The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-05-23

The Proceedings at Charleston Presen-
ted from an Impartial Standpoint.
Mr.. Browne, the able editor of the Wash
ington Constitution, the Metropolitan organ
of the National Democracy, was present dur
ing the whole of the deliberations of the Char
lesion Convention, and has presented through
that paper with so much precision, force and
accuracy, the points in dispute, and the causes
which led to the withdrawal of nine of the
Southern States and prompted the remainder
to announce to the Convention the ultimatum
upon which they would consent to remain a
part of it-that we have deemed it best to give
his articles place in the editorial columns OF
the Mississippian. Ifthere be a single Demo-
crat within the limits of the South who is
disposed to complain Of or caryil at, the action
of the Southern delegations-or who contem-
Fpiatgs with tny other. than feeling Of unmiti-
rated abhouence the course of the unscrupu-
lous partiuns of Douglas-we ask his attention
to the following clear and impartial statement
of facts
From the Constitution of the 8th
"FAcrsC CONCERNING THE CHARLESTON Con-
yENrIoN.-There are facts connected with
the proceedings of the National Democratic
Convention recently assembled in Charleston
which it's important that the Democracy of
the entire Union should know and thorough
" comprehend, in order that they may truly
appreciate the acts of that body, and regulate
their own future conduct accordingly to pro-
mote The harmony and union of the party and
secure the best interests of our country.
"Eyery honest Democrat who prefers prin-
| cipls to men, and the welfare of the Repub-
lie TO private interests or individual ambition,
must regret, as we dc, the discord and dis
sensions which unhappily existed IN that Con-
| vention; which compelled the representatives
ofnine States, if they would not forfeit their
constitutional rights, their honor and their
sslfrespect, to withdraw from body in which
I'll three were assailed and which has
prevented, for time. the accomplishment
Of the great and important purpose for which
the Convention assembled. It is right, how
lever, that the national democracy should
know by what agencies and for what reason
this lamentable discord was fostered and con-
tinued that they may know to whom to at
tribute the fault, and on whom to infict the
weight of their censure.
"The subject of contention, as our readers
are aware, was the platform ofprinciples which
was to constitute the creed of the Democratic
party for the next four years, and on which
the Democratic candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency of the United States were
to stand in the coming contest against the
Black Republican enemies Of the country.
"On the one side the representatives Of
majority of the States Of the Coniederacy and
of all the States whose votes will surely be
cast for the Democratic nominees presented
platform Of principles, plain, just and sus-
ceptible of but one Interpretation. Warned
by the experience of the past three years, and
by the lamentable differences which have
arisen in consequence of the two diametrically
opposite constructions which have been placed
on the creed of the party, which was adopted
at Cincinnati, in reference to the rights Of
! Tic States in tha con- IaaGilss: -
| legates of the seventeen Democratic Stats IN
spirit of harmony and patriotism reprted
| platform Of principles in which it ws dis
tinctly laid down that under the Federa Con-
stitution the several States Of the Unon are
equal that the people thereof are entitled to
the free and indefeasible possession AMI enjoy
ment Of their personal and proprietary rights
in the common Territories that neiher Con-
gress nor a territorial Legislature has any pow
er to impair or destroy this equality of rights;
and that in case such rights are violated it is
the duty Of Congress to pass such remedial
measures as may be deemed necessary to
afford due protection to the prisons and pro-
perty of all the citizens of he Republic
The doctrines which they thus enunciated
were identical with those fo which every de-
mocratic State in the Unin has contended
for the last three years; tie justice of which
the true Democracy Of thse Northern States
in which the Black Republicans have the ascen-
dancy, have always admitted which every
Democratic Senator of the United States,
with but two exceptions and large majority
Of the Democratic members of the House of
Representatives, have approved; which the
present distinguished head of the Executive
Government, has repeatedly enunciated !; and
which the venerable Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United states have declared to
be alone in CONFORMITY with the Constitution
of which they are theconstituted expounders
in the last resort.
"Arrayed against hose who reported this
platform, and proposd its adoption as the creed
Of the Democratic ,arty, were the actious
partizans of a man Who desires at all hazards
to be elevated to thu highest office in the Re-
public; who for thepast three years has &C.
cupied position ofdirect and bitter antagon-
ism to the doctrine. and principles of vast
majority of the Democratic party, and who
has advanced and advocated the dogma Of
Squatter Sovereignty which fifteen States of
the Union regard q destructive of their Con-
stitutional rights, hostile to their interests,
and insulting to their honor and dignity
The personal followers ofthe apostle of squat
ter sovereignty representing but fourteen
States of the Unisn, most of which, it is GER
tain, will not vob for the Democratic nomi-
nees, refused to concur in the majority report,
and presented another platform in which the
great principles of the equal rights of the
States in the common domain was purposelyi
ignored, and the demands of majority Of the
States were insultingly disregarded. The
minority report was adopted by the Conven-
ton, and as an inevitable sequence the del
egations of eight States withdrew. refusing
any longer to Participate in the deliberations
ofa body in which their rights, interests anl |
honor were thus unjustly invaded. How WIS
this great wrong perpetrated How was It |
that the advocates of the offensive heresy Df
Squatter Sovereignty, numbering not more
than third Of the Convention, defeated he |
will ofa clear majority of the States, and . |
large majontyof the delegates ? 1t is impr-
tant that the Democracy should ponder Veil |
the true answer to these questions. In the |
State Conventions where the friends of Judge |
Douglas hada majority, the delegation to
Charleston we're Instructed to vote as init,
md the members of those delegations who |
ware opposed to Judge Douglas and hisdoc.
trims were thus compelled to vote witt the
majesty inopposition to their principles and
their Preferences. In other delegations There
but feebA ninorities were in favor of tte Illi-
nois Senatnr, and whose Convention had
Jailed 70 adopt the unit rule, those minoritiss
were enabled % vote as they pleased, and thus
oppose the majotity of their COLLEAGUES and
the wei ascertaned will of their consti-
tuentE. IL WAS th,fa that the maiOritv Mat.