The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-07-14
VOL. XX---NO. al.

tHiit II thcr had remained at their post
they had the power to have prevented the
nomination of any candidate who might
be obnoxious to the South Thus reduced
by secessions, the convention adjourned to
Baltimore, and requested the States to fill
the vacancies in their respective delega-
tlons. lhe convention re-assembled on
the 18TH instant The seeding delega-
tons We're returned, some accredited to
Richmond, and others to Baltimore by the
way of Richmond, and instructed to make
the same demand, and to Withdraw if it
should be refused. Delegates were an.
pointed in Louisiana, Alabama and Geor-
gia 10y the National Democrats Of those
/ States ~ fill the vacant seats of the sece-
| ders. Those Of Alabama and Louisiana
were admitted, and the seeding delega-
tons rejected, and the seeding delegates
from Georgia were admitted to seats
They all took umbrage at the decisions of
the convention touching the various con-
tests for seats. They retired, organized
and nominated candidates for the presi
dcncy and vice presidency, and they claim
/ to be the National Democracy of the
| United States Now, if they were actua-
ted by "principle,' if it was their purpose,
( IN good faith. to obtain the recognition of
( the principles OF Congressional protection
/ for slavery in the Territories, why not wait
until proper time arrived 10 bring that
snhlect before the convention, and then,
according to their instructions, Withdraw
from the body? The reason is palpable;
they were waging war against distinguish
ed man, not for the maintenance of prin-
ciple; they were willing TO leopard the
Integrity Of the Democratic party and the
triunPhs Of its cherished principles rather
than sec it, will proclaimed in the nomi,i-
alton Of its tavorite. Admitting, for the
sake OF argument, Mr.. Douglas to be oh.
noXious IS they alege he is, yet there ne
yer was time when the South united
could not have defeated his nomination
Why, then. should they have seeded p
Nhy not remain at their post? Why
I seek To dl~ucmbor and DESTROY the party?
question not the patriotism OF any, but
the people will hold them responsible.
sooner or later, for all the i'll that NAV
4 tiOw from their errors. | said the demand
for congressional intervention was properly
rejected AZ Charleston, and why do | say
so? Because it was the agreement the
North and the South that the slavery agi-
tation should be removed from the halls
Of Congress, and the people Of the Terri
tories be left perfectly free 10 regulate
their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject to the Constitution of the
the compromise measures of 1860, and
practically applies III the Nebraska Kan
sas act in lsjl 1t was adopted by both
the great political parties of the United
States in l>J2 1t triumphed in the cleo
ton OF Franklin Pierce in that year, and
Of James buchanan in lSjG 1t is. per-
haps, the best ground of compromise be-
tween the North and the South which hu-
man ingenuity an devise, and by it the
( Democratic party at least, of all sections,
should be willing to abide. 1t gives ad-
vantage TO neither section over the other,
because 1t refers all questions of dispute
between them, either as TO congressional
or territorial power over the subject Of
slavery, to the final arbitrament of the
Supreme Court of the United States 1t
is therefore safe for the South Its prac-
teal working is not without satisfactory
results " hen the people of Territory
desire slave Labor, and the soil and climate
are suited 10 1t, slavery viii go-where
these conditions do not exist il will not 90
This finds an Illustration in New Mexico,
where slavery Is established, and that in
those Territories where it is excluded
Only few days ago propositions to repeal
the slavery laws Of New Mexico were
made and rejected on the one hand, and
the antl-slarery law OF Kansas On the
other was made and rejected in the Senate.
suppose these propositions, or either of
them, had prevailed, Is it not certain the
c,untry would have been thrown INTO the
highest excitement? But by their rejec-
ton uon-ntervention was practically adj
hered 10, and the pu0lic mind is satisfied
and quiet. Let Us maintain it firmly and
{ faithfully. " e are bound to it by every
consideration of interest and obligation of
, compact. Its abandonment will prove IA
tai to the national Democratic party, and
ultimately TO the Union itself 1t will
drive the South into intense sectionalism,
and the North into the ranks of Black
Republicanism. | do not say every man
Of the North for | know that the great
body OF the Northern democracy will re-
main true TO the constitution, despite the
overwhelming flood of it. relentless CO.
hOrts. But ! mean that the free labor
States would be controlled by Black Re-
publicanisIn. and would not be able TO re-
turn a single member to either house of
Congress friendly TO the constitutional
rights of the South. | trust that such Il
condition OF things may never exist; but
If il should, know Of no way by which
the Union can be saved Hence the doc
triuc Of Congressional intervention as ad-
vocated by this new born sectional party,
is .raught with peril to the country. The
question is now distinctly presented to the
people, whether they will adhere to the
doctrine OF nonintervention, or whether
they will abandon it; whether they will
reopen the slavery agitation by requiring
Congress 10 take jurisdiction over it, or
whether they will give repo.e to the pub
lie mind and security to the Union by
leaving it where the compromise leaves it
to the free action of the people of the
Territories under the Constitution of the
United States. The issue is fairly made
up, 1t Is intervention o" "non-interyention.
Its decision involves the destiny of this
great Republic, and the highest interests
OF the civilized world. Compared with it
the aspirations of men and the fate of po-
litical parties sank into utter insignificance
Where shall we look for deliverance from
these threatened evils ? 1t has been the
mission OF the Democratic parry of the
Union, Ill thousand perils, to rescue our
country from impending calanities. Its
! past career abounds with heroic passages
/ and is illustrated with the most glorious
/ achievements III the cause OF constitution
! al liberty. Ii Is the party OF Jefferson and
/ Madison and jackson and Polk, whose
administrations constitute grand epochs in
/ our national history. 1t is the party of
( the constitution, and look to it with con-
nu',!cc' " mere eise siiitii Inc patllot look
in these times OF political detection and
sectional agitation? Let its integrity be
permanently destroyed and the doctrine
of Eon-intervention overthrown, and then
the best hopes of the statesman will be-
clouded with gloom and darkness. 1t is
to maintain these that consent to take
! the position now aSsigned me, and well
come the Consequences of personal good
. or pc rsonal i'll which that position may
bring Nothing else could induce me to
/ brave the detraction which it invites, and
incur the heavy responsibility which it i'm