The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-07-18
WASHINGTON, June Q
Hon. j. G. BREcKINRIDGE.

@. CUSHING, PRESIDENT.
Hon, J. G. BRECKINRIDGE.
WAsH1NGToN June 26, 1860.
DEAR S1R:--I have your letter Of the 23c
inst, by which I am officially informed of my
y nomination for the office Of President Of thu
United States by the National Democratic Con-
vention, lately assembled at Baltimore
The circumstances then Of this nomination
will justify me in referring to its personal as
pect.
have not sought nor desired to be placed
before the county for the office OF President
When my name was presented to the Conven
ton at Charlesten,it was withdrawn by frient
in obedience to my expressed wishes My
views had not changed when the Convention
re-assembled at Baltimore; and when heard
ofthe differences which had occurred therein
indsposition to be connected prominently with
the canvass was confirmed, and expressed tc
many friends.
Without discussing the occurrences which
preceded the nominations, and which are OF
soon will be we'll understood by the country,
have only to say that approve, as just and ne
eessary to the preservation Of the national Or
ganiaation, and the sacred right Of representa-
ton, the action Of the Convention over which
you continued to preside; and thus approving
it, and having resolved to sustain it, cel that
it does not become me to select the position
shall occupy, nor to shrink from the RESPONSE
bties of the post to which I haye been as
signed. Accordingly, accept the nomination
from sense Of public duty; and, as | think,
uninAuenced in any degree by the alluremeuts
Of ambition.
laval myself of this occasion to say that the
conf ience in my personal and public character,
implied by the action Of the Convention, will
always be grateful remembered; and it is but
just also, to my own feelings, to express my
qualification at the association Of my name with
that of my friend General Joseph Lane, pat
riot and a soldier whose great services both in
the field and IN council, enttle him to the graf
itude and confidence of his countrvman.
The Resolutions adopted by the Convention
have my cordial approval They are just to all
parts OF the Union-to all our citizens, native
and natnralized land they form noble policy
for any Administ ration.
The questions touching the rights of person
and property which have of late been much dis
cussed, find in these resolutions constitutional
solution. Our Union is confederacy of equal
sovereign States for the purpose enumerated in
the Federal Constitution. Whatever the com.
mon Government holds in trust for all the
States, must be enjoyed equally by each. 1t
controls the Territories in trust for all the
States. Nothing less than sovereignty can de-
stroy or impair the rights Of person or property.
The Territorial Governments are subordinate
and temporary and not sovereign; Fence they
cannot destroy or impair the rights of persons
or property. While they continue to be Ter
ritories they are under the control Of Congress,
branch ofthe Federal Government the power to
discriminate against the rights Of the States or
the property of their citizens in the Territories
It follows that the citizens Of all the States
may enter the Territories Of the Union with
their property Of whatever kind, and enjoy il
during the territorial condition, without let or
hindrance, either by Congress or by the subor-
dnate Territorial Governments.
These principles flow directly from the alb
sence of sovereignty in the Territorial Govern.
ment and from the equality of the States. In.
deed, they are essential to that vitality which
is, and ever has been, the vital principle of our
constitutional Union. They have been settled
legislatively settled judiciaily, and are sustain
cd by right reason. They rest on the broad
rock Of the Constitution. They will preserve
the Constitution-they will preserve the u
nion.
1t is idle to attempt to smother these great
issues, or to misrepresent them by the use
partisan phrases which arc misleading and de-
lusiye The people will looksbeneath such ex.
pressions as intervention" ..Congsessiona
slave code" and the like, and will penetrate tc
the real questions involved. The friends O
constitutional equality do not, and never did
demand Congressional slave CODE" nor any
Sthuh OVuO ia iObaiu w PioPoiC III sho IeiIito
ries. They hold the doctrine of non interven,
tiop by Congress or by Territorial Legisla
ttie, either to establish or prohibit slavery;bu
they assert Certified by the highest judicial tri
bunal in the Union) the plain duty Of the Fed
eral Government in all its departments, to sccur,
when necessary, to the citizens of oil tn,
States, the enjoyment of their property in tn,
common territories, as every where else within
its jurisdiction. The only logical answer t,
this would seem to be to claim sovereign pow
or for the Territories, or to deny that the Con
sttution, recognizes property IN the services Q
negro slaves, or to deny that such property cal
exist.
Inexorable logic, which, works its ready wa
through clouds and passions, compels the coun
try to meet the issue. There is no evasiv
middle ground. Already tho signs multiply Z