New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-04

p;ze il ss the imperative duty of this Government
prott ct the urslized citizen in al his hts whether
at home or in foreign lands to the same extent as In
it's native born citizens.
Resolred, That the National Democracy earnestly
recommend the acquisition of the Island of Cuba At
the earliest PRACTICAL period.
Whereas Tha, of the greatest necessities OF the
sge in political, commercial, postal and military
point of view lie speedy communication between the
Pacific and Atlantic coasts; therefore, be it
Resolped, That the National Democratic party do
hereby pledge themselves TO use every means in Their
power To secure the passage OF some bill for the con.
struction of Pacific Railroad, from the Mississippi
River to the Pacific Gee an at the earliest practicable
moment.
There is some intended vsgueness in the terms Of
this Platform, but more at all in its substance aud
spirit The meaning ofits frat and third paoks IL just
this: Any Stakeholder has the same right to take
his Slaves into any Federal Territory that he or
any other citizen has to take any property what
ever thther; and both the Federal and Terri
'torial Governments arc under the same Obligations
and have the same power TO protest in said Terrl-
tory such STAKEHOLDER in the use and enjoyment OF
his slaves labor as to protect him or any other
'person in the epjoymentof any property whatever.
Ard this is in essence the extreme Southern plat.
foIm, frst propounded BY John G. Calhoun, since
embodied in the JEFF. Davis resolves now before tine
Senate, and more logically set forth in those oil his
colleague, Albert G. Brown.
Under ordinary circumstance, this platform
would have been swallowed by the select ONCE
holders and Office seekers in Democratic National
Convention assembled without cav or hesitation.
The ruling logic would have run thus: This plat
{" form il mere abstraction, while Sixty Millions
"per annum is a solid present reality: if we do not
give way on the PLATFORM the South will bolt
an masse, the Election will be lost, and with it
cur Sky Millions: 80 Let shut our eyes and 90
it" And 60 it they would.
But Mr.. Senator Douglas happens to be candi-
date for the Presidency, backed by nearly or quite
half the Dele gates to this Conventions and he could
not stand on this Platform. Even though his reso.
Lutte and successful resistance to the Lecompton
fraud had not forbidden, he last Summer saw
fit to place himself deliberately and clearly on the
record BY writing and printing this letter:
"wAsHIss1os, Wednesday June n, 1883.
"MY DEAR SIR: | have received yodr letter In
curing whether my friends are nj liberty 70 present
my Bame to the Charleston CONVENTION ior tne rr0A-
Dental nomination. >,
"Bofore the question can be finally determined, Il
will lie necessary 10 understand distinctly upon what
iseues the cauyass to be conducted. III, N nav
full faith they WILL the Democratic party shall deter
mpe In the Presidential elect Of 1870, 70 adhere
10 The principles embodied in the compromise meas
ure, OF 1856 and ratified by the people 10 the Pfet
Dental election Of 1852 and rea rmed IN the Kansas
Nebraska act Of 1854, and incorporated into the
Cincinnati Platform in 1885, expounded by Mr.:
Buchanan in his letter accepting the noainaaoe, aad
approved by the people-in thai event my inends
viii be at liberty to prosent my name 10 the Conven'
ton if they proper 70 do 90, IT, on the contrary,
it sha BE- come the policy of the Democratic Party-
which l cant OF ant.cipate-to repudiaie these thsI
time.honored principles, on which We have achessd
90 many patriotic trumpbs and g. In lien OF them, the
Convention shall inurpolato into tho creed OF tho
Iar.y such new issues tho revival OF the Airc An
say. trade or Congressional slave code Tor the Ter
roes or the doctrine that the Cons tuition OF the
Or ned States either establishes or prohibits Slavery in
the Tel rtories ond the power of the people legally
10 control rs other property II due 70 candor 70
cav that in tuch event could MOI acoep, ths nomi
nation il rendered to Trusting ihat this answs
will be deemed sufficiently explicit,
e lam, very respectfully, your sisne' norot.s
"ToJB Dom, esq, Dubuque Iowa"
Now, there can be no need Of arguing that this
letter is incompatible with the acceptance Of a
nomination on the platform above given, for tina!
platform was devised and designed to rendM either
the nomination Of Mr.. Douglas or his acceptance
OF it impracticable. Hence the representatives On
the Grand Committee of sixteen Free States,
casting large majority Of the Electoral Votes Of
the entire Union, united in reporting the following
minority Platform:
Re.sired, That we, the Democracy Of the Union, In
Convention assembled, hereby declare our atrmance
Of the resolutions unanimously adopted, and declared
as q platform Of principles by the Democratic Con-
venti0n at Cincinnati, In the yoar 1856, believing
that Democratic principles are Interchangeable IN thor
nature when applied TO the subject matters; and
we recommend only further resolutions the fol.
lowing:
Ypssmuch az differences of opinion exist in the
Democratic party as TO the nature and extent Of the
powers of a Territorial Legislature, and 10 the
powers and duties Of Congress, under the Cons.i.
tuition of the United States, over the institution OF
Slavery within the TeIrtories
Resolved, That the Democratic party win abide BY
the ecsions of the Supreme Court Of the United States
on the questions Of Constitutional law.
ResoIred That it IL the duty OF the United States to
afford ample and complete protection to all ts citizens,
whether at home or abroad, and whether native or
foreign.
Resolred That one OF the necessities Of the age,
in military, commercial and poet.l point OF view, Is
speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pa
cfc Siaes and the Democratic party pledge such con-
stutioDal Government aid as will insure the constrnc-
ton Of railroad 10 the Pacific coast at the earliest
practicable period.
Resolpcd That the Democratic party are In favor Of
the acquisition Of the Island OF Cuba such terms as
shall be hoAorable to ourselves and Just to Spain.
Re.0ieed That the enactments OF state Legislatures
to defeat the faithful execution OF tno ruelHVe SANo
law are hostile in character snbversvo Of the Const-
tuition, and revolutionary in their effect.
This Platform was substituted for that OF the
majority Of the Committee, by direct vote of the
foil Convention-Yeas 165, Nays 1921 majority
on vote very nearly sectional. Having been thus
substituted, the minority demanded and secured
vote on the adoption of its several parts separately
wherein the preamble and second resolve [given