The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-09-05

Il
of their Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress. .39slIseEssFIE .0ao4x
A difficulty at once arose which never
could have arisen under the Congressional
Convention system. If a bare majority Of
the National Convention thus composed
could nominate a candidate, he might be
nominated mainly by the anti Democratic
States agaiustfhe sill of a large majoritv Of
the Democratic States. Thus the uoIhiha-
ting POWER would be separated sfryuse the
electing powers, which could not fail to be
destructive to the strength and harmony Of
the Democratic party - s,..g n. = -,
To obviate this serious difficulty in the
Organization Of the National Conyentien,s aud
at the same time 10 leave all the States their
flu vote, the two-thirds. rule was adopted,
1t was believed that under the rule, no can
didate could ever be nominated without en-
bracing within the two-thirds the votes Of a
decided majority of the Democratic States.
This was the substitute adoptedto retain, at
least in a degree, the power to the Demo
cratic States which they would have lost by
abandoning the Congressional Convention
system. This rule was a main pillar in the
edifice of National Conventions. Remove
it, and the whole must become ruin.
This sustaining pillar was broken to pieces
at Baltimore by the Convention that nomi-
mated Mr. Douglas. After this the body was
no longer National Convention and no
Democrat however devoted TO regular nom
nations, was bound TO give the nominee his
support; he was left free to act according to
the dictates of his own Judgment and con-
science. And here, in passing, ] may OBJ
serve that the wisdom of the two-thirds rule
is justified by the events passing around us.
Had it been faithfully observed, no candidate
could have been nominated against the will
and wishes of almost every certain Demo-
cratic Senator, aud more than three-fourths
Of the Democratic representatives in Con
gross. [Checrs. la7E .rt-5tc
purposely avoid entering upon any dis
cussion respecting the exclusion from the
Convention of regularly elected delegates
from different Democratic States. If the
Convention which nominated Mr.. Douglas
was not regular Democratic Convention, it
must be confessed that Breokinridge is in the
same condition in that respect The Con-
vention that nominated him, although it was
composed of nearly all the certain Democrat
ic States, did not contain the two-thirls; and
therefore, every Democrat is at perfect liber-
ty to vote as he thinks proper without run
ming counter to any regular nomination of the
party. [Applause, and cries of ''threc cheers
for Breckenridge and Lane."l Holding this
position, | shall present some of the reasons
why prefer Mr.. Breckenridge to Mr.. Doug
las. This shall do without attempting to
interfere with any individual Democrat, or
any State Democratic Organization holding
different opinions from myself The main
object Of all good Democrats, whether be-
longing to the one or the other wing of our
unfortunate division, is to defeat the election
of the Republican candidates; and | shall
never oppose any honest and honorable
course calculated to accomplish this object.
To return to the point from which have
depressed, ! am in favor of Mr.. Breckenridge
because he sanctions and sustains the perfect
equality of all the States within their common
territories, and the opinion of the Supreme
Court of the United States establishing this
equality. Thcsovcreign States of this Union
are one vast partnership The territories
were acquired by the common blood and
common treasure of them all. Each State,
aud each citizen of each State, has the same
right in the territories as any other State and
the citizens of any State possess. Now what
is sought for at present is, that portion OF
these States should turn around to their sis.
ter States and saw, ave are hoIicr than YOU
are, and while we take our property to the
territories and have it protected there, YOU
shall not place your property in the same po-
sitIon.P That's precisely what is contended
for. What the Democratic party maintain