Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-07-03
MIR. DOug1as' Letter of .tcerptu

Mr. Dou@1as' Letter of .acecptuu.K
WAsHlSGroS, June o9-Ihe following is
Mr. Douglas letter accepting the nom.&a;;3n
for the Presidency:
ASH!SGToH, june -. lSN =
conference.-the accordance wiki the vern.HS
assurance which | gave you when YOU placed
IN my hands the authentic evidence Gi nY no
mnat'on I"r the Presidency by the National
Ioh'entlon Of the Democratic party, | bows
scnu you my iurlGal acceptance.
pom careful examination of the platform
Oh prlhcpieS adopted at Charleston and re
affirmed ~ Is E'ItI'"orc, with an additional rcso
iutlon Which Is IN perfect harmony with the
others, lind it to be faithful embodiment OF
the tlEne.nonorcG principles Of the Democratic
purity, US the same were proclaimed ;nd under
stood by all parties in the Presidential Contests
OF 1913 1852 and ls5G. Upon looking INTO
the proceedings OF the Convention also. ! linti
that the nomination WAS made with rrca; ur.:-
nimlty, IN the presence and with the CONCUR
renee OF more than two.thrds o! the whole
number OF delegates, and in exact accordancc
with the long established uSaeeS of the parry.
Ny intleXible purpose not 10 be canilute
nor accept tue nomination in any contingency.
except AS the regular nominee Of the National
y
condition that the usagcS rs we'll MS the p,inci.
pies OF the party should be strictly adhere. to-
had been proclaimed for 4 long time ard L..
come well known to the country. These con.
dIlions having been complied with by the
free and voluntary action OF the Democrat:
masses and their faithful representatives wl,h.
out any agency, interference or procuIemcn;
on my part, feel bound in honor and duty e
accept the nomination.
In taking this step am no; unmindiul Q:
the responsibilities it imposes; bet with y iirn
reliance on Divine Providence, have faith that
the people will comprehend the trur nature of
the issue involved and eventually mnintan tie
right, The peace OF the country and the per.
petulty oil the Union have been put in jcopar.
dy by attempts TO- Interfere with ard contrsi
the domestic affairs Of the people in the Terri.
tories through the agency Of the Federal Coz
ernment II the power End duty of Federal in.
reference be conceded two Eos!iicsec;ional ra..
ties must be the inevitable result. Tur onu, :ia.
ming the passions and ambition Of The North,
and the other Of the South; and each stru.s!rN.
10 use the Federal power and authority i,r the
asgrandiScmcnt Of It's own section Al the c!.
pcnsc Of the equal rights OF the Other, aat: IL
dcrogation of those fundamental! principles oi
sell government which were firmly established
in this country br the American Il rolH,on :,S
the basis of o"r entire Republican system.
During memorable pcriod III oi:: po'Ii-
cal history, when the advocates uf Federal III
terventon upon the subject Of SaTerv in lie
territories had well nigh "prcclp;atcd the
country into revolution the Northern i%.cr.
rentioniSt*, demanding the Wll.not prov:o !9r
the prohibition Of slavery, and the Southern
intcrrcntlOniSlS, then few III number and wita
outa single representative IN either House u
Congress, insisting Hpon Congressional iegI.ia
ton ior the protection ofs!avcry y,in"pro>Itoa 10
the wiSEic; Of the people in cIther case, i wl!
be remembered that il repaired nil the WISDOM
power and influence oi' 4 Clay, and i Webster.
and Ca>S. supported by conservative .:nd
patriotic mcll--Whi aud Democrat of ;aa;
day, to devise and carry oui :; iiac oi policy
which woid restore peace 10 lie cG"nt:y %rt
stability to the Union.
The essential living principle Of that polic'.
rs applied in the Legislation Of li5u, va. arc
now Is, non-iHfsrrenticN jy LdGgrH; r,n.
slGrety ~ The tcrrt;ort,S. Tic lair APP c.;yn
Ul this just ard equitable principle r,sIortt
harmony and fraternity 10 distracted c7un.
try.
II we now depart from that wisr and INST
policy which produced ih"sr happy results. ::"d
permit the country to be again distracted II tot
prccipI,atcti into revolution by >vci.o"a! c@a-
trs: between rrnslavcry ans. anlr.aiavary mex.
vcntinnistS, where shall wc lno:: lor aGJ;G"
Clay, another Webster, or another Cass 10 ri.
lot the ship Of State over the hreahcrs into lne
haven Of peacc aud safety?
The Federal Union mus; be preserved. the
Constitnuun must bc maintained invlolatc IN IL
its parts Every right guaranteed b: .ac Ton
stltutioa must be- protected by law ~ al! cases
where legislation is necessary 10 it, ci,;n, II e";.
The ju'licial authority, aS pio:idc IN Iic Con>ti
tuition, must be sustained. amd lis ,lrcisi5i, iIG
plicitly obcycd and faithfully rXrcu;c.!. Tho
lawS mutt bo admins, ,a-aj -"h ia. rnrStii,
tolial authorities upheld, and all unIaw!ui ~
sistance suppressed.
These things must ali br done with ir'MH'SS.
impartiaity and fidelity. il we expect ~ "'l"y
and transmit unimpairc'l, to our poSte!i;y. The
blessed Inheritance which we have received ia
trust from the patriots and Sagcs oI the Rcvo.
luton.
With sincere thanks FOR the kind and asrcca-
bic manner in winch You have uIate Known to
me the action Of the Convention. have the
honor to be, very respectfully, your friend and
fellow citizen. ). y. DorGLAS.
Hon. W. II. Ludlow, of T. York; K. =. Dick,
.of y. Carolina; 4. c. Wickll!lc, o! Louisiana.
| and others OF the Committee.