Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-07-13
Hon. J. c. BREcENmDGE.
WASHINGTON Cry, July Q. 1850.


United States by the Democratic National
Convention, lately assembled at Baltimore
The circumstances Of this nomination will JUS
tify me in referring to its personal aspect.
| have not sought nor desired to be placed
before the country for the Office Of President
When my name was presented to the conven-
tion at Charleston it was withdrawn by q
friend, in obedience to my expressed wishes
My views had not changed when the conven-
ton reassembled at Baltimore, and when
heard Of the differences which occurred there,
my indispositon to be connected prominently
with the canvass was confirmed and expressed
20 many friends.
Without discussing the occurrences which
preceded the nominations, and which are, OF
soon will be, well understood by the country
J have only to say that approved, as just and
necessary 10 the preservation ofthe national or
ganization, and the sacred rights of represent
alton, tile actionof theeonyention over which
you continued TO preside; and thus aaproy-
ing it, and having resolved to sustain it,
feel that il does not become me to select the
position ! shall occupy nor to shrink from
the responsibilities Of the post to which
have been assigned. Accordingly | accept
the nomination from sense of public duty,
and, as think, uninhuenced, in any degree
by the allurements of ambition.
laval myself of this occasion to say that
the confidence in my personal and public
character, implied by the action of the con-
yention, will always be gratefully remember
ed, and it is but just also to my own feelings
to express my qualification at the association
of my name with that of my friend, Gen. Lane,
patriot and soldier, whose great services
in the field and in council .entitle him to the
gratitude and confidence of his countrymen
The resolutions adopted by the convention
have my cordial approval. They are Just TO
all parts of the Union, to all our citizens, na-
tive and naturali2ed, and they form noble
policy for any administration.
The questions touching the rights Of per-
sons and property, which have of late been
much discussed find in these resolutions a
constitutional solution. Our Union is CON
federacy Of equal, sovereign States, for the
purposes enumerated in the federal constitii-
ton. Whatever the common government
holds in trust for all the States must be en-
joyed equally by each 1t controls the Terri
tories in trust for all the States. Nothing
less than sovereignty can destroy or impair
the rights of persons or property. The terri
torial governments are subordinate and tenn
porary and not sovereign; hence they cannot
destroy or impair the rights Of persons or
property. While they continue to be Terri
tories, they arc under the control of Congress;
but the constitution nowhere confers ON any
branch of the federal government the power
" iEllS bl tilc states
or the property Of their citizens in the Terri
tories. ltfollows that the citizens of all the
States may enter the Territories of the Union
with their property--of whatever kind-and
enjoy it during the territorial condition with
out let or hndrance, either by Congress or by
the subordinate territorial governments.
These principles flow directly from the alb
sence of sovereignty in the territorial govern
ments, and from the equality of the States
Ind tbaNy ana ff.1 q, AZ
which is and ever has been the vital principle
of our constitutional Union. They have been
settled egislatiycly-settled judcially-and
are sustained by right and reason They rest
on the rock of the constitution. They will
preserve the constitution-they viii preserve
the Union.
II is idle TO attempt to smother these great
issues, or to misrepresent them by the use of
partisan phrases, which are misleading and
delusivc. The people wiz look beneath such
expressions as Intervention, congression-
al slave code and the like, and will pene-
trate TO the real questions involved. Thefriends
of constitutional equality do not and never
did demand y F" congressional slave code
nor any other code in regard to property in
the Territories. They hold the doctrine of
non-interyention by Congress orby terrific
rial Legislature either to establish or pro-
hibit slavery but they assert fortified by the
highest judicial tribunal in the Union) the
plain duty of the federal government in all its
departments, TO secure, when necessary, to
the citizens of all the States the enjoyment of
their property in the common Territories, as
everywhere else within its jurisdiction The
only logical answer to this would seem to be
TO claim sovereign power for the Territories
or TO deny that the constitution recognizes
property in the services of negro slaves, or to
deny that such property can exist.
lnpNDrablp lOuic. which NNnrks its etpa1x
way through clouds and passion, compels the
country to meet the issue. There is no eyasiye
middle ground. Already the signs multiply
of fanatical and growing party which denies
that under the constitution, or by any other
law, slave property can exist; and ultimately
the struggle must come between this party
and the national democracy, sustained by all
she other conservative elements in the Union
think il will be impossible for a candid
mind to discover hostility to the Union, or a
faint of seetionalism in the resolutions adopted
by the convention. The constitution and the
Cuion repose on the equality of the States,
which lies like abroad foundation underneath
our whole political structure. As ! construc
them, the resolutions simply assert this equal
hy. They demand nothing for any State or
section that is pot cheerfully conceded TO all
the rest. Ii is well to remember that the chief
disorders which have afflicted our country
have grown out Of the violation ofState equal
ity and thatas long as this great principle has
been respected, we have been blessed with
harmony and peace. Nor will il be easy TO
persuade the country that resolutions arc sec
tional which command the support of thcma-
jority of the States, and are approved by the
bone and body of the old democracy, and bya
vast mass of conservative opinion every where.
without regard to party.
II has been necessary, more than once in our
history, to pause and solemnly assert the true
character Of this government. memorable
instance occurred in the struggle which ended
the civil revolution of 1900 The republicans
of that day like the democracy of this were
stigmatized as dlsunionists, but they nohly
conducted the contest under the constitution
and saved our political system. BY a like
constitutional struggle IL is intended now to
assert and establish the equality of the States
as the only basis Of union and peace. When
this object so NATIONAL so constitutional, SO
just, shall be accomplished, the last cloud will
disappear from the American sky, and with
common hands and hearts the States and the
people will unite TO develop the resources Of
the whole country, 70 bind altogether with
the bonds Of intercourse and brotherhood, aud
TO impel il onward in its great career. The
Constitution and the equality Of the States !
These are symbols Of everlasting union. Let
these be the rallying cries Of the people
trust that this canvass will be conducted
without rancor and that temperate argument