The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-07-04

to you year, Judge, and merely made
my appearance 10 acknowledge the compli'
ment you have paid me by so large meet.
ing at this hour of the night. recognize
among you the faces of many old friends
and a large number OF my immediate neigh.
bors from Illinois, as well as others from
almost every State in the Union. only
regret my house is not large enough to in.
Vite you in and take you individually by the
hand. A vOice-your heart is big enough.
Three times three cheers were given for
Stephen A. Douglas as the next President
Of the United States.
WASHINGTON, June 26.-The following
is the speech OF the Hon. Herschell V. John.
son, of Georgio, last night at the National
Hotel, on accepting the nomination for the
Vice Presidency, on the ticket with the Hon.
Stephen A. Douglas.
Mr.. Chairman Gentlemen of the Ma
tional Democratic party, and fellow citizens:
| was taken by surprise when l received a
telegraphic message in Baltimore at three
o'clock this day, that the Hon. Benjamin
Fitzpatrick had declined the nomination
rendered him by the Democratic Conven-
tion, and that it was demanded of me to ac-
cept 1t. II is known to many of you, that
my name was freely mentioned in Balti-
more, in connection with this nomination,
and that persistently refused TO counten-
ance it, but invariably agreed, that if Georg.
ia were to be thus honored, it was due to
another of her sons most distinguished for
his talents, and great public services. This
| III Itbo ~ 10
delegation of which was member, but the
Convention in It's wisdom deemiDg it best to
nominate statesman of Alabama, it was
entirely satisfactory. Alabama is the child
of Georgia, and the mother cordially
to any compliment bestowed upon her
daughter.
These are circumstances under which
have been assigned this distinguished posi-
ton, and which demand that discrimination
should yield to the voice of duty. The Ma
tional Democratic party is in peculiar con
, diton. II is assaied in the House of III
professed friends and threatened with over
throw, the country is in peculiar condition
it is on the eve of u sectional conflict which
may sweep down all political parties and ter
inmate in dissolution of the Union. 1t is
i
in avoiding the threatened caamities. Il
may not be inappropriate to refer to the cir
cumstances which imperil the National
Democracy. The Alabama delegation wen
to the Convention at Charleston, instructed
to demand the incorporation into the plat
form OF the party, the proposition that Con-
gress should intervene for the protection O
slavery in the territories, and to withdraw, j
the demand should be refused it as re'us
> ed, and think, properly refused. Tha
delegation did retire, and with them large
| portion of the delegations from the Cottor
, States. Why should they have retired
The record shows that if they had remained
at their post, they had the power to prevent
the nomination of any candidate who might
be obnoxious to the Sonth. Thus reduced
by the secessionists the Convention adjourn.
ed to Baltimore and requesting the States to
fill the vacancies OF their respective delega-
tion, re.assembled on the 18th.
The Seeding delegations were returned,
some accredited to Richmond and others to
Baltimore by the way OF Richmond, instruc-
ted to make the same demand and to with
draw, If it be refused. Delegates were ap-
pointed in Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia,
by the National Democrats of those States
to fill the vacant seats of the Seceders.-
Those OF Alabama and Louisiana were ad-
mitted and the seeding delegates rejected;
and the seeding delegates from Georgia
were admitted to seats, and they all took
umb.age at the decisions OF the Convention,
touching the various contests for seats.
They retired, organized and nominated can.
didates for the Presidency and Vice Pres
idency, and they claim to be the National
Democracy of the United States. Now, il
they were actuated by principle; if it was
their purpose, in good tailh, to obtain the re.
cogRilion OF the principle Of Congressional
protection for slavery in the Territories,
why not wait until proper time to bring
that subject before the Convention, and then,
according to their instructions, Withdraw
from the body. The reason is paIpablc.
They were waging WEI against distinguish
ed man, not for the maintenance of princi-
pie. They were willing to jeopardize the
integrity of the Democratic party and the
triumph OF its cherished principles, rather
than see its will proclaimed in the nomina-
ton of its favorile.
Admitting, for the sake Of argument, Mr.
Douglas to be as obnoxious as they allege
be is, yet there never was q time when the
South could not have defeated his nomina.
ton. Why then should they have seeded
Why not remain at their post! Why seek
to dismember and destroy the party! Cues.
tion not the patriotism ofaDy, but the peo-
pie will hold them responsible, sooner or
later, for all the ills that may flow from
their errors.
| said the demand for Congressional inter-
rogation was properly rejected at Char lesion,
and why do say SO? Because it was the
the agreement between the North and South
that slavery agitation should be removed
from the halls OF Congress-, and the people
OF the Territories left perfectly free to regu.
late their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. This was the principles of the
compromise measures of 1850 and practical.
ly applied 70 the Kansas Nebraska act in
1854. 1t was adopted by the great political
parties Of the United States in 1852, it tri.
umphed in the election of franklin Pierce
In that year, and Of James Buchanan in 1856.
II is perhaps the best ground of compro.
mise between tho North and Sorth which
human ingenuity can devise. 1t is under.
stood BY the people of all sections and by
it the Democratic party at large of all sec.
tons should be willing to abide. 1t gives
advantage to neither section over the other,
because it refers all questions OF dispute be.
tween them Us 10 Congressional or Terrific
E.ai power over the subject Of slavery to the
maj arbitrament Of the Supreme Court of
the United States. 1t is therefore safe for
the North and safe for the South. Its pruc.
tical working is not without satisfactory re.
suits. Where the people of a Territory
desire slave labor and the soil and climate
are suited to it, slavery will ,o WLa |