Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-06-21

80 readily yields it did not proceed because am want
ing in Jealous regard for the honor of the South nor
because am wanting in love and devotion to North
Carolina. Far from it far from it, there is no one
who bears me- there upon the face of the green
EARTH who has capacity than l. that loves his
country than do and in that degree with which
am bound by birth and education to North Carolina
n that degree with which honor the position the South
has always maintained in that degree which love and
venerae the union of these States in that degree
do feel interest and socitude for the success of the
Democratic party in the next election because with the
success of that party my opinion depends the cons
tuition of equal rights under the Constitution and of
good faith between the States.
Accustomed as have been to look forward to the
great Democratic party of the Union as the only hope
of the country in the approaching contest was not pre-
pared for the spectacle of secession which witnessed in
the Convention although it had been threatened Soon
after my arrival at Charleston and before the Conven
ton had been organized, informed that the dele
cation from the State of Alabama would require new
feature to be incorporated in the Democratic PLATFORM
demanding of congress code of laws for the protection
of slave property in the territories and in IT, event it
not adopted they would secede from the Conven-
ton that if slave code were adopted, and platform
to suit them, they would remain and participate on
condition that the Convention would not make certain
nomination for if it did, although the platform might
be sufficient, they would still withdraw Now, these
were the terms dictated to the Convention by the dele
with which they went into the Convention The Con-
vention must adopt platform and make nomination
to suit their peculiar views, they would come
out and have nothing to do with it. Now, 1 had
thought the very object of the great gatherings of the
Democracy in National Convention for the purpose
Of concession compromise and Cancellation not so with
these gentlemen they must have all they want or they
will have nothing; they will rule ruin the Conven-
ton must obey them or they would break up the Con-
ventiOn
Tboir6a Cor Gle,
the signal for retiring, and their chairman arose and
announced it. Others followed. A dead silence reign
ed throughout that Vast Convention as these seceders
retired from the hail. 1t sad to look upon!
A strong and powerful thrust had been made at the
great head of the nation, and for the first time ny life
did feel that the Union was in danger
Very many of the delegates who left US as have said
have no doubt actuated by noble purposes they
were suffering the most intense excitement occasioned
by the repeated iniammatory appeals which had been
made to them night after night in their caucuses but
their leaders-Oh they were calm and collected as
their purpose and determination were fixed and can
not resist the belief that that purpose and determination
to break up the Democratic party with the hope
and belief that it would eliminate in dissolution of the
Union. They went to the Convention to have O slave
code adopted in the platform; they determined to
secede If it not adopted they knew it would not
be adopted then why go into the Convention but for
the purpose OF its embarrassment? They knew that
this question of Congressional nonnerVention had been
long since settled that the people had acquesced in that
settlement for nearly ten years
Neutrality-suspicious. BY CONGRESS WITH SLAVERY IN
STATE AND TERRITORY was the basis OF the compro
mise of 1850; afterwards affirmed by both the Demo
cratic and Wing parties in their national conventions
and ratified by the people in the election of President
Pierce. 1t reatirmed in the Cincinnati platform
sanctioned by the Democratic party in the States and
ratified again by the people in the election of President
| Buchanan. This settlement having been Sc long acuu
esced what danger TO the South required that it
should be disturbed? What greet crisis was at hand?
Al
Of the South at stake? Virginia. Kentucky Tennessee
Missouri and North Carolina remained and that is as
ample to the world that the secession from that
convention not demanded by the South for the pre-
servation of rights the vndication of honor
The delegation from our State, together with those from
the other remaining States, endeavored to effect re-
union of the party while at Charleston but our efforts
unavaiing, and the convention adjourned to meet
in Baltimore the 18th of june giving time for reflection
and consultation and hoping that the States whose del
egates seeded would commission others to meet us in
Baltimore.
!
In baoting for the nomination, North Carolina with
the exception of the vote of one district cast her vote
for several ballots, first for Mr. Hunter of Virginia
then for Mr.. Dickinson, of New York and then for
Gen. Lane, of Oregon The vote was cast for Gen. Lane
for perhaps, twenty-five ballots, but he at no time re-
ceived greater number than 2O15 The section from
which he comes, section has claims over another
the west having had Democratic President was
perhaps entitled to the nomination but the Little Giant
down with almost the unanimous voice of the great
northwest and the thirtythrd ballot received 1921
votes, clear majority of the whole Electoral College,
And it may be asked why hold out against this MAORI
ty? A great many would not SO have held out-per-
haps the nomination might have been conferred upon
him. but for the fact that the nomination of Judge Do
gas upon the Cincinnati platform simply would be to
adopt his construction of it, and tantamount to an en-
dorsement OF mis- views upon popular sovereignty We
who voted against him entertained the opinion that
Territorial legislature had power to impair the rights
OF property in slaves other chattes during its terrific
rial existence And perhaps his immediate friends would
have acted wisely if they had agreed in the beginning
to the adoption OF resolution in accordance with that
opinion. But the leading spirits that secession move
(: ment would have repudlated his nomination in any
event The difficulty however, with those who remain
ed, this vexed question of squatter sovereignty a
question, practically of less magnitude, iii my humble
Re Judgment than attached to it by some OF my col
leagues question which can be determined by
the Democratic platform, nor 10y the platforms of all the
1t parties, by any authority short of the Supreme
1t Court OF the United States and when that tribunal
has decided that question, Judge Douglas is pledged
10 abide by it and to uphold it, The hostility of the Sc
Is ceders though was unreentiDg-and for what? Was
it because they desired dsunOn and they knew that his
nomination would be declaration Of the convention in
favor of the Union Why this unprecedented warfare
&c upon tLat great statesman? Had they SO soon
ne forgotten the history Of his whole life as the
m faithful friend and ally OF States Rights Democra
cy? Do they remember that be was the friend and
y advocate OF the annexation OF Texas by which three
hundred thousand square miles of slave territory was
y added to the South Do they remember his advocacy
of the compromise of 1850? Have they forgotten thu
h fierce opposition which he from his own PEG
p" for his advocating the passage Of the fugitive slave
to law? Have they quite forgotten the great and noble
triumph of Judge Douglas inlurated mob O
four thousand people at Chicago when he SO bravely
stood up and defended the rights of the South? The re
collection ofa these services which he had rendered h
ST party and his country first to my memory, wher
b from the piazza OF the Charleston Hotel heard hi
-, loHa,, oil hx,l LII, ,lzlz
ry hae oeiaeu ny uo'ineuSneu gehuenen ana IN SOM
f. alluson to the star spanged banner voices from tn
ho crowded street below came back In r1snonse de