The Van Buren press., 1860-08-10
An Address to the Democracy of
Arkansas

~An Aou1cSS Co tne Democracy of
Arkansas.
"A brief statement Of facts Ia relation T.,
tue action OF the recent convention at Bal
timore, is necessary to an understanding OF
the issues involved in the present momen
tons canvass
IL IS well known to you, Democrats Of
Arkansas, that my sentiments have ever
been opposed to Congressional interseren.,o
IN the private concerns of either State or
Territory. and that was chosen delegate
to Charleston with these opinions openly
declared on all occasions, ana known to
all.
The State Convention, however, that
nominated me. expressed preference for
the opposite doctrine, that of Congression-
al Intervention or a slave code in the Terri,
tories That preference regarded as in
struct'ons, and yielded up my. own private
convictions of right at Charleston, and
yot with my colleagues foS the slave co ie
doctrine. Bat / now protest against all
responsibility for that vote 1t was the
vote OF the State convention. not mine Aud
what is strange about the thing is. that
while tho party of Mr.. Yancey, in the
South. is still eoa.ending for that very doc
trine. here IN Kentucky, have to defend
myself on every stump, against the attacks
OF this same party, for having given that
vote Il is pig here. and possum there"
and l shall be delighted, il, on getting home
among you, find they have not taksc our
thunder. and are louder non intervention
men than the Ola Democratic party itself.
When, hawever. the national convention
refused to abandon the fixed and settled
principles OF the party, and to which the
party In all good faith stood pledged, and
have been pledged for she last Grelve wears
in every possible way known to the party,
both In National conventions and at the
ballot box IN the great contests of 1852 and
$500. ] say. when the convention rcfus "a
to abandon their old. time honored princi-
pi IS, AM had re iterated and re atfr nel 4
the old established doctrine OF non inter
veation by Congress. then it was that al
my colleagues, with the exception OF DR.
Stirman, thought fit To retire from the con
vention. and fused any longer TO psrtici
lpat sin its deliberations Th " did more ::
they became members of another conven
hon, conSoTting with delegates who hal
seeded from the regular convention.
Under your instructions. when the bal
lettins tpr President came on, voted in
succession for all the distinguished gentle
men suggested by the Democracy OF Ar
Kansas In their State convention Findin,
II impossible to make nomination in the
dlsmembcred condition of tho convention
the chairman Of the Virginia delegation
proposed, at the. unanimous suggestion of
his colleagues, resolution Of Adjournment
to Baltimore on the 18th Of June. and. in
the same resolution, called upon the De
-A, u --~1 1--------
cession. Tnis resolution was adopts, with
great unaninity Acting under it. the
Democracy of Louisiana, Of one district in
Arkansas, Of Alabama and OF Georgia,
met in convention in their several States,
and took up tie cause which their late del
ega:cs hal seemingly abandoned. In a
word they appointed full delegates 70 rep
resent them ut Baltimore.
Meanwhile the seceicrs had adjourned
their sectional convention to meet at Rich
mond on the ilth Of June, apparently
having given up the idea .: co operating
longer with the national democracy in a
word, their great leader, Mr. Nancy. had
said they could not do So without dishor-
or. All their Indications, rs drawn from
their meetings and the public addresses OF
their leading men. were that hereafter thcY
intended to act as strictly sectional party
ignoring all connection with the northern,
Dem ocrsts. Contrary to general cxpecta-
, tioa, the entire body Of these seeding del
e,ates, with the exception of those from
South Carolina and FLORIDA, slnade their
appearance at Baltimore and demanded al.
mission iD:o the conncils o! the national
democracy, to the exclusion Of the dele
J Bah ,,nla- bo ,o-n1,,<,oo ,n4,
| duced by Mr Russell, Of Ni:gina, to sup
ply their voluntarily vacated places. In ,
spirit Of harmony anl conciliation. snt
cordially desiring re union of the party
the national convention agreed to the FOL
lowing propositions They admitted boti
sides from Georgia. an1 both sides from
Arkansas the Mississippi and Texas del
egatlons without contest ADMITTED TIN
national democrats from Alabams ans
Louisiana. TO the exclusion Of the >e:oed
ing delegations Immediately on the an
nouncement of this decision. i,esh sccess
ion occurred, consisting Of majority @
the delegation from Virginia, mai ority q
! the delegation from North Carolina, n ma
iJor'ty from Tennessee. several from Mary
land, nine from Kentucky, and Others
leaving present in the convention, 2l2
I votes. being more than two thirds O. I'll
entire electoral college
After brie: recess, the conrention p'e
cec,le to ballot tor candidate for Presi
dent On the second ballot. Stephen A
Douglas received 1914 votes. the remain
der being divided between Guthrie, Breck
eneidge, and others. On the motion {
Mr. Hogc, Of Nrginia. he was nominate
by reclamation as the Democratic candid
ate for President os the United States.
The following resolution. supplimenta
to the platform. was unanimo ousiy aloptcl
hv the convention
4 - Rssolyed, That II Is in accorianc
with the true Interpretation Of tn, Cincin
natl platform that, during the existence o
territorial governm, the measure OF re
s,,iction, whatever it may be, imposed b.
the Federal Const tuition on the powers
a Territorial legislature. over the subject
domestic relations. as the same has been .
hereafter shall be. finally determined by IL
Supreme Court OF the United States sha,
b, respected by all good citizens, an er
forced by every branch of the Fedora! Go,
ernment
Hon Benjamin FiszpttricA. wi.a ha