The Shasta courier., 1860-08-18
Letter Of Gen. Denver.

port of the regular nominees, Douglas and John
son, and re-affirmed his position in favor of the
Democratic doctrine, as proclaimed in the Gin
cinnati platform, I" non-interference by Congress
with slavery in State and Territory, or in the
District of Columbia"
When we remember that Gen. Denver, during
the Kansas troubles. enjoyed the full confidence
of the Administration-tha he was selected by
Mr.. Buchanan, after several other distinguished
men had failed, as peculiarly fit to settle the diff
fculties in that mobsridden Territory-that, in
short, he had occupied a position under the
Administration second only to Cabinet officer
in point of dignity, and must therefore have
been ardent friend of Mr. Buchanan and an
earnest supporter of his Administration, we
cannot but conclude that nothing save stern in
tegrity deyotedness to the old Democratic doc
trine of non-ntervention, and love Of truth and
justice have prompted him to this step. The
mere sense of gratitude to Mr.. Buchanan for
distinguished fayors conferred, would naturally
cause man of strong personal friendships, like
Gen Denver, to hesitate ere placing himself in
open antagonism to an Administration from
which he had received place and honors.
Gen. Denver very truly states that the only
question now dividing the party is this: "Whe-
ther the Territorial Legislatures or cannot,
under the powers conferred by the Kansas
Nebraska Act, exclude slavery from the Terri
tories of the United States" He thinks the Le-
gislatures cannot-Douglas thinks they can
Thus they differ on a mere law question:
question that can only be settled finally by the
Supreme Court. Mr.. Douglas, on this law point
thinks one way. Other Democrats think ano-
ther way. They agree to differ, until the ques-
tion is passed upon by the Supreme Court-then
they all agree to acquiesce in that decision. /;
not that fair for both sides? Mr.. Douga;
doubtless has views on other questions, as hav,
all other leading Democrats, from which we o
the reader would differ. Those are the view
of the individual-not part of the platform Oh
which he stands as the representative of hi
party. The views of Mr. Douglas on this mer
law question as to the power of Territorial Leg
islatures touching the institution of slavery, ar
no part of the National Democratic Platform
by no means. They are his own individut
views as lawyer. Nothing of the kind can b
found in the platform, and why? Because it
presumptious for a political Convention to al
tempt to settle a judicial question. The Cour
alone are competent to do that. While NJ
Douglas has, says Gen. D., advanced the opir
!, ion that Territorial Legislatures might by uu
friendly legislation exclude slavery" he has a
ways admitted that it was a question to b
submitted to the Courts for decision" and tha
"whatever that decision might be, it should b
binding"
The question of the regularity of the nomina
, ton of Douglas and johnson, he thus dispose
of:
The National Convention, when first Assem-
bled, consisted of 303 members, and when ful
under the two third rule, 2O2 were necessary
f constitute choice. 1t is claimed that the boil
ers numbered los, and that therefore Mr.. Doug
las nomination was not regular or in accordanc
with Democratic usages as it was impossib
for him to get 202 votes after los had with
| drawn This declaration proves too much
8 Democratic usages do not authorize the minor
ty to rule the majority-much less to wthdra'
and prevent all action. 1t is not pretended thg
= the nomination of Mr.. Brecknridge was regular
but it is asserted that by the bolt of the dele
gates at Charleston on the adoption of the plat
form, and the additional bolt at Baltimore, tn
nomination of Douglas was made Irregular
Such declarations amount to nothing but facti
, business.
He then quotes the resolution adopted by tn
State Convention which elected delegates to tn
National Convention, pnd asserts with perfec
truthfulness that the Convention which nomi
mated Latham for Governor in June last year
adopted similar resolution. This last is prove
by the response of Mr. L. to his nomination.
Said he:
81 am in favor Unpopular sovereignty, as lai,
down in the Compromise Measures of 1854.
am in favor of non intervention. stand by th
Cincinnati platform"
He then continues:
The doctrine, then, to which the great Demo
cratic masses have adhered, with regard to tn,
Territories, is non-ntervention. The rule o
action in National Conventions has been for (
majority to adopt the platform. At Charlesto!
the platform was adopted by majority before
any one withdrew. The minority had it in the
power to have prevented the no ination of Mr.
Douglas had they remained in the Convention
but having withdrawn, they have no right tc
| take advantage of their own wrong and declare
the nomination irregular their withdrawal re-
moved all opposition and forced his nomination
Hence, =leving tt{ 4 Mr. Douglas has beer
regularly nominatedj ttht the platform on which
he stands is such as Al " Democrat can occupy
and such as the Democracy Of this State have
always occupied and that the action of the se
ceders was sectional, Factions and disorganiz-
ing" and the nomination of Breckenridge q the
beginning of a Southern sectional party, and 6
blow at the National Democracy" he feels i'm.
PEELED by sense of dhty to his country and o.
fealty to the usages and principles of the Demo
cratic party, to give his support to Mr.. Douglas
as the regular nominee.
Can THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BE KILLED I'VE
think not. Certainly it cannot if it survives the
administration of James Buchanan. With Mr
Field, of New York, we say, with all modesty