Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-30
Mr. Douglass Letter of Acceptoncs

WASHINGTON, June %. 1850
Cehuemen In accordance with the verbal
assurance winch gave you when You placed N
my hands the authentic evidence of INV nonoina
non Tor the Presidency by the National Conven.
tlon OF the democratic party, now send Won my
Lof.l ma acceptance Upon careful examination
Of the PLATFORM OF principles adopted at Charles
ton and reafirmed at Baltimore, with an adj
uiuonal resOl ution, which is in perfect barmony
with the others, find il TO be faithful eunbodf
ment Of the time hOhored principles of the dem
Ocratic party, as the same now proclaimed snd
understood by all parties in the presidential con
tess OF lois, 1882, and 1856. pom LOOKING int
we proceedings Of the Convention. also, T 6nd
mat the nomination was made with great un.n-
unity IN the presence and with the concnrrenca
Of more than two-thirds Of the whole humber of
delegates, and in exact accordance with the Iono
established usages of the party
My inhex1ble purpose not 10 be candidate
nor accept the nomination in any CONTINGENCY ex
eept as the regular nominee Of the National dem
ocrauc party, and In that case only upon condi-
IONS tndt the uSdges as well as the PRINCIPLES of
TIE party should be strictly adhered To- had been
proclaimed for long time and become well
kno"n 70 the country These conditions having
all been complied with by the free and yoInnts,SS
dCuoh OF TIE democratic masses and their faithful
representatives, without any agency, Interference
or procurement on my part, feel bound, in honor
dno duty 10 accept the nomination
In aking this step am not uurnindful of the
responsibilities II imposes butin a firm reliance on
Divine Providence, have faith that the neonIe
VIII com Prehend the true nature Of the issue in
SOIveo ana eventually maintain the right The
peace OF the country and the perpetuity of the
= nlon have been put in jeopardy by attemrts 10
interfere with and control the domestic Affairs
OF tne people In the Territories through the agency
OF the federal government. IL the power and
duty Of federal interference be concedsd tue IN
uIe parties must be the inevitable result The one
lhldnlng the passions and ambition Of the North
ana the other Of the South ; and each struggling
70 use tne federal power and authority for the ag
< TdDdiZement of It's own section az the evner5.
OF the equal rights Of the other and in derog.
uon OF those fundamental principles Of self-gov-
eminent which were firmly established in his
country by the American revolution as the bsSis
OF our entire republican system
During Inc memorable Period in our polit,c.l
history, When the advocates of federal nterven-
ion upon the subject Of slavery in the Territories
hao WeIl-nlgh precipitated the country into rev
oiuuon, the northern interventionists demandinO
Tue Wilmot Proviso for the prohibition OF sIsvery
ana the southern interventionists, then few IN
number and without a single REPRESENTATIVE I'm.
either House OF Congress, insisting upon CONGRESS
soi a. legislation for the protection Of sIavery in
oPPofii.o on 70 the wishes Of the people in either
case, IL will be remembered that II required ali
tas wisdom, power and influence Of a CLAW and a
webster and Cas-, supported by conservati 20
ana ana PaiLioiic men, wing and democratic, of that
DAY, TO devise and carry out line Of policy which
would restore peace TO the country and stabilize
TO the Union. y
The essential living principle of that policv ..
aPPiieu IN the legislation Of 1850 was and now is
neH-IHterrsHilor By Cong with SIareyV an H.
IeTTnerlsS The fair application of this lust and
equitable principle restored harmony and frater.
MY 70 distracted country.
II we now depart from that wise and lust policv
%hlch Produced these happy results and permit
.ne country 10 be again distracted, IL not precipi
ded lno revolution by sectional contest fe.yvee,
R.o,SlaVery ana ant-siavery inerventionists where
snail We look for another Clay, another Webster
or another CasS TO pilot the ship Of State over tLe
breakers INTO the haven Of peace and safety9
me Federal Union must be preserved The
constitution must be maintained inyioIate I'm ali
rs parts Every right guaranteed by the Consti-
tuuoh must be protected by law n all cases where
ieslslation Is necessary to its endowment The
judicial authority, as provided in the Constitution
must De sustained. and its decisions impIicitIy
ooeysd and faithfully executed The laws mus,
oe administered and the constitutio na autboritis
uPneid ana all unlawful resistance Suppressed
these things must all be done witt frmp.sS
I'd Parnallty and fidelity, If we EXPECT To enjoy
Sno transmit, unimpaired, TO our pos;erity. thai
blessed Inheritance which we have received in
u9st rom the patriots and sages Of the Revolution
win sincere thanks for the kind and agreeable
mahhef In which you have made known 70 me- the
scion OF the Convention, have the honor To h.,
very respectfully, your friend and fellow-citizen
H., w III ,. A. DOUGLAS
non; w b. Ludlow, Of Ny; X p. Dick. of
N C-i X. e: Wickline, Of La and otbers
Of the committee. - "'A'''