoever.
 Sd. In retring,we deny to any peIson, or per sons any right whatever to cast hereafter in this convention, either vote or the vote of Arkansas in any proposition which may, or can, possibly come up for consideration. The delegates of Ar Eansas cannot take any part iI placing sound candidate on an 6nsound platform, because it would disgrace any sound southern man who would con sent to stand such platform; and, as a suuattcr sovereignty platform has been adopted, We believe good faith and honor requires that the chief of squatter sovereignty should be placed on it. We wish no part or lot in such misfortune. nor do we believe that we can safely finger under the shade of the upas tree, this day planted certainly.
 J. A. JORDAN,
 N. B. BUKROW,
 VAN II. MANNING
 Mr B. stated, after reading the paper, that the gentlemen who had signed repre- sented both wings of the State--all its public men, its hopes, its character, and its fortunes.
 Mr. Johnson, of Arkansas, as chairman of the Arkansas delegation, desired to say a single word to go along with the paper which had been read. It was his desire that that portion of the Arkansas deega tion who had concluded to leave the con vention should have waied until the dele gation could have had consultation. Why did he hesitate? It was because he con ceived that the stability of the Union itself was involved in the action taken here by the southern representatives.
 He had heen tauUht from hovbood 4o L