Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-06-15
clement C. CIay--RuIe or Ruin,

| Clement C. CIay--RuIe or Ruin.
Mr.. Clement G. Clay has addressed let
ter to his disunion friends in Alabama advi-
sing them to give roofing commission to
the boilers from Cha4leston to Richmond and
Baltimore, with the view of either defeating
the nomination of Douglas, or breaking up
the Democratic party. To aid in the accom-
plishment of this praiseworthy object, he
has crowded into his letter more gross per-
version and misrepresentation Of Judge
Douglas votes, speeches, and acts, than we
have ever seen embraced in so small space
Most of the crimes and misdemeanors, sins
Of omission and commission, charged upon
the dreaded Illinois Senator, have date long
before 1856, when the Alabama delegation,
in the Cincinnati convention with the appro-
baton, if not with the advice of Mr. Clay,
voted for Mr.. Douglas as candidate for the
Presidency, in preference to MIR. Buchanan.
But the main reason assigned by MIR. Clay
for his determined opposition to Judge
Douglas is his position on the slavery ques-
ton as defined in his recent speech in reply
to the Hon. Jefferson Davis. AS Mr.. Clay
has chosen to regard this speech as an at
tack upon the democracy Of Alabama, at the
same time that FURNISHES the most conclu-
sive evidences of Mr.. Douglas unsoundness
upon the slavery question, we invite the at
tention of our readers to the following ex-
tract, showing that Douglas offers to accept
the Alabama ultimatum Of 1896, as the plat
form of the national democracy in 1861
After citing the votes of all the southern
members of Congress in 1856 for Col Rich
ardson for Speaker, with full knowledge
of his opinions on the slavery question, MIR.
Douglas said
But, Mr. President, want to add a lit
tie more authority on this point. 1t will be
remembered that in 1S4S Alabama took the
lead, at the Baltimore Convention, in asser-
ting the doctrine of congressional interview
ton in the Territories 1t will be remem-
bered that in 1855 she took the lead in de-
handing of the Cincinnati Convention as an
ultimatum, the reproduction of the doctrine
of Intervention, and the adoption in its place
Of the doctrine of non-interventlon. The
Alabama State convention, which appointed
delegates to Cincinnati in 1856, happened
to be in session when the contest for Speak
er took place between Col. Richardson and
Mr.. Banks. The Democracy Of Alabama
were looking to Washington for the result
of that contest with intense anxiety. There
stood the gallant Richardson, the author of
the Kansas Nebraska bill, so far as the
House was concerned, the nominee of his
party proclaiming to the world, in bold Ian
guage, its true meaning; and every Demo-
crat in Alabama heartily sympathized with
him, and hoped that Richardson, the defen-
der of Southern rights, might be elected
Speaker. The State convention, then in
session, representing the Democracy of Ala
bama, felt so deeply upon the subject, that
they deemed it their duty to 60 out of the
usual routine, and pass resolution of ap-
prevail. l ask my friend TO read that reso-
luton.
Mr. Pugh read as follows:
Resolved, That the course pursued by
the gallant men Of the South and North, in
their efforts to organize the present Congress
of the United States, by the election Of Mr..
Richardson as Speaker, receives our hearty
approval. They have acted wisely in hold
ing out against the designs of the fanatieal
majority to force Free soil organization
upon them; that in their hands we can safe
ly trust the rights Of the South and the true
principle of conservative nationality, with
The confidence that they will never abandon
them in any trial, even amidst the confusion
and terrors of disorganization.'
Mr.. Douglas. Mr.. President, | have
only to say upon this subject that it seems
the Alabama State convention, in 1856, did
not regard Col. Richardson's construction
of the Kansas Nebraska bill as so monstrous
a heresy as to disqualify every man for Of
fee who held his opinions. 1t seems so from
the fact that they endorsed the gallant Rich
ardson and the faithful Southerners who vo-
ted for him This inference is confirmed by
the fact that tie same convention instructed
their delegates to the Cincinnati Convention
to insist upon the express recognition of the |
doctrine Of intervention by Congress
with slavery in the Territories, as the only
condition upon which Alabama would con-
sent to be represented at Cincinnati. This
was the ultimatum of the Alabama Democ-
racy in 1856 I ask my friend from Ohio
to read that part Of the resolutions.
Mr.. Pugh read, as follows:
IS. That it is expedient that we should
be represented in the Democratic national |
Convention upon such conditions as are
hereinafter expressed
80. That the delegates to the Democrat
ic National Convention, to nominate Presi-
dent and Vice President, are hereby ex-
pressly instructed to insist THAT the said con-
vention shall adopt platform Of principles /
as the basis of national organization, prior /
to the nomination Of candidates, unequivo-
cally asserting, in substance, the following
1. The recognition and ap-
prevail of the principle Of non-intervention
by Congress pom the subject of slavery in
The Territories. 2. That no restriction or
prohibition Of slavery in any Territory shall
hereafter be made by any act of Congress-
8. That no State shall be refused admission
into the Union because of the existence of !
slavery therein i The faithful execution
and maintenance of the fugitive slave law.
$40. That if said National Convention
shall refuse to adopt the propositions en-
braced in the preceding resolution, our dele
gates to said convention are hereby positive
" instructed to Withdraw tberefrom."
Mr.. Douglas. There is some very sound
and wholesome doctrine contained in these
:4.: Tho Alabama delaoatas were